With twenty-three stages in action from 11 AM until 8:45 PM on Saturday and until 7 PM on Sunday, there is something for every music lover at the French Quarter Festival. There are also two club-affiliated stages, at the House of Blues and the Royal Sonesta, going even later. Here are our picks for the weekend. The full schedule is here.
The Roots of Music program has generated national attention while providing musical and life lessons to hundreds of New Orleans middle and high school students. Since the program’s inception, the music has just gotten better and better. The band kicks off the Abita stage on Saturday at 11 AM. If you have not seen these kids, do yourself a favor and check out the future of New Orleans music in action.
Indie rock bands don’t get a lot of love at the various festivals in New Orleans due to our focus on the culture and traditions of New Orleans. Last year, I saw the Honorable South at the Jazz Fest and was impressed by their attitude playing to a crowd with no idea who they were. I was also impressed with the music. Fronted by the vivacious and spellbinding rock ’n’ soul goddess, vocalist/ songwriter Charm Taylor (pictured at top), the group rocks out with melodic precision.
As of this writing, the weather on Saturday is not favorable for outdoor music, but I have a solution if the rain is coming down. Head to the Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta Hotel at 2:30 PM to see June Victory and the Bayou Renegades. Victory is a scorching guitarist in the mode of Jimi Hendrix and plays Mardi Gras Indian funk.
LosOtros is the latest project from bassist Sam Price, best known for his work with the Honey Island Swamp Band and the Latin band Otra!. His newest effort hews closer to Brazilian musical styles and features a delightful female vocalist amid soulful rhythms and solid instrumentation.
My colleague Geraldine Wyckoff is prone to say, “Don’t miss the legends,” and she is right on the money with the closing act for Saturday. Walter “Wolfman” Washington is on the top of his game as a guitarist and vocalist. His 75 years seem to have honed his attack on his instrument and brought even more depth into his voice. His longtime backing band, the Roadmasters, play every style from soul, funk, and the blues with fire and energy.
Sunday gets rockin’ early with the Irene Sage Band on the Abita stage at 11 AM. Sage has been singing on the scene since the 1990s when she was a mainstay at the late, late nights at Checkpoint Charlie. After a few years with a lower profile, she is back roaring and howling blues-based rock.
I recently saw Funk Monkey for the first time in a while and was impressed by how tight the band has become. The group is the side project of Bonerama’s guitarist and trombonist, Bert Cotton and Greg Hicks. They recently released an EP showcasing both original instrumentals and classic soul jazz covers. They hit at 12:30 PM on the Riverfront Pavilion.
Since the weekend days on the main stages in Woldenberg Park tend to get super crowded by mid afternoon, take a load off and check out one of the smaller stages. The Rouse’s stage in the 700 block of Royal Street is the perfect setting for Brazilian guitarist and singer, Ricardo Crespo and his band, Sol Brasil (1:45 PM). Lately he has been playing music from the “deep” south of Brazil, which bears a close resemblance to the accordion-driven music of South Louisiana. He is immediately followed by one of my favorite groups, the Hot Club of New Orleans, at 3:30 PM.
While there are great acts at every stage in the closing slot including Raw Oyster Cult and the Honey Island Swamp Band, consider checking out Astral Project on the WWL Esplanade Made in the Shade stage. The deans of New Orleans modern jazz rarely play outdoors and their music always morphs in fascinating ways to reflect the setting.
