With three days of music on seven stages plus roaming musicians, I am giving you a head start on your planning today with picks for Friday. Get psyched up! Voodoo is here!
The stage layout has changed yet again as the organizers continue tweaking the gorgeous space in City Park. There are no longer two main stages and the dance stage, known as Le Plur, has been enlarged. For local music fans, the WWOZ, Preservation Hall and Bingo! Parlor stages remain the same.
Soundgarden and My Chemical Romance are the biggest acts on Friday’s schedule, but the band I am most excited about is Red Baraat (pictured). This group plays a style of East Indian music blended with funky western styles and they closely resemble our own Panorama Brass Band. They feature a full horn section and play with exuberance. They were my “stumble” at this past year’s jazz fest. You can read about it here.
Ani DiFranco has been a part time resident of New Orleans for several years. She performs with two of the city’s most powerful musicians—the drummer Herlin Riley and the keyboardist Ivan Neville at 4:30 PM. I have no idea what to expect from this set, but it will definitely be interesting.
Earlier in the day, the Honey Island Swamp Band makes an appearance at 3 PM preceded by Fleur De Bris. This super group, I know the term is overused but here it may be warrented, played in the Jazz Tent at this past spring’s Jazz Fest and they tore the proverbial roof off the sucker. David Torkanowsky plays keys and George Porter Jr. is on bass.
Have fun out there. Tomorrow I preview Saturday and Sunday.
Photo: Ferny Chung | Retouching: Louis F. Cuffari
