NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The non-profit French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI), proudly announces final details about the free French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron, April 11-14. Billed as the world’s largest showcase of Louisiana music, food and culture, the 2019 festival will bring a record number of debuts, more headliners, a new riverfront stage, eight restaurant debuts, 1,700+ Louisiana musicians and recycling.
“This year we’re shaking things up with a new stage, more headliners, and recycling,” said Emily Madero, president and CEO of FQFI. “Our Chevron Evening Concert Series brings more headliners to the streets of the Quarter and a new stage on the Moonwalk will expand riverfront entertainment. Our new recycling program helps us achieve our mission to instill increased pride in the community, and attendees can support the effort by purchasing a limited-edition reusable festival beer cup!”
Music Schedule Revealed
More than 1,700 Artists including 48 debuts
The complete music schedule is now available on frenchquarterfest.org. Beginning March 22, Android and iPhone users can install the newly updated French Quarter Fest app, built by GE to access the schedule, culinary lineup, maps and more. The music lineup brings more headliners, thanks to the expanded Chevron Evening Concert Series. The Chevron Stage, a longtime Cajun/Zydeco destination, will feature more genres nightly, in addition the Cajun/Zydeco lineup; the Evening Concert Series includes Jon Cleary, George Porter, Jr. & the Runnin’ Pardners, Flow Tribe, and Rockin’ Dopsie. A new venue, the Pan-American Life Insurance Group Stage will bring music to the newly renovated Moonwalk on Saturday and Sunday. Artists include Helen Gillet & Wazozo and Jason Marsalis 21st Century Trad Band. At the Jazz Museum at the Mint, the Jones Walker Let Them Talk Stage will provide a rare chance to hear artists speak about their life in music. This year's lineup includes Quiana Lynell, Rory Danger, Luke Allen, John Boutte & Ben Schenck, Jonathan Frelich & Carl LeBlanc, Alfred Banks, Maggie Koerner, Dayna Kurtz, Robin Barnes and James Andrews.
2019 brings a record number of 48 debuts, including Galactic. Debuts on the festival’s street stages include Sweet Olive String Band on the Hancock Whitney Stage, Doro Wat on the Dorignac’s Food Center Stage, and Keith Burnstein’s Kettle Black on the Caire Hotel & Restaurant Supply Stage. In addition, the Dow Chemical Stage will feature two days of traditional jazz in the 500 block of Bourbon Street.
In Jackson Square, the Hilton Stage returns with an all-star lineup of New Orleans' most respected artists and culture-bearers including Ellis Marsalis, John Boutté, Leroy Jones, Shannon Powell, Robin Barnes, and James Andrews. The riverfront Abita Beer Stage brings four days of music including Rebirth Brass Band, The Iguanas, and Walter "Wolfman" Washington and the Roadmasters. The GE Stage returns with every genre from Funk to Gospel; artists include Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Corey Henry & the Treme Funktet, and Paul Sanchez and the Rolling Road Show. Artists on the Jack Daniel’s Stage include Brass-A-Holics, Lena Prima, and Rory Danger & the Danger Dangers. At the Tropical Isle Stage, the lineup includes a Sunday morning Gospel performance from Betty Winn and One-A-Chord. At the Jazz Museum at the Mint, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, Treme Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass bands, and nearly a dozen more will be featured Friday-Sunday on the Louisiana Fish Fry Stage, and the WWL-TV Stage brings three days of music from crowd favorites like Benny Grunch and the Bunch, Creole String Beans, and Margie Perez. A complete lineup can be found at frenchquarterfest.org.
Official Festival Merchandise Unveiled
Fresh New Looks, Tumblers, Ornaments, and More!
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. proudly unveils 2019 French Quarter Festival merchandise with fresh new looks. Attendees can represent fest with styles like the Big Easy Camp, a black herringbone textured short sleeve camp shirt featuring festival icons; the More Jazz Dolman puts a unique twist on souvenir apparel with a fashion-forward way. New items like the Fleur Tumbler, branded wine cups, and ornaments will also debut at festival merchandise booths in 2019. Click here for a preview of all merchandise.
Festival artist Ayo Scott’s Soul Queen Song features a portrait of regular Festival headliner, Irma Thomas. In the background are the Mississippi River and a glimpse of the Woldenberg Park sculpture, Ocean Song, a nod to the artist's father, John T Scott, and a tie in to the event as the sculpture is prominently featured on the festival grounds.
Festival Improves Access and Sustainability
Drink to Win, Recycling, and ADA Services
Festival organizers are proud to announce a program that will allow attendees to recycle plastics and cans at French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron. Clearly marked receptacles provided by Pepsi will be placed throughout the grounds and entry-points, and reusable souvenir cups featuring festival artist Corey Henry will be available for purchase at festival beer booths. A limited number of the reusable cups have been autographed by the musician and will be randomly distributed. Attendees are encouraged to drink to win: those served an Abita beer in a signed cup will receive a Fest Family VIP pass for the day.
This initiative is part of FQFI’s goal to reduce waste and contribute to a sustainable future. “French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is striving to be a Louisiana leader in waste reduction; it’s important to our long-term success and aligns with our mission to instill increased pride in our community,” said Madero. “Last year we introduced recycling at Satchmo SummerFest and diverted 1.4 tons of waste from landfills. We are proud to expand that effort at French Quarter Festival and grateful to Corey Henry for his support of the souvenir cups; the sales will help fund the new program.”
The 2019 French Quarter Festival will also focus on improved access to make the event more inclusive. A new partnership with KultureCity will bring a Sensory Inclusive Program to the event, designed to help guests with sensory needs like autism, PTSD, and more. The center will be staffed with professionals and work in tandem with the new ADA Info Booth and Services sponsored by Aetna Better Health of Louisiana. By implementing these new programs, FQFI aims to help ensure an enjoyable and safe festival experience for all.
Family Fun at French Quarter Festival 2019
“STEM World’s Fair” is Coming to the Chevron Children’s STEM Zone
FQFI and Chevron will again welcome families to the Chevron Children’s STEM Zone at the 2019 French Quarter Festival. The educational area will return to the Natchez Wharf at the foot of Toulouse Street at the River with two full days of family-fun on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14.
Chevron supports many organizations in the community, and at French Quarter Festival they collaborate with several of them to create educational STEM Zone experiences. The 2019 theme, STEM World’s Fair, will showcase the seven continents and galaxy, while incorporating the elements of STEM into hands-on learning activities for children. Partner activities include STEM NOLA’s physics, science, chemistry, and math in action, where children will create a fire breathing dragon and test the density of a boat; at Rebuilding Together’s area kids will model ancient objects, such as pyramids utilizing pre-made slime; and at Fab Lab NOLA’s station, kids will fabricate their own miniature Eiffel Towers and also help to build a 5-foot-tall acrylic model. Other partners include Audubon Nature Institute, Children’s Museum of St. Tammany, The Water Institute, Project Lead the Way, The Nature Conservancy, WWII Museum, Mad Science LA, and National Park Service.
Culinary Lineup includes 65+ Restaurants
Eight New Vendors plus Iconic Dishes
New Orleans is arguably the country’s culinary capital, with recipes that define its diverse culture and heritage. French Quarter Festival’s Culinary Lineup, sponsored by Broussard’s Restaurant and Courtyard, offers attendees the opportunity to sample the most famous, can’t-miss dishes in the city. The culinary lineup includes decadent traditional options like Cochon de Lait Po-boys, Crabmeat-stuffed Chargrilled Oysters, and Baked Alaska, as well as contemporary and fresh healthy choices like Tujague’s Marinated Crab Claw Remoulade. This year FQFI welcomes culinary debuts Café Maspero, Dorignac’s Food Center, Landry’s Seafood, Messina’s at the Terminal, Morrow’s, New Orleans School of Cooking, Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House, Sweet Handkraft, and We Dat’s Chicken and Shrimp; Tails to Geaux: Benefitting the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation will boil crawfish Fri-Sun at the Jazz Museum at the Mint. In addition to the debuts, returning favorites include Antoine's, Café Dauphine, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, and GW Fins; several returning vendors will offer new menu items, like Voleo’s Seafood Restaurant’s Fried Softshell Shrimp with Remoulade. Abita Beer returns as a major sponsor of the festival; this year the local brewing company brings favorites including Amber, The Boot (a Louisiana exclusive), Strawberry, Hop-on, and Purple Haze or guests can sample an expanded menu at the Abita Beer Garden located at the Jazz Museum at the Mint. Wine lovers will not want to miss the new Wine Café at Washington Artillery Park with a selection of Sonoma-Cutrer and Korbel. Other beverage debuts include Sonoma-Cutrer Rosé, Korbel Brut Rosé, and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye. Bubly will also return as a non-alcoholic option. The complete culinary lineup is available at frenchquarterfest.org.
More Ways to VIP!
Fest Family Experience Offers New Perks
In 2018, FQFI gave fans seeking a special way to enjoy French Quarter Festival or entertain guests a new VIP option: the NOLA.com Fest Family VIP Experience. This year, the program will offer four-day weekend passes for $375 or single day passes for $99. Fest Family members will enjoy two elevated viewing stands near the riverfront Abita Beer Stage and GE Stage, a hospitality lounge at the Jack Daniel’s Stage, private bars and/or option to redeem complimentary beverages at all festival beverage locations, catered “fest bites”, chair massages, phone charging stations, meet and greets with special guests, air-conditioned restrooms, Satchmo SummerFest tickets, and more. The VIP benefits will be available all four days of the event. A limited number of memberships are available and help fund the free, local event. Become a member and support the fest at frenchquarterfest.org.
Sponsors Help To Keep French Quarter Fest a True Community Event
Chevron returns as Presenting Sponsor of French Quarter Festival and Satchmo SummerFest
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is proud of its 36 year history of providing high-quality community events that are accessible to all. In order to keep the festival free and open to the public, the organization relies heavily on the contributions of sponsors and partners as well as beverage and merchandise sales. Festival organizers welcome the return of Chevron as Presenting Sponsor of both French Quarter Festival and Satchmo SummerFest. “Chevron is committed to the communities in which we live and work which is why we are excited to return as presenting sponsor of the 36th annual French Quarter Festival,” said Leah Brown Public Affairs Manager, Chevron Gulf of Mexico. “Chevron invests in local arts and culture to inspire people and fuel the social and economic vitality of New Orleans and Louisiana. We’re looking forward to once again celebrating our area’s special music, cuisine and community.”
2019 sponsors include: Abita Brewing Company, Aetna Better Health of Louisiana, Acadian Ambulance Service, Inc., Academy Sports+Outdoors, ArcGNO, Badine Land Limited, Bayou Rum, Brown-Forman, The Berger Company, Blue Bikes, Broussard’s Restaurant and Courtyard, Bond Moroch, Bubly, Buffa's Bar & Restaurant, Caire Hotel & Restaurant Supply, Caballero & Adams Attorneys, Chevrolet, Clarion Herald, Crescent Crown Distributing, Cumulus New Orleans, Dorignac's Food Center, Dow Chemical, Data News Weekly, The Derbes Foundation, DownBeat Magazine, The Eliza Jane Hotel, The Fillmore New Orleans, French Market Corporation, French Market Cold Brew, Friend of Fest, Finlandia, GE, Hancock Whitney, Harrah's New Orleans, Haspel, The Helis Foundation, Hilton, The Historic New Orleans Collection, House of Blues, I.T.S. Fire Alarm Security,The J Collection, Jack Daniel's, Jones Walker, KIPP New Orleans, KKAY, Korbel, KMEZ, KREWE, Landry’s Seafood House, LASIK Vision Institute, Laurel Outdoors, LeafFilter, The Leslie Fund, Louisiana Cookin’, Louisiana Division of the Arts, Louisiana Fish Fry, Louisiana Lottery Corporation, Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, Louisiana State Museum, Luzianne Iced Tea, McLoughlin Family Foundation, Morris Bart Attorneys, Music Performance Trust Fund, National Park Service, New Orleans Hotel Collective, New Orleans Public Belt, New Orleans School of Cooking, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, NOLA Media Group, OffBeat Magazine, Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, Pan American Life Insurance Group, Park First, Paris Parker/ AVEDA, Pat O’Brien’s, Pepsi, Port of New Orleans, The Orpheum Theater, Porter Lyons, The Plant Gallery, Reily Foods, Renaissance Publishing, Republic National Distributing Company, Royal Sonesta, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, Sonoma-Cutrer, Sound Management Group, Steamboat NATCHEZ, T & G Dermatology, Taste of the South, Tequila Herradura, The Vinyl District, Touro, Tropical Isle, Westin New Orleans Canal Place, Witry Collective, WHERE Magazine, Where Y’at Magazine, Windsor Court Hotel, WWL-TV, WWL 870am, 105.3 FM, WWL.com, WWNO 89.9 FM, WRNO 99.5, WYLD, WWOZ, and Zapp’s Potato Chips.
