New Orleans New Years Eve on the Radio!

Here are a couple of ways to ring in the new year with a New Orleans twist. First, you can tune into NPR's Live Broadcast -A Toast of the Nation-via WBGO in Newark, NJ to hear Wynton Marsalis play live from Dizzy's Coca Cola Club in NYC. His set is scheduled to be broadcast starting at 11pm EST. Go HERE for details. Then, since New Orleans is 1 hour behind, you can also tune in to WWOZ for a live broadcast featuring Irvin Mayfield along with some special guests starting at 11:30 PM EST. They will be ringing in the new year from the Irvin Mayfild Jazz Playhouse on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Go  HERE for more information.

Zydeco Live from Conshohocken,PA

Coming to you tonite from the TK Club in Conshohocken , PA. Annual Xmas zydeco dance featuring Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble. For the uninitiated , Allons Danser, a Philadelphia zydeco-Cajun organization sponsors dances featuring Loiusiana Cajun and zydeco bands on a monthly basis. Wild- every time I come to one of these events can't believe I'm in Philadelphia, PA (not Philadelphia, MS)! Etois! If you never been, you should really check it out.

New Orleans JazzFest 2012 Music List Released!

It's that time again..the music lineup for the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was released last nite at midnight. Go here for artist list. There is also a great article here by Keith Spera at NOLA.com. He interviews Jazzfest producer/director Quint Davis about this years festival and about the history and logistics of putting on such a huge event. Looking at the list, so far the Eagles and Tom Petty are being featured as major headliners..not a big fan of either, but booking these huge national acts helps bring folks out to the fest and makes it possible to book and feature lesser known acts so bring em on. I spend most of my time away from the major stages anyway, preferring to focus on the smaller stages and tents....Cubes should be out sometime in the spring.

Treme Creole Gumbo Fest

Sister attended Treme Creole Gumbo Fest down in NO yesterday. See photos from the Fest below. Highlight was Glen David Andrews who at one point had guests including Paul Sanchez and members of the Soul Rebels & Rebirth Brass Bands..damn!

Kickstarter: Buy Beads for A Big Chief

Here's an opportunity that doesn't come along very often..YOU can contribute $ to help a Mardi Gras Indian Chief complete his "new suit" for the upcoming carnival season. In a novel fundraising approach, Big Chief Victor Harris, Spirit of FiYiYi, and member of the Mandingo Warriors, is utilizing Kickstarter.com to raise money to complete his African style mask and suit. Read about this project HERE. There is also a short video. You can donate as little as $1 or as much as you choose. This would be a great way for fans of New Orleans culture to literally contribute to keeping this unique feature of the local culture alive. Including a couple of pictures of the Big Chief I took a couple years ago at the Mardi Gras Indian Super Sunday parade- his suit is unique because it is of the African-style.

Back to the Blog

So..stopped blogging for a couple months ...Gonna try and fire this thing back up..main incentive is I recently created my first app (NO centric of course ) based on content from this blog so no blog, no updates to app..anyway have lots to post about...saw Trombone Shorty in Philly recently, have seen some Cajun Zydeco shows, and have cooked up some NO food..also will be for first time going down to NO for carnival & will actually be riding as a member of a Mardi Gras krewe..so stay tuned!