You don’t need to tell anyone in New Orleans that Irma Thomas and Tab Benoit are two of the best, but that’s been officially confirmed by the Blues Foundation this week. Both were among the winners in the Blues Music Award ceremony, which happened Thursday night at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis. Guitar-slinger Benoit [...]
JAZZ FEST DRAWS OVER 425,000
The Jazz & Heritage Foundation has confirmed that more than 425,000 people attended the 44th annual Jazz & Heritage Festival this year, over seven days at the Fair Grounds Race Course on April 26-28 and May 2-5. This is an impressive total by any standard, despite the rains and mud that reduced the turnout on [...]
John McDonogh Students
Exhibit Art and Raise Funds
for Mother’s Day with CANO
Mama Said Knock You Art! No, LL Cool J is not coming to town, but some of the coolest, more creative kids in New Orleans are coming to the McKenna Musuem of African American Art this weekend for a few reasons; one is to honor their moms for Mother’s Day, and another is to showcase [...]
RIP Valued Community Leader & Women’s Rights Activist, Ms. Pat Evans
New Orleans lost a trusted and valuable community leader last Thursday, May 2 with the somewhat sudden and unexpected death of Ms. Patricia “Pat” Evans. She passed away in her home, with family by her side, at the age of 81. Simply “Ms. Pat” to most of her Treme neighbors and to those that knew [...]
Fifth Annual NOLA Veggie Fest Returns to New Orleans Healing Center May 11-12
Well if you feel like you got your fill of boudin, seafood and pulled pork at Jazz Fest over the past two weeks, the 5th Annual New Orleans Veggie Festival is right on time to round out our diets with a whole weekend this week dedicated to all-vegetable cuisine featuring local produce and all of [...]
First Listen: Kelcy Mae, “Oh How the Whiskey”
It’s our pleasure this week to give you the first listen to “Oh How the Whiskey,” a standout track from the new five-song EP, The Fire by local singer/songwriter Kelcy Mae. Informed by folk, country and bluegrass, the Shreveport-born singer made some waves with her 2011 album Pennies in Hand, which OffBeat singled out for the [...]
Preservation Hall to release high profile CD
The Preservation Hall Jazz Band‘s continued revival just took a surprising turn: They’ve announced the release of a new album co-produced by their fan and collaborator of recent years, Jim James of My Morning Jacket. The album, That’s It will be the first in the group’s entire history to feature only original material. The venerable [...]
IRMA THOMAS CELEBRATES 30 YEARS AT THE ZOO
Time is on Irma Thomas‘ side once again. The soul queen’s Mother’s Day concerts at the zoo are a beloved tradition and this weekend she celebrates 30 years of doing the annual shows. She’ll accordingly receive a tribute from the zoo before she takes the stage with her longtime band the Professionals. Fresh from [...]
New Orleans Concert Picks of the Week: May 9 – 15, 2013
Hungry for live music..? Look no further! Here’s OffBeat’s look at New Orleans’ top concerts for the week of May 9 – May 15, 2013 featuring: J. Monque’D, Davis Rogan, Davell Crawford, Mystikal, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Gregory Agid and the Creole String Beans. May 9May 10May 11May 12 May 13May 14May [...]
Shrines & Protest Second Lines Surround Fairgrounds at Justice Fest 2013
In the shadow of the New Orleans Race Track and Fair Grounds thrives one of the city’s most historic and lively neighborhoods, flanked on one side by Bayou St. John and the edge of City Park, and on the others by the 7th Ward, Esplanade Ridge and Mid-City. Each spring, when Jazz Fest takes over [...]
