The Buttshakers

Based in Lyon, The Buttshakers have been developing a funk-tinged soul driven by a pronounced stage energy since the late 2000s. The Franco-American outfit, led by singer Ciara Thompson from St. Louis, USA, positions itself in a retro rhythm and blues and soul vein, drawing on references to 1960s and 70s labels, with a dense rhythm section, prominent brass and a taste for both slow grooves and more urgent tempos. First noticed on the club and small-venue circuit in France and Germany, the band built its career through regular tours across Europe and a series of records released in the 2010s and 2020s on a French independent label. Across these releases, the aesthetic has evolved from a rough garage-soul sound to richer arrangements, where Ciara Thompson’s expressive voice, emphatic bass lines and soul backing vocals shape songs mostly sung in English, ranging from melancholic ballads to more overtly funky compositions.