After their widely successful 2023 Australian debut left audiences and critics alike calling it one of the live highlights of the year, Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers are set to return in style this February. Four brothers with ten Grammy Awards between them and a lifetime of shared stages that began long before any of them had a driver’s licence. Regi (guitar), Roy “Futureman” (percussion), Joseph (keys), and Victor (bass) bring a rare musical chemistry forged in the clubs of Virginia and honed alongside legends from Curtis Mayfield and WAR to the Steve Miller Band, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones and beyond.
Victor and Roy Wooten join Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips over a zoom call from snowy Buffalo, New York State during a rare day off while touring with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones on their holiday run. They discuss the importance of Christmas in the Wooten household, both for family gatherings and because “Santa” kept bringing them increasingly better instruments as kids. They talk about their upcoming Australian tour, which Victor describes as a show “not to be missed”, a blend of funk, jazz, and deep musicality designed to make audiences happy and thoughtful. The brothers reflect on growing up on the road, touring with Curtis Mayfield as children, and learning early from their mother to treat every performance as if it were the only one. That philosophy still guides them…focus on the moment, “bring it,” and let the energy transform both band and audience.
Onstage goals for The Wooten Brothers revolve around presence, generosity, and connection. Reading a room, they say, comes from experience-evaluating seated vs standing crowds, noise levels, the tone set by an opening act, and adjusting dynamics or setlists accordingly. They credit lessons in groove, dynamics, and phrasing to influences like James Brown and Curtis Mayfield.
Roy breaks down his hybrid drum setup, including Australian-made MotherTone acoustic drums with F-holes, custom Sleishman components, and his futuristic Drumitar. Victor discusses bringing out some rarely-seen instruments on this tour, including a 21-year-old Fodera six-string and his experimental bowed bass.
The brothers end by emphasising their excitement to bring their “garage energy” to Australia again-seeking to create a musical butterfly effect between the band, the audience, and the moment.
TOUR DATES
Wed, Feb 4: Harmonie German Club, Canberra
Thurs, Feb 5: Factory Theatre, Marrickville
Fri, Feb 6: Princess Theatre, Brisbane
Sat, Feb 7: The Lounge, Chatswood
Sun, Feb 8: Memo Music Hall, St Kilda
Wed, Feb 11: Freo Social, Fremantle
Fri, Feb 13: The Gov, Adelaide
Sat, Feb 14: Northcote Theatre, Melbourne
Venues are intimate, seats are limited and demand is high – dont miss out.
Tickets are on sale now!
www.gaevents.au