Tonight is the start of the 14th Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival. This is one of the great festivals of the year and it is free to attend with drinks and some amazing BBQ available for purchase. The event features stages on both sides of Lafayette Square so as soon as one band stops the other can start right up. If you position your chair toward the middle, you don’t have to move much more than your head except to get up for more great BBQ. This year the festival features headlining performances by Tab Benoit, The Allman-Betts Band, Tucka, Sonny Landreth and the incomparable Mason Ruffner among others. This is a serious lineup of legendary blues practitioners. While you are there make sure to try the ribs from The Joint they are really amazing. Check out the full schedule below, my can’t miss picks are marked with (!).
FRIDAY, OCT. 18
5:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Luther Kent & Trick Bag
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tab Benoit (!)
SATURDAY, OCT. 19
ST. CHARLES AVENUE STAGE
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Brother Tyrone & the Mind Benders
2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Jonathon Boogie Long
4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Kenny Neal (!)
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Allman-Betts Band (!)
CAMP STREET STAGE
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Gregg Martinez & the Delta Kings
1 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Lynn Drury
3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Erica Falls
5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. Johnny Sansone (!)
SUNDAY, OCT. 20
ST. CHARLES AVENUE STAGE:
12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Lulu & the Broadsides
2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Guitar Lightning Lee
4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Sonny Landreth (!)
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tucka (!)
CAMP STREET STAGE
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Zion Harmonizers
1 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Keith Stone & Red Gravy
3:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mason Ruffner (!)
5:45 p.m. to 7 p.m. Little Freddie King (!)
More Music Movies
This week the New Orleans Film Festival continues with some great music related features.
Friday you can check out The Remix: Hip Hop X Fashion, which chronicles how the fashion industry was forever changed by the global rise of streetwear.
Also on Friday, check out the Louisiana shorts featuring Ole & Nu which includes interviews with three members of the Ole & Nu Style Fellas social aid and pleasure club as they reflect on style family and community.
On Saturday you have another chance to catch Up From The Streets—which is a comprehensive look at into the history of New Orleans music from its origins to its influences around the world. Check out the amazingly star studded trailer below.
The festival will wrap up Wednesday night with the presentation of the Career Achievement Award to Terence Blanchard at the festival’s closing Gala.
Also Going On This Week
Tonight, Amon Amarth rolls into The Fillmore while Nikki Hill plays the Ace Hotel. Tomorrow, Mt. Joy is at Tipitina’s while Sofi Tukker is at The Joy and the X Ambassadors are at The Fillmore. Sunday, The Hummingbirds Barbershop Quartet are at the Allways Lounge and Tuba Skinny is at The Maison while the Joe Krown Trio with Wolfman sets up shop at the Maple Leaf. Monday, John Boutte is at d.b.a. while Kermit Ruffins and Irvin Mayfield play the Mother-in-Law Lounge. Tuesday, Alex McMurray is at Chickie Wah Wah. Also Tuesday, the Dinosaurchestra takes the early set at d.b.a. while The Treme Brass Band has the late set. Tuesday you can also see Molly Drag at Gasa Gasa with Past Life and Ayla Nereo is at Tipitina’s. Wednesday, Mike Watt is at One Eyed Jacks and Making Movies is at the Howlin’ Wolf. Wednesday you can also catch the outstanding Hovvdy at Gasa Gasa. Thursday, Bring Me The Horizon is at The Fillmore with Poppy while Alexis and the Samurai take the early set at d.b.a. and Little Freddie King takes the late set.
To Listen This Week
- Big Thief perform “Not” from their amazing new record “Two Hands” on Colbert via Youtube
- Liz Phair shares a new single “Good Side” and announces her first new record in ten years via Youtube
- Phantogram have released a new single “In a Spiral” and announced a new record via Youtube
