Gretna Heritage Festival Comes Out Big

Gretna Heritage Festival

If you are looking to get out of town for a bit this weekend, the Gretna Heritage Festival is back with one of their best musical lineups in recent memory.  On Friday you can see Amanda Shaw, Honey Island Swamp Band and Benny Grunch and The Bunch, while Huey Lewis and the News close out the night in the headliners spot.  On Saturday, Flow Tribe will be out there with G. Love and Special Sauce and veteran rockers KISS in the headlining position.  Finally, on Sunday Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and the Bucktown Allstars prepare the stage for The B-52s.  In terms of headliners this is a grand slam for the festival and that’s before you even get to the excellent food.  Should be a perfect weekend for trip across the river.  Remember you can catch a shuttle from the Algiers ferry dock, which is much easier than dealing with parking closer to the festival.  

 

HIP Fest

On Friday, the Hosting Improvising Performers Festival (HIP Fest) will celebrate its fifth year.  The festival is sponsored by the N.O.I.S.E. coalition (New Orleans International Sound Exchange) and features performances from a series of visiting musicians playing alongside the local heavies of improvisational music.  Founders Jeff Albert and Marcello Benetti (who was one of New Orleans Magazine's People To Watch this year) have tapped saxophonist Tim Berne and vibraphonist Jason Adasiewicz to join the outstanding crop of local performers.  There are two shows this year.  If you are downtown in the early afternoon there is a free performance on the third floor of the U.S. Mint—this will be an hour long performance and clinic.  The main event begins at 7 p.m. sharp also on the third floor of the Mint.  This is consistently one of my favorite musical events of the year.  These performers are pushing the boundaries of what music can be.  Every year at HIP Fest I see at least one performance the likes of which I have never encountered and will likely never encounter again.  This is a beautifully curated event fore lovers of music at its most unique and inspiring. 

 

This year, HIP Fest will return on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m., the show will take place on the third floor of The Old U.S. Mint. All ages are welcome and tickets are $10. 

 

The Dream Rebel

Tomorrow, local glam rocker The Dream Rebel will release his debut EP Queen of the Cliff.  This EP is flat out fun.  There are echoes of Marc Bolan, Bowie, XTC and the Tragically Hip among others.  There is a studied excellence to the blend of styles and textures executed.  This is a very tasty preview of great things to come.  Check out the lead single “Hurt Me Bad” via PopDose below.

 

To Do This Week

Tonight Daniel Johnston is at the Joy and King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard are at One Eyed Jacks.  Tomorrow is HIP Fest at the Mint, as well as the start of Gretna Heritage Festival.  On Saturday Big Ups are at Gasa Gasa.  Sunday Har Mar Superstar drops into Santos Bar and The Stone Foxes hit Gasa.  Wednesday the amazing folk trio Joseph are at Tips. 

 

To Listen This Week

 

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