Take a blazing five-piece horn section, throw down some bombastic drums, pepper in piano and guitar, then stir in vocals (from Rebecca Noelle and Jeff Rogers) – shifting from sweet to soulful to sultry quicker than you can hop onto the dance floor. It’s the jumpin’, jiving 12-piece Ottawa powerhouse called The Commotions and the taste is soulicious! Musical director and tenor saxophonist Brian Asselin gleaned valuable experience for the sound that would soon come to define his band when touring with Motown legends The Funk Brothers. The Commotions are ready to win over TD Sunfest’23 audiences with brassy beats and smooth ballad treats, all in the interest of reviving the spirit of those super soul sounds of the ‘70s and the irresistible Motown rhythms that once had them dancing in the streets. Since forming in 2013, the group has brought its funky groove to festivals, television and two smokin’ studio albums, with a third ready to drop later this year (2023).