Hot 8, Stooges, TBC & more set for NOLA Brass Festival

In what is arguably one of the most quintessentially New Orleans music events, the New Orleans Original Brass Festival returns March 16 to celebrate and support the city’s brass band community.

Brass Fest supports Save Our Brass Culture Foundation (SOBCF), a non-profit organization “formed for the Brass Band Community, by the Brass Band Community.” Aimed and protecting and serving the brass band culture of New Orleans, the organization advocates for its community and its specific concerns and needs. SOBCF also provides teaching and mentoring jobs at schools, local jails and churches.

This year’s festival takes place Saturday, March 16, at Louis Armstrong Park (701 N. Rampart St.) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Featured performers include the Hot 8 Brass Band, Stooges Brass Band and TBC Brass Band. Rebirth Brass Band’s “Tuba Phil” Frazier will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.

To kick off Brass Fest, there will be a memorial tribute to brass band musicians who’ve passed away, including Lionel “Uncle Lionel” Batiste, Anthony “Tuba Fats” Lacen,”Dinneral Shavers, Arian Macklin and many more.

Tickets for the 2019 New Orleans Original Brass Fest are available here and range from $10 to $100. For more information, click here.