Photo by Max Westerman.

French Quarter Fest reveals day-by-day music schedule

French Quarter Festival has announced the day-by-day stage schedule for this year’s gathering, as well as the details for a variety of special events.

Aaron Neville will make his French Quarter Festival debut on Thursday, April 6—the event’s opening day—when he performs on the Abita Beer Stage. The legendary New Orleans singer’s set will go from 3:45pm to 5pm, and will be followed by a set from John “Papa” Gros.

Neville is one of over 200 acts who will perform across 23 stages when French Quarter Festival returns to New Orleans from April 6-9. As usual, the party will be free and open to the public. Take a look at the full music schedules for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

In addition to the set times, the festival has also released the details for its non-music programming. The Whitney Bank Film Festival, for instance, will bring screenings of Dew Drop, I Am The Blues, Coats to Newcastle: The New Mastersounds from Leeds to New Orleans, The River of Babylon: An Elegy for South Louisiana and more at Le Petit Theatre. The lecture series, on the other hand, will feature conversations with Irma Thomas, Lost Bayou Ramblers’ Andre and Louis Michot, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Dr. Michael White and a tribute to Pete Fountain.

Of course, this year’s festival will see the return of The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch, which showcases over 60 vendors, including local favorites like Galatoire’s, Muriel’s, Praline Connection, Restaurant R’evolution, Broussard’s, Brennan’s Steakhouse, Jacques-Imo’s, K-Paul’s, Three Muses and Cochon. First-time vendors 14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurant, Bratz Y’all, and Gattuso’s have been added to the the menu.

More information on French Quarter Festival can be found via its website.