Nashville-based family affair brings their energetic fusion of danceable pop, soul and rock & roll to Levitt venues across the country performing fan favorites, plus new music from their upcoming album

LOS ANGELES (March 29, 2022)—The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, a social impact funder supporting nonprofits nationwide at the intersection of music and public space, announces the return of its annual, free Levitt National Tour this summer after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The New Respects, a rising trio known for bright, feel-good tracks stacked with propulsive beats and lush harmonies, will headline the tour scheduled to visit six Levitt venues. The tour kicks off in Bethlehem, Pa., on Saturday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m. and continues on to Dayton, Ohio (Friday, June 10 at 7:00 p.m.); Denver (Wednesday, July 13 at 7:00 p.m.); Sioux Falls, S.D. (Saturday, July 16 at 7:00 p.m.); Los Angeles (Saturday, August 27 at 7:00 p.m.); and concludes Labor Day weekend in Arlington, Texas (Sunday, September 4 at 7:00 p.m.); all times are local.

Levitt National Tour presents this energetic family affair dubbed “New Artist You Need to Know” by Rolling Stone, for an electrifying evening of danceable pop, soul and rock & roll. Continuing the Foundation’s mission of building community through music, The New Respects will mark the return of the tour, which began in 2014 with the world-music fusion of Playing For Change. A highlight of the free concert seasons at Levitt venues across the country, other Levitt National Tour artists have included Flor De Toloache (2019) with their blend of traditional mariachi with jazz, salsa and pop music; Southern rocker Paul Thorn and gospel legends Blind Boys of Alabama (2018); Gulf Coast soul sensation The Suffers (2017); and genre-busting violin duo Black Violin (2015).

Performing together since their youth, the Nashville-based trio uplifts audiences with their catchy hooks and fresh throwback sounds. Zandy Mowry leads funk-inspired grooves on guitar, her brother Darius Fitzgerald drives the beat with his retro rhythms and their cousin Jasmine Mullen brings it all together with soaring lead vocals. The New Respects’ debut 5-song EP, Here Comes Trouble (2017), launched them into the national spotlight with the breakout song, “Trouble,” which garnered over 2 million streams and received sync placements with Fox Sports, ESPN and TNT. Their sophomore album, Before the Sun Goes Down (2018), continued their rising star, followed by the release of their popular single, “No Drama,” with its positive message and feel-good tempo. With a halted touring schedule during the pandemic, The New Respects worked on new music and released their first acoustic EP, Don’t Panic (2022), and are wrapping up a new album due out this summer.

Highlighting the collective impact of Levitt venues in communities across the country and a common mission to build community through music, the tour is a collaborative programming effort of the Levitt network. “Levitt brings people together through the power of free, live music. As each of our venue partners prepares for a full summer season of free music under the stars, we are thrilled their lineups will include this dynamic band with the return of the Levitt National Tour,” says Sharon Yazowski, executive director of the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation. “From the first downbeat, people of all ages and backgrounds love The New Respects, drawn to their positive vibe and upbeat grooves. Their shows are a celebration all-around and Levitt audiences are in for a super fun time.”

Veterans of the Levitt stage, The New Respects have dazzled Levitt venue audiences in Bethlehem and Dayton, as well as Levitt AMP sites in Ocala, Fla., Trenton, N.J. and in Middlesboro and Whitesburg, Ky. The group looks forward to returning to some of these Levitt stages as part of the tour.  “What I really enjoy about Levitt is the community aspect that we feel from the audience. That is a really cool experience! We’ve played a few different Levitt shows, and it’s rare that you feel a sense of community in places where you haven’t been. We love that—because that’s a huge part of what we’re about. The Levitt venues are a perfect platform for what we want to share as a band,” says Zandy Mowry.

All Levitt National Tour performances with The New Respects are free and open to the public, providing family-friendly experiences for all ages to enjoy together. Lead vocalist Jasmine Mullen adds, “I think it’s beautiful. It gives people an opportunity to come and hang out where money isn’t an issue. We were fortunate to be exposed to so much music, so much arts, because of where we grew up. To expose people to live music in a new way is really important.”

The New Respects’ sets during the Levitt National Tour will be eclectic and electric, performing fan favorites along with a sneak peek of new songs from their upcoming record.

A new component of the 2022 Levitt National Tour will be the introduction of the #LevittTour superfan campaign on the Foundation’s Twitter and Instagram channels. Levitt audiences will have the opportunity to win signed swag from The New Respects in each tour city. Inspired by The New Respects and the Levitt National Tour, fans are encouraged to capture the energy and excitement of the band by sharing photos and videos of their favorite moments from the concert. Additional details will be announced on Twitter and Instagram leading up to each performance date.

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About The New Respects
The 2022 Levitt National Tour presents rising stars and family affair The New Respects, for an
electrifying evening of danceable fusions of pop, soul and rock & roll. The band is turning heads with their bright, feel-good tracks stacked with propulsive beats and lush harmonies. Hailing from Nashville, Zandy Mowry lays down the group’s funk-inspired grooves on guitar, her brother Darius Fitzgerald drives the beat with his retro rhythms and their cousin Jasmine Mullen brings it all together with soaring lead vocals. Having performed together since their youth, the 20-something trio uplifts audiences with their playful, energetic and familiar vibe. Filled with catchy hooks and fresh throwback sounds, the group’s debut 5-song EP, Here Comes Trouble (2017), launched them into the national spotlight as Rolling Stone named them one of “10 New Artists You Need to Know.” Quickly gaining traction with fans and critics alike, the EP’s standout single, “Trouble” garnered over 2 million streams and received sync placements with Fox Sports, ESPN and TNT. On the heels of their success, The New Respects embraced an aggressive touring schedule, opening for Switchfoot, Robert Randolph, O.A.R., and NEEDTOBREATHE, and making appearances at key festivals such as Hangout, Bumbershoot and Rock the Ranch. The group’s star continued to rise after releasing their 2018 album Before the Sun Goes Down to critical acclaim. With touring halted during the pandemic, The New Respects worked on new music and recently released their first acoustic EP, Don’t Panic (2022), featuring spiritual inspirations to hold onto hope and love during times of uncertainty. Levitt National Tour audiences are in for an unforgettable evening that’s equal parts eclectic and electric featuring fan favorites “No Drama,” “Freedom,” and “What Makes the World,” plus the debut of new music from their upcoming album this summer! For more information about The New Respects, visit their website, www.thenewrespects.com. Follow @TheNewRespects on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation
The Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation is a private family foundation that exists to strengthen the social fabric of America. Through its commitment to creative placemaking, the Levitt Foundation supports the activation of underused public spaces—such as neglected parks, vacant downtown lots, and former brownfields—into welcoming, inclusive destinations where the power of free, live music brings people together to create more equitable, thriving and sustainable communities. The Foundation’s primary funding areas include Levitt venues and the Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Awards. Both of these programs present free concerts in outdoor, open lawn settings featuring high-caliber talent in a broad array of music genres and cultural performances. Levitt venues and Levitt AMP concert sites attract people of all ages and backgrounds and reflect the character of their town or city, while benefitting from the framework and best practices of the Levitt program.

The Levitt Foundation invests in community-driven efforts that harness the power of partnerships and leverage community engagement. Levitt venue nonprofits and AMP grantees partner with other local nonprofits and community groups to inform programming, outreach and engagement, embodying the Foundation’s funding philosophy and core values to support projects that are inclusive, catalytic and dynamic, and create connectedness and joy. Reflecting its ongoing commitment to self-reflection and contributing to the creative placemaking field, the Levitt Foundation invests in research to evaluate the social impact of Levitt programs in communities, which in turn informs the Foundation’s evolving philanthropic practice. Learn more: levitt.org and follow us @levittfoundation on Facebook and Instagram and @levittfdn on Twitter.