Thursday, Sept. 19
The Australian electronic music duo Empire of the Sun kicks off the recently opened Civic Theater’s stacked calendar of concerts and comedy events. Alpine opens. Info here.
The annual New Orleans Burlesque Festival gets bumping and grinding tonight with an opening reception and two shows. The rest of the weekend includes workshops, parties and more shows. Check out an interview with festival founder and New Orleans burlesque king Rick Delaup from the August New Orleans Magazine here. Festival info here.
The Faulkner House hosts a meet-the-authors event featuring novelists Lee Smith and Pamela Binnings Ewen. Info here.
Friday, Sept. 20
Scales & Ales, the Audubon Institute’s annual fundraiser, is like an adult field trip – you can booze while enjoying all the attractions of the Aquarium. There’s also food, music and the 610 Stompers are scheduled to stop by. Info here.
The New Orleans Film Society kicks off the fall series of its Movies in the Garden series with a screening of Shaft (the original 1971 version) at NOMA’s sculpture garden. The park has food vendors, music and activities starting at 5:30 p.m., and the screening starts at sundown. Info here.
Also beginning its fall series is the Historic New Orleans Collection’s Concerts in the Courtyard series. Brass-A-Holics plays at the event that includes free drinks with admission. Info here.
Blueberry Hill, a musical that tells the stories of everyday people through classic New Orleans R&B by Fats Domino, Irma Thomas, Ernie K-Doe and others, opens at JPAS’ Teatro Wego. Info here.
New Orleans funk and R&B piano player Jon Cleary plays at the Old U.S. Mint’s performance space as a fundraiser for Friends of the Cabildo. Info here.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the August Wilson drama, is on the boards at Anthony Bean Community Theater for another weekend. Info here.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Man Man headlines at the Howlin’ Wolf tonight, but I recommend going early to check out the opener Sylvan Esso, a collaboration of Mountain Man’s Amelia Meath and Megafaun’s Nick Sanborn. Meath’s folky vocals paired with Sanborn’s synth beats make for a unique brand of pop music. Info here.
