If you're within earshot of New Orleans-style brass music, you know one thing for sure: It's time to party.

"We're out to have a good time and take the audience along with us," says Tim Halpin, guitarist with the St. Louis-based Funky Butt Brass Band.

The band — whose members also include sousaphonist Matt Brinkmann, trombonist Aaron Chandler, trumpeter Adam Hucke, saxophonist Ben Reece and percussionist Ron Sikes — has two big gigs this weekend. On Saturday at Off Broadway, it puts a Crescent City spin on the holiday season with its third annual "brasstravaganza." On Sunday at the Broadway Oyster Bar, it's the opening act for Big Sam's Funky Nation, up from New Orleans.

Formed in 2008, the Funky Butt Brass Band "came together over a love of New Orleans brass bands," Halpin says.

"We realized that there really wasn't anybody in town doing that kind of thing," he says. "It fell together pretty quickly, and pretty naturally. The next thing was to figure out our own identity."

That identity encompasses "everything from traditional New Orleans jazz, to funk, to blues, to Motown, to St. Louis R&B." Halpin cites the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Bonerama as significant influences: "We definitely keep it pretty funky."

The annual show is "just a chance for everybody to get together and hear some offbeat holiday music," he says. "We give away some raffle prizes, and you can have your picture taken with Santa."

Is the band named for the legendary New Orleans club, the Funky Butt?

"That's part of it," Halpin says. "It's sort of an homage to New Orleans, and its tradition and history. The last owner of the club was Sam Williams, who's the trombone player in Big Sam's Funky Nation. We've gotten to know him pretty well over the years. And there was a Buddy Bolden song called 'Funky Butt.'

"We also just like the sound of the name — and the idea of shaking your rear end and dancing and jumping around. It seemed to fit. Occasionally, people say, 'I really like your music, but I'm not fond of the name.' And we just go, 'Sorry — but at least you like the music.'"

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Funky Butt Brass Band

When 9 p.m. Saturday • Where Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue • How much $12-$15 • More info 314-773-3363; offbroadwaystl.com

Big Sam's Funky Nation with Funky Butt Brass Band

When 8 p.m. Sunday • Where Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 South Broadway • How much $10 • More info 314-621-8811; broadwayoysterbar.com