Due to permitting issues that have also temporarily shuttered the acclaimed wine store’s outdoor kitchen, the popular Bywater business was forced to shut down live music performances this past Friday evening. If and when they resume is yet to be determined.
Bacchanal, which is owned by Chris Rudge, has played a significant role in the neighborhood’s comeback since Hurricane Katrina devastated the ninth ward six years ago. The wine shop’s food service and music on a lush backyard courtyard were a balm to returning residents and recovery workers.
The loss of the ability to have live music is a blow to Rudge due to the popularity of the regular evening concerts. But it also of significant concern to music fans and many of the city’s up and coming talents. Rudge booked players like guitarist Mark Weliky and bassist Jesse Morrow (seen in performance below) that are part of the new vanguard in New Orleans. They now have one less gig to count on. He also consistently took risks with talent that might have been considered too avant-garde at other venues, which cater to a more generic crowd.
The charm of the setting is also part of the attraction of the evening concerts. Musicians and music lovers mingle over glasses of wine and the oftentimes eclectic dining fare served by visiting chefs. The HBO television show Tremé depicted this only-in-New Orleans confluence during season one.
With news of the city’s incipient crackdown on vendors at second-line parades, one has to wonder if the new focus on code enforcement, permitting and zoning will create a generic city and kill the goose that laid the golden egg—tourism.
