Issue Articles
The Cotton Club Meets Studio 54: Eliza Sonnenschein manifests her journey
The performer Eliza Sonnenschein was born Gabrielle Elizabeth Sonnenschein to a military family in Germany. As her career has been building, she’s on the verge of a major career step and getting her acting chops up too. We sat down at the Audubon Zoo to find out why they’re all asking for her.
Ledisi Talks Back
Ledisi’s Good Life tour is bringing her home to New Orleans. Even though the Grammy-winning singing star and actress was just 10 years old when she moved to Oakland, California, she carries the city of her birth with her everywhere she goes.
You Can Call Me Al: SaxKixAve dynamic duo Albert and Alfred
At a recent Tipitina’s show, SaxKixAve, the project of rapper Alfred Banks and multi-instrumentalist Albert Allenback, converted a packed house into a fan base. They are hip hop-fluid as you haven’t heard it before. In lesser hands, this would be a recipe for a muddy mess. The high-level Al’s, though, finesse it so well. One can’t help but pause the next day with awe that what they pulled off in an exceptional way is about to thrill festival goers.
Dining Out: BABs
Chef Nina Compton, the Saint Lucian-born chef behind Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro, has reworked the latter into BABs, an Italian-inspired restaurant that captures the same spirit as Bywater American Bistro but boasts a new menu and updated décor.
Women in Music: Chanteuse Series features Margie Perez
The Chanteuse concert series celebrating New Orleans women in music is returning for March with a strong line-up. Included with these top-notch vocalists and performers is a well-known person around town, Margie Perez. We sat down to catch up and chat about it at Bywater Bakery.
Guitar Gumbo: The New Orleans International Guitar Festival
With the theme “Guitar Gumbo,” the 2024 New Orleans International Guitar Festival takes place March 5 through March 8. This year’s eclectic array of international artists includes Cuarteto de Guitarras de la Ciudad de Mexico, Jose Angel Perez Puentes, Geovane Santos, Alexis “Papo” Guevarra, Rafael Padron and the NOLA String Kings. The festival includes the Elias Barreiro Young Artists Competition, named in honor of the 93-year-old founder of Tulane’s guitar department.
2024 Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival: A conversation with featured artist Corey Harris
Corey Harris, the blues and beyond singer-guitarist who lived in New Orleans in the 1990s, is returning to the city for an appearance at the Danny Barker Banjo and Guitar Festival. A Virginia resident since 1997, Harris and his band will also perform March 8 at Snug Harbor.
From the Street to the Stage: Big Chief Juan Pardo at the Congo Square Rhythms Festival
Golden Comanche Big Chief Juan Pardo is also a key part of the group Tribal Gold, the union with the New Orleans Suspects, who will be playing the Congo Square Rhythms Festival. The dust had barely settled on Mardi Gras when we sat down at Rue de la Course to discuss how everything is organically coming together for him in the right way.
Vintage Vinyl Treasures (Episode 36)
Another installment of Vintage Vinyl highlighting five artists who gave us a hit song about the rain is at hand. Release dates span a period of 20 years, so I am covering a fair amount of territory from a musical style standpoint. Each brings back fond memories from the golden age of rock ’n’ roll in the ’60s and the ’70s to one new wave and two rock classics of the ’80s. My how time passes quickly these days.
Kerry “Fatman” Hunter (1970-2024)
The devastating news of the tragic death of the beloved snare drummer Kerry “Fatman” Hunter profoundly impacted those in the New Orleans music and Black cultural communities, family, friends and all of those who loved and respected him as an artist and a beautiful person. A New Orleans native, Kerry “Fatman” Hunter, died on February 13, 2024, at the age of 53.
