For the seventh year in a row, The Vinyl District is a media sponsor of the French Quarter Festival, which is scheduled for April 12–15. The festival continues to grow and attract new talent, boasting the debuts of over 30 artists. Here’s a preview of what’s to come. Stay tuned to TVD for daily previews and reviews.
Of all of the new artists performing for the first time at the fest, I am most excited about Chocolate Milk. This 1970s-era New Orleans R&B/funk band were contemporaries of the Meters and actually released more major label albums than their more famous peers.
Speaking of the Meters, Cyril Neville who provided vocals and percussion for the band during the tail end of their heyday, has a new band called Swamp Funk. The group features a bassist who has a deep pedigree in New Orleans funk. Daryl Johnson was a member of the Neville Brothers during their 1980s period of world domination.
Two artists who hail from southwest Louisiana are also making their French Quarter Festival debuts. Zydeco sensation Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble will be bringing the chank-a-chank to the crowd. Zachary Richard has often been pigeonholed as a Cajun musician, but he is so much more than that and is better defined as a francophone singer since he is also musically invested in French Canada.
For the full schedule, head here.
