Not many people can say they hopped in a van and drove across the country to play a free festival in New Orleans at the age of 14, but that is exactly what Bobby Paltauf is doing for this year’s Bayou Boogaloo.

Hailed as a guitar prodigy in his native Connecticut, Paltauf’s band isn’t much older than he is, with bass player Miles Livolsi celebrating his 18th birthday on May 16, while keyboard player Gene Leone II and drummer Isaac Civitello are both 24.

Despite his young age, Paltauf has already played with an impressive amount of musical heavyweights, from Blues Traveler’s John Popper to locals Anders Osborne, Dumpstaphunk, the Meter Men, and the Revivalists, to name a few.

But this is going to be the first trip to New Orleans for the band. And it’s adding up to be quite a trip.

“I think it’s 21 hours full bore, but we stopped in Washington D.C. last night to play a show, we’re stopping in North Carolina today to play a show, and then Georgia tomorrow, before going all the way down to New Orleans for the weekend,” Paltauf said during a call from the road on May 14.

Livolsi said the trials of the mini-tour won’t slow down the band as they take the stage at Bayou Boogaloo.

“The audience can expect a lot of energy, a lot of dancing, and a lot of long jams that will melt your face off,” Livolsi said.

While face melting may be a few years down the road still, the band is more than ready for their New Orleans debut.

“We’re really excited to play New Orleans,” Paltauf said. “We heard a lot of good things about the city, and we’re stoked to get down there.”

Bobby Paltauf Band
Bayou Boogaloo
Mothership Stage
May 18, 6 p.m.