It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine. Despite the fact that all reputable scientists have debunked the “Mayan Apocalypse” theory, at least two New Orleans venues are getting into the act with special events. Assuming we’re all still here, I have a couple of suggestions for Saturday night as well.
The Maple Leaf Bar has booked Galactic to play on Friday night in anticipated of the coming end of days. Since the globetrotting jam band usually plays much bigger rooms this will be an opportunity to see the band up close and personal.
The Galactic Alignment will begin at 7:30PM in front of the Maple Leaf Bar. The street will be closed for a free block party complete with food vendors, music and far out characters to enhance the revelry. There will also be a ceremony from the Maple Leaf balcony featuring the avatar of Bolon Yok’te K’uh, who will bless the New Age.
At 10pm the Galactic Alignment party will move inside to the Maple Leaf Bar. The Galactic Alignment Band will perform under their Mayan Avatar names: S’Moore on drums, Forrest Raines on guitar, BellMan on sax and harmonica, Mercury O’Rob on bass, and Vougue L. Ritch on keys. The band will also feature stellar special guests.
A much more ambitious event is taking place at the Sugar Mill in the Warehouse District. The Cosmic Convergence Festival is an all-day, all night event that begins at noon and isn’t supposed to end until after 2 AM. Ghostland Observatory is the headliner. The rest of the acts are local bands, and they represent a broad spectrum of New Orleans music from Alex McMurray and the Hot 8 Brass Band to Quintron and Miss Pussycat.
Some industry insiders have suggested that this event could go the way of the recent Homegrown Music Festival, which was so unattended that many of the bands reportedly were asked to accept less money than was agreed upon or were not paid at all.
Saturday night, the place to be at 7 PM will be the Old U.S. Mint. Master percussionist Seguenon Kone is presenting Afrobeat Alive! He will be performing with two of his bands, Ensemble Fatien and Ivorie Spectacle. Kone is from the Ivory Coast, but makes New Orleans his home. He puts on an amazing show and Ensemble Fatien is a super group with all A-list local musicians.
Over at the House of Blues, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews is performing his eagerly anticipated annual Christmas show. According to Keith Spera of the Times-Picayune, Troy is New Orleans’ latest break out star, and I couldn’t agree more. Among other career achievements, he has played at the White House before even hitting 30 years old!
See you there!
