Lil Red & Big Bad

The music of Lil Red and Big Bad is unique to New Orleans, a mix of Blues, R&B and Rock & Roll delivered with a lot of soul. When you add the vocal energy and stage performance of Nancy “Lil Red” Gros, it’s no mistake that this band became the winners of the 2010 New Orleans Voodoo Blues Krewe Challenge in, October 2010. 

Growing up in New Orleans, Lil’ Red came from a musical family, and with her older siblings, attended her first Jazz Fest in 1976 and immediately became smitten by the stage. As a young child, the radio was her toy. She spent hours listening to pop music inspired by all the great New Orleans artists like Irma Thomas, Professor Longhair, the Meters, Fats Domino, Dr. John, Ernie K-Doe, all the time dreaming of becoming a singer and fronting a band. It was not until 2001, after years of working at the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, and raising her two young children, did she begin to fulfill her dream. After crafting her talent, she then formed Lil’ Red and Big Bad in 2005. Because of her unique and energetic sound, the band quickly developed a following, as they performed from the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain, to the West Bank of New Orleans. Today Lil’ Red is backed by some of the best musicians in New Orleans, namely, Jeff “Big Daddy” Ruello on guitar, Dr. Jack Carter on bass, and Ian Petillo on drums. Others working with Lil’ Red include Joshua Brown, Greg Villafranco, Kennan Shaw, Willie Panker, Richard Leveille, Tom Fitzpatrick, Mike Kobrin, Ian Smith, Jimmy Carpenter, Tom Worrell, and Allyn Robinson, who as well, continue to work with many of the musical greats our time. 

On October 8, 2010, Lil’ Red and Big Bad won the Voodoo Blues Krewe, New Orleans Blues Society Band Challenge at the legendary Mid-City Rock’n Bowl, sending them to the world renowned Beale Street in Memphis, to represent New Orleans in the annual International Blues Challenge in February 2011. 

Lil’ Red performs every Monday night at the Balcony Music Club (BMC) in the French Quarter, toured Colorado, and opened the 2012 French Quarter Festival on the main stage. Other recent performances include the Bogalusa Blues Festival, New Orleans Blues & BBQ Fest, Voice of the Wetlands Fest, Wednesdays at the Point, the Louisiana State Fair, and Frenchmen Street.“It’s never too late to fulfill your dreams”, says Red “and there’s nothing like singin the blues…