Kermit Ruffins, photo by Brandt Vicknair

Inaugural Tremé Festival Promises Music, Food, Gospel Showcase

The Historic Faubourg Tremé Association will host its first annual Tremé Festival this weekend. The three-day event will feature plenty of local food and music, as well as a special patrons party and a gospel showcase.

St. Augustine Church. Photo by Infrogmation.

St. Augustine Church. Photo by Infrogmation.

The festivities will raise money for the neighborhood’s iconic St. Augustine Catholic Church, which needs to be repaired in preparation for its 175th anniversary celebration in 2017.

The fun will get started on Friday, October 2 with a patron party at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz and Heritage Center. That event will include music, food and and a benefit auction. Those that would like to attend can purchase tickets here.

The New Orleans Advocate reports that Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers, John Boutte, James Andrews, Tremé Brass Band, Leroy Jones Quintet, New Breed Brass Band, Shannon Powell and Lil’ Glenn and the Backatown Band will perform at the Tremé Festival block party, which is slated to take over the area surrounding St. Augustine from 11am to 8pm on Saturday, October 4. The block party will be free and open to the public, and will also feature a second led by the Roots of Music, Zulu Connection and the Stilt Walkers and Drummers.

Finally, Sunday, October 4 will bring a celebratory gospel mass to the church at 10am before the St. Anna’s Gospel Choir, St. Augustine’s Choir and the Zion Harmonizers hold things down during the Rhodes Gospel Extravaganza from noon to 4pm.