There’s so much going on this weekend that I decided to give TVD readers a heads up on the latest festival presented by the good folks at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. Full disclosure—they provided grant money for my new book!
Since the year after the flood following Hurricane Katrina, the foundation has put on four neighborhood festivals. They use money generated by the big one every spring to pay for these free festivals.
The Tremé Creole Gumbo festival had previously been located behind the new Jazz and Heritage Foundation building, the former Rhodes funeral home, on N. Rampart Street. Now they are moving to bigger and better digs—Armstrong Park.
Yesterday’s post went into a bit of detail about the problems that have plagued the park in recent years, but a visit last week showed that the setting has been fully restored (with the exception of the Municipal Auditorium), and that it’s a great venue for live music.
In the past the Tremé Creole Gumbo Fest featured a wide range of music hailing from the historic Tremé neighborhood. This year it’s all brass bands, all day, both days! Even the Jazz Fest itself has never attempted that.
Luckily the lineup is creatively arranged giving dancers a wide range of styles to enjoy. Additionally, listeners will be able to study the differences that the four generations of musicians will have on display.
From up and coming acts like the Pocket Aces and the Lagniappe Brass Bands to veterans like the Dirty Dozen and the Tremé, the fest has something for every brass band lover. The Stooges, who close on Sunday, will bring their stage act. The Baby Boys will demonstrate how the youngest brass band brings the fire. Plus the winner of the high school brass band contest, which was also sponsored by the foundation, will play.
Here’s the full schedule.
See you there!
