Weekend Shots!

Two free festivals, another that costs twenty bucks, but the ride across the river is free, and so much more music.

The big event on some people’s schedule is the Gretna Heritage Festival, which takes place across the mighty Mississippi at various sites in and around downtown historic Gretna. They have a great set up for east bank residents. You take the ferry from Canal Street, buy your ticket to the fest on board, and disembark very close to the main stage.

Unfortunately, I don’t have much to recommend this year on the main stage with the exception of Leon Russell (pictured),who performs Friday evening at 7 PM.

Elsewhere, there’s lots of good music if you seek it out including the New Orleans Suspects, the Revivalists, Flow Tribe, brass bands, and Mardi Gras Indians. Here’s the full lineup for all three days.

If you don’t want to spring for a festival, the Gentilly Fest celebrates five years of helping that storm-crushed neighborhood get back on its feet. Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers are the headliners. Click the link for the full schedule.

The 11th Annual “Silence the Violence” Youth Talent Contest & Festival takes place on Saturday in Washington Square Park on Frenchmen Street and Elysian Fields Avenue. Performers include Charmaine Neville, Joe “Cool” Davis, Perfect Anointing, Alicia Harry, and Kevin Stylez & Arianne Dabney. No, I don’t know anything about those last three acts.

Nighttime weather has been stunning the last few weeks. I expect the same this weekend, although a cold front may be passing through on Saturday night. Friday night, up and coming singer/songwriter Colin Lake is at D.B.A. He has been getting a lot of buzz lately. Check him out as a preview to his opening act gig at the Harvest the Music show next Wednesday evening in Lafayette Square.

Saturday night, I highly recommend jazz lovers to check out Mark Whitfield (pictured) at Snug Harbor. The guitarist is one of the members of a generation of players that helped define New Orleans music in the 1990s. I remember him sitting in a few times with Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers at Vaughan’s back in the day, and he smoked the place.

He is playing with his two young sons on drums and piano, and Roland Guerin on bass. It’s been way too long since this talented player has graced a local stage.

See you there!

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