ABOUT BOUKOU
Formed in 2010, Boukou Groove is a New Orleans funk, soul, and jam band composed of veteran-vocalist/keyboardist/Moog Bass & Donnie Sundal, and guitarist, Derwin “Big D” Perkins. The combination of Big D’s gripping N’Awlins funk guitar and Donnie Sundal’s wailing keyboards and “blue-eyed soul” voice have lit up audiences around the world. That same chemistry has been distilled intotheir albums A LIL’ BOUKOU IN YOUR CUP (2012), LET THE GROOVE RIDE (2015) and the Single release 2019 “Never Steal Our Thunder”.
Boukou Groove often have top-ranked musicians join them live so it is no surprise that A LIL’ BOUKOU IN YOUR CUP features special guests Sam Bush, the father of Newgrass, on mandolin, and Junior Marvin of Bob Marley’s Wailers on guitar. The song “Two To Tango” features John Cleary on solo piano, and, to date, has enjoyed 1.3+ million plays on Spotify, while the song “Stay Broke” was named “2012 Song ofthe Year” by Peter Barakan, a renowned DJ and host of "Barakan Beat" on Inter FM and "WeekendSunshine" on NHK FM in Japan.
The title track on LET THE GROOVE RIDE was accompanied by a full-length video release by Live For Live Music, and features special guest Nigel Hall from Lettuce on background vocals. “Blame It On Me”marks Big D’s vocal debut,and is one of the most streamed songs on the album. Bob Marley and the Wailers guitarist, Junior Marvin, also makes an appearance.
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In addition to Boukou Groove, Donnie Sundal and Big D Perkins have performed and collaborated withnumerous other artists. Donnie has played Colonel Bruce Hampton, Ivan Neville, George Porter Jr, Junior Marvin of Bob Marley’s Wailers, Deva Mahal, Nth Power, Nigel Hall (Lettuce) and Sam Bush (liveperformance and studio recording on his 2017 release “Story Man”). In 2018, heco-wrote the song“Hold On To Let Go” released by New Orleans funk band Galactic. Big D’s New Orleans funk guitar is featured on the stages of many Legendary New Orleans Artist. His guitar playing and voice also are featured in a nationally aired Crown Royal commercial.
Boukou Groove brings their brand of “New Orleans Soul Funk” to audiences along Florida’s Emerald Coast and New Orleans clubs like the Maple Leaf and Tipitinas, they have also appeared at numerous festivals and clubs nationwide, also completed two tours in Japan, performing to capacity crowds on the Live Magic! Festival and the Blue Note in Tokyo.
The groove continued in 2019withthe band making their debut at the 50th New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and releasing their brand newsingle “Never Steal Our Thunder”. Currently, the band is back in studio working on the second single, “Ain’t No Lie”, for the 2021 Summer release of their 3rd Album!
