After an amazing debut show at the Rochester International Jazz Festival on the Main Stage at Parcel 5 last summer, Brother Wilson is back and live in concert Saturday at The Theater at Innovation Square with Unpack and Helium Bubble.

Spectrum News 1 caught up with Wilson and his bandmates at rehearsal and wow, they are bringing the funk and soul and then some.

What You Need To Know

  • It's an encore live show of the much talked about 2022 Rochester International Jazz Festival performance of Brother Wilson and Unpack

  • Brother Wilson is a musician and longtime RCSD teacher

  • The Theater at Innovation Square is Rochester's center for Performing Arts, Entertainment and Community Engagement

  • It is formerly known as the Xerox Auditorium

“This show is totally something you do not want to miss,” Brother Wilson said. “It is a mixture of some of the most amazing funk tunes from the late 70s to early 80s. It is the Earth Wind & Fire song but we will be doing the other amazing song on the album. We are totally doing James Brown. We are doing some of the grooves and tunes that we know you’re going to love.”

Wilson has backed a lot of bands. He now has an amazing band of talented musicians and this time around, he is headlining. This show features one of Rochester’s incredible vocalists, Champagne Brown. Her sound is Adele meets Tina Turner and even Janis Joplin.

“It is literally like neo funk meets soul performance art,” said vocalist Champagne Brown. “There are really no words to describe it especially if you have never been to a Brother Wilson show or production. There is a lot of dancing. There is a lot of costume changes. It is literally a mix of anything you could ever imagine.”

Brother Wilson is Mr. Wilson to many in Rochester. He’s been a Rochester City School teacher for 28 years. He loves this city.

“It’s been so good to me and everything and every step of the way from No. 9 school to Frederick Douglass to Franklin High School,” said Wilson. “It has just been an amazing time. It is one of the most loving spaces that you could ever want to be in. Rochester, I love it, so yes.”

This show is horns, drums, funk and soul and it is happening Saturday. Tickets are still available. You can purchase them at the door the night of the show or online at theaterais.com.