Project Description
Social Media & other links
Territory of Representation
- Exclusive Worldwide (excluding North America)
Availability
- Festivals + upon request
Booking Conditions
- touring party: +/- 12 people (7 or 8 artists + 4 or 5 crew)
- performance fee
- visas and work permits (if applicable)
- at least 1 (ideally 2) night(s) of hotel (approx. 12 single rooms with king beds in 4* hotel including breakfast and wifi in the rooms),
- local transport (all ground transport between airport, hotel and venue, from day of arrival till day of departure included),
- backstage hospitality, warm catering on the evening of the show, light, and sound & backline as per rider.
Upcoming Shows
- TBA
Former members of Prince’s backing band, the New Power Generation, formally reunited after the globally praised, electrifying, and iconic 2016 “Official Prince Tribute Concert”, where they served as the house band. From 2017 onwards, licensed by the Prince Estate to use the trademarked name, they toured internationally as the “New Power Generation (NPG)”, often joined by other Prince alumni and, since 2018, by MacKenzie as lead vocalist. When the license to use the trademarked name “New Power Generation (NPG)”, expired at the end of 2022, the Prince Estate opted not to renew the license. Although the band occasionally still appears as “the” NPG for Estate-related events, the bandmembers have continued performing, until 2025 as “Celebrating Prince feat. former members of the NPG”, and, from now on, as the “Minneapolis Sound Project feat. former members of the NPG”. As the name suggests, the band has broadened its musical direction: in addition to Prince’s iconic hits, their set list now also includes some of the most iconic songs from other “architects” of the “Minneapolis Sound” (such as Morris Day & The Time, Flyte Tyme (Jimmy Jam, Terence Lewis, Monte Moir & Jellybean Johnson who wrote/produced many hits for Janet Jackson, the S.O.S. Band, Cherrelle, etc.), David Z. (Fine Young Cannibals, Lipps Inc., The Jets, Jody Watley), Andre Cymone, Sheila E. and Alexander O’Neal). The band is currently also working on original music for a future album.
The reunion of former members of the New Power Generation (NPG) – Prince’s legendary backing band from 1990 to 2013 – was born out of the official Prince Tribute Concert in 2016, an event widely praised as both powerful and deeply healing. NPG keyboardist Morris Hayes, who also served for many years as Prince’s Music Director, was hired by the Prince Estate to music-direct this epic, five-hour celebration honoring the life and legacy of the legendary artist. Hayes brought in many former NPG members to serve as the house band, joined throughout the evening by other Prince alumni and friends. The result was a musical experience that resonated profoundly with audience members from around the world.
Inspired by the overwhelming response to that historic night by performers and audience members alike – that the acclaimed concert had been so exhilarating and inspiring, a core group of former NPG musicians decided to officially reunite. Their shared intention was clear: to honor their former boss, celebrate his music and help carry the legacy forward.
While the configuration of the band may change somewhat with each tour, keyboardist and MD Morris Hayes is a constant, along with MC/rapper Tony Mosley (a.k.a. “Tony M.”), the acclaimed lead vocalist MacKenzie, and bassist Sonny T, who Prince often referred to as “his hero”. When Sonny is unavailable due to other commitments, either former NPG bassists Ida Nielsen or Joshua Dunham, or former Revolution bassist Brownmark step in. Former NPG guitarist Mike Scott is most often in the group, saxophonists Kenni Holmen and Keith Anderson alternate tour dates subject to schedules and the band’s drummer is either Chris Bailey (Chaka Khan), Les Cleveland (protégé of former Prince & D’Angelo drummer John Blackwell) or Brandon Commodore (Mint Condition).
Following their inaugural performances at Paisley Park’s Celebration in 2017, the band began touring internationally under the New Power Generation name through an arrangement with the Prince Estate. During the first year, lead vocals were shared primarily by special guest vocalist and Minneapolis Sound co-architect André Cymone, along with former NPG background vocalist Kip Blackshire and longtime NPG rapper/dancer/guitarist, Tony M. In 2018, the band found its permanent lead vocalist in the charismatic and soulful MacKenzie. With an extraordinary vocal range and commanding stage presence, MacKenzie quickly won over audiences and critics alike with his reverent approach to the songs never veering into impersonation. Like the NPG, the man is undeniably funky.
When the license to use the New Power Generation name expired at the end of 2022, the group simply changed to performing as “former members of the NPG” but discussions were underway on a new, permanent name for the group.
While the band still can – and does – continue to perform as the “New Power Generation (NPG)” at the Estate’s request or occasionally with permission (most recently in June 2026), they are also performing as the “Minneapolis Sound Project (MSP)”. MSP perfectly encapsulates the group’s roots with Prince as well as their history in the broader “purple” community.
The decision to use also MSP (featuring former members of the NPG) and expand the setlist to perform some of the most celebrated music of the Minneapolis Sound on top of the music of Prince makes room for adding some original music to the show as well.
Aside from the name and broader repertoire, this remains what it has always been: former members of the New Power Generation joined by other all-star musicians from the purple community who share an extensive resume and musical tapestry. They bring with them the same work ethic that they brought to their performances with Prince – shows renowned for their precision, explosive energy, and relentless pace. With this new chapter, the band will continue to deliver what one reviewer called “a non-stop musical kaleidoscope of iconic, chart-topping hits”—all directly connected to the Prince and other architects of the Minneapolis Sound – a genre that changed popular music forever.
Recent Performance Videos
Click on top-right corner of the screen below to see full playlist
Classic Videos of Prince & the NPG
Click on top-right corner of the screen below to see full playlist
- July 10th 2025, First Avenue, Minneapolis, USA
- Sept 27th 2024, Paisley Park, Minneapolis, USA
- Sept 12th 2024, Pantage Theatre, Los Angeles, USA
- July 9th 2024, SILT, Middelkerke, Belgium
- July 8th 2024, IKON, Antwerp, Belgium
- July 7th 2024, Metropool, Enschede, The Netherlands
- 5th July 5th 2024, Victorie, Alkmaar, The Netherlands
- 4th July 4th 2024, Nieuwe Nor, Heerlen, The Netherlands
- 3rd July 3rd 2024, Annabel, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- 2nd July 2nd 2024, Jazz à Vienne, Vienne, France
- 31st Dec 2023, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
- 21st Oct 2023, Governor’s State University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Oct 29th 2022, Cork Jazz, Cork, Ireland
- July 24nd 2022, Koko, London, UK
- July 23rd 2022, Jazz in Marciac, Marciac, France
- July 21st 2022, New Morning, Paris, France
- July 20th 2022, Marseille Jazz des Cinq Continents, Marseille, France
- July 18th 2022, Tivoli Vredenburg, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- July 16th 2022, Blues’n Jazz Rallye, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
- June 26 2022, Toronto Jazz Fest, Toronto, Canada
- June 24 2022, Rochester International Jazz Festival, USA
- April 23 2022, The Venue @Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, USA
- Oct 2 2021, Alliant Energy Powerhouse, Cedar Rapids, USA
- Oct 1 2021, Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, USA
- Sep 30 2021, Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, USA
- Dec 17 2019, Bitefartcafe, Belgrade, Serbia
- Dec 16 2019, Bitefartcafe, Belgrade, Serbia
- Dec 15 2019, Tvornica Kulture, Zagreb, Croatia
- Dec 14 2019, Kino Siska, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Dec 12 2019, O2 Academy, Glasgow, UK
- Dec 11 2019, O2 Ritz, Manchester, UK
- 10th Dec 10 2019, O2 Institute, Birmingham, UK
- Dec 7 2019, O2 Shepherd’s Bush, London, UK
- Dec 4 2019, Theatre Heerlen, Heerlen, The Netherlands
- Dec 3 2019, Melkweg Max, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Dec 2 2019, La Madeleine, Brussels, Belgium
- Dec 1 2019, La Cigale, Paris, France
- Nov 29 2019, Opera de Monte-Carlo, Monaco
- Oct 5 2019, Caloundra Music Festival, Queensland, Australia
- Sept 28 2019, Admiral Theatre, Bremerton, WA, USA
- Sept 27 2019, Chandler Center, Chandler, USA
- Sept 26 2019, The Lensic Performing Art Center, Sante Fe, New Mexico, USA
- Sept 14 2019, Concert on the Lawn, Central Park, Maple Grove, MN, USA
- Sept 8 2019, Who Dat Rally & Music Festival, Jefferson Performing Arts Center, Metairie, LA, USA
- August 3 2019, The Cabot, Beverly, USA
- August 2 2019, Appell Center, York, USA
- July 27 2019, Rotterdam Unlimited, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- April 27th 2019, Fine Line, Minneapolis, USA
- March 6th 2019, The Masquerade, Atlanta, USA
- March 4th 2019, Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, USA
- Feb 21st 2019, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, Northern Lights Theater, Milwaukee, USA
- Jan 5th 2019, The Paramount, Huntington, NY, USA
- Jan 4th 2019, Sony Hall, New York, USA
- Sept 13th 2018, First Avenue, Minneapolis, USA
- Aug 12th 2018, Het Groot Verlof, Leuven, Belgium
- Aug 8th 2018, Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Aug 7th 2018, Poppodium 013, Tilburg, The Netherlands
- Aug 5th 2018, All Together Now festival, Co. Waterford, Ireland
- Aug 4th 2018, Stimmen, Arlesheim, Switzerland
- Aug 2nd 2018, Indigo at the O2, London, UK
- June 2nd 2018, Usadba Jazz Festival, Moscow, Russia
- May 27th 2018, Common People, Southhampton, UK
- May 26th 2018, Common People, Oxford, UK
- March 31st 2018, Blues Fest, Byron Bay, Australia
- March 30th 2018, Blues Fest, Byron Bay, Australia
- March 28th 2018, Enmore Theatre, Sydney, Australia
- March 26th 2018, 170 Russell, Melbourne, Australia
- March 22nd & 23rd 2018, Billboard Live, Tokyo, Japan
- March 20th 2018, Billboard Live, Osaka, Japan
- February 2nd & 3rd 2018, Dakota, Minneapolis, USA
- January 31st 2018, Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, USA
- July 15th 2017, VeszprémFest, Veszprem, Hungary
- July 13th 2017, Super Bock Super Rock Festival, Lisbon, Portugal
- July 10th 2017, White Nights of St. Petersburg – International Music Festival, St. Petersburg, Russia
- July 9th 2017, North Sea Jazz, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- July 8th 2017, Official North Sea Jazz Afterparty – Boogie Ball @ Bird, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- July 7th 2017, Barrière Enghien Jazz Festival, Enghien-Les-Bains, France
- July 6th 2017, Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland
- July 4th 2017, Moods, Zurich, Switzerland
- July 2nd 2017, The Boxz @ CC Zwaneberg, Heist-op-den-Berg, Belgium
- June 30th 2017, British Summer Time, Hyde Park, London, UK
- April 20th-23rd 2017, Celebration 2017 @ Paisley Park, Chanhassen, USA