Anders Osborne at the 2015 Holiday Spectacular. Photo by Jeffrey Dupuis.

Mike Dillon Added to Anders Osborne’s Holiday Spectacular

Mike Dillon has been added to the bill for Anders Osborne’s 5th Annual Holiday Spectacular, which returns to Tipitina’s this weekend. The versatile vibraphone player and percussionist will join Osborne and his band for the second night of the party on Saturday, December 17.

Mike Dillon

Mike Dillon

The Holiday Spectacular will kick off tonight with guest appearances by singer Nicki Bluhm and former Black Crowes guitarist Rich Robinson. The two-night run will continue on Saturday with sit-ins from Dillon, pedal steel guitar virtuoso Robert Randolph and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band horns.

Last year’s Holiday Spectacular saw Osborne collaborate with Jackie Greene, John Popper, Sam Bush and JJ Grey. The artists took the stage for their own originals, a few covers and, of course, some Anders Osborne tunes.

While the 5th Annual Holiday Spectacular won’t officially get going until tonight, Osborne got started with the festivities yesterday when he played an acoustic set at the launch party for his new “Send Me a Friend” program. The non-profit project will connect touring musicians who are in addiction recovery with temporary sponsors while they’re on the road.

Tickets for tonight’s show are still on sale, but tickets for Saturday’s concert are now sold out.