Lettuce Unveil ‘Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony,’ Expansive Live Recording and Concert Film of 2018 Orchestral Premiere

Photo Credit: Wallography

Yesterday, Jan. 8, Lettuce made a pivotal step in its catalog by announcing Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony. Set to release on Feb. 28, the acclaimed funk outfit’s forthcoming live collection captures its landmark 2018 concert at Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall, which marked its first-ever performance with orchestral accompaniment. This time capsule for their symphony premiere arrives as the first-ever recording of the expansive, daring format that has since become a staple for the band and features two previously unreleased songs.

“In 2018 we embarked on an incredible journey of musical collaboration with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra,” guitarist Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff reflected on the project’s origins. “It was our first time ever playing with a symphony and we were extremely exhilarated and felt incredibly grateful to be able to have such an experience. You can feel, through the music, just how special this moment was for us, the orchestra, and all who attended Boettcher Hall that evening in Denver.”

When Lettuce began its relationship with the Colorado Symphony, drummer Adam Deitch worked closely with the symphony’s Chief Artistic Director Tony Pierce to arrange a distinctive symphonic funk sound that reflected their diverse influences. “We are all diehard 90s hip hop heads so we chose songs of ours that were closer to what we envisioned would work as our vision of orchestral, instrumental hip-hop,” Deitch shares. The resultant arrangement rallied a sprawling 80-musician orchestra–comprising full brass and string sections–around the six-piece band, bolstering their sound like never before.

In the course of that fated first evening, the funk forerunners delivered two full sets of beloved originals like “Mt. Crushmore” and “Madison Square” brought to new heights by the elaborate backing, as well as towering treatments of fan-favorite covers of Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up” and Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule The World.” The 14-track recorded collection also features the elaborate “New Intro” and “Requiem,” crafted specifically for the symphonic context and taped here for the first time.

“Collaborating with Lettuce has always been an electrifying experience, and we’re thrilled to celebrate the release of this album showcasing the magic we’ve created together,” Pierce reflects on the relationship that’s bloomed since that initial crossing, including a second orchestra show with Tower of Power in 2022. “From unforgettable performances at Red Rocks to dynamic shows at Boettcher Concert Hall, Lettuce has been a tremendous part of our Colorado community and an incredible partner for the Colorado Symphony. This album is a testament to the power of blending musical worlds and the extraordinary energy that comes from such collaborations.”

Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony will release just before the Philadelphia-bred jam-funk ensemble’s next meeting with the esteemed orchestra, set for March 2 at Denver’s Mission Ballroom. After 6 years of honing their baroque funk sound alongside the likes of the San Diego Symphony and The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, this next stand will be the band’s largest solo symphonic staging to date. For tickets and more information on this concert and the rest of Lettuce’s thrilling 2025 tour plans, including a seven-stop collaborative run with legendary Wu-Tang Clan wordsmith GZA, visit lettucefunk.com.

Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony is coupled with a 90+ minute concert film and will be available on DVD, CD, a triple LP collection and digital streaming platforms. Pre-order and pre-save the album here.

Read on for the tracklist and Lettuce’s complete tour itinerary.

Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony – Lettuce

1. Mt. Crushmore

2. The Lobbyist

3. Requiem →

4. Gang Ten

5. Ghost of Jupiter

6. Move On Up

7. The Force

8. New Intro →

9. Larimar

10. Tryllis

11. Moksha

12. Everybody Wants to Rule the World

13. Elephant Walk → Madison Square

14. Trapezoid

Lettuce 2025 Tour Dates:

Jan 22, 2025 – The Sound at Del Mar – Del Mar, Calif.*

Jan 23, 2025 – The Novo – Los Angeles*

Jan 24, 2025 – Fox Theater – Oakland, Calif.*

Jan 31, 2025 – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, Ky.

Feb 1, 2025 – Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, Ky.

Feb 2, 2025 – Newport Music Hall – Columbus, Ohio

Feb 4, 2025 – XL Live – Harrisburg, Pa.*

Feb 5, 2025 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh*

Feb 6, 2025 – The Fillmore Silver Spring – Silver Spring, Md.*

Feb 7, 2025 – Brooklyn Steel – Brooklyn, N.Y.*

Feb 8, 2025 – House of Blues Boston – Boston

Feb 10, 2025 – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, N.C.

Feb 11, 2025 – Georgia Theatre – Athens, Ga.

Feb 12, 2025 – Victory North – Savannah, Ga.

Feb 13, 2025 – Miami Beach Bandshell – Miami – Jam Cruise 21 Pre-Party

Feb 14-19, 2025 – Jam Cruise – Miami

Mar 2, 2025 – The Mission Ballroom – Denver+

Mar 13, 2025 – Reggae Rise Up Florida – St. Petersburg, Fla.

Apr 18, 2025 – Apr 20, 2025 – Sweetwater 420 Fest – Atlanta, Ga.

Apr 30, 2025 – Schermerhorn Symphony Center – Nashville, Tenn.^

Jun 13, 2025 – Jun 15, 2025 – Northlands Music & Arts Festival – Swanzey, N.H.

* w/ GZA

+ w/ the Colorado Symphony

^ w/ the Nashville Symphony