French Quarter Festival will once again feature Loyola University New Orleans as the sponsor of the Esplanade in the Shade stage, marking the university’s third consecutive year supporting the beloved local festival.
This year’s programming highlights a mix of Loyola student performers alongside the debut of the New Orleans Legacy Coalition, a group made up of the next generation of the city’s musical families. The ensemble includes recent Loyola alum Michael Mullins, son of Mark Mullins of Bonerama; 16-year-old pianist River Eckert, son of Jake Eckert; and Omari Neville, son of Grammy Award-winning Cyril Neville.
In a full-circle moment, the musicians’ fathers are also expected to join their sons onstage during the festival, offering a rare intergenerational performance rooted in New Orleans’ deep musical lineage.
For several consecutive years, the Loyola University New Orleans School of Music and Media has partnered with the French Quarter Festival to sponsor the Loyola University Esplanade in the Shade Stage. Located at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint, where the stage provides hands-on industry experience for students, featuring performances from student musicians alongside local legends.
Loyola University New Orleans’ College of Music and Media offers a top-tier, industry-connected education in a premier musical city. It features programs in performance, music industry studies, education, and therapy, including a unique Bachelor of Science in Hip Hop and R&B. The school boasts state-of-the-art facilities and, as part of the School of Music and Theatre Professions, prepares students for diverse creative careers.
The School of Music and Theatre Professions also will be hosting an Alumni Brunch at the festival, and all Loyola alums – regardless of degree – are invited to attend. The brunch will be held April 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to the right of the stage, adjacent to Esplanade Avenue.
“French Quarter Festival 2026 is an exciting year for us,” said Emily Madero, president and CEO of French Quarter Festivals, Inc. “With PJ Morton coming back after 12 years, the debut of the Governor Nicholls Wharf Park and hundreds of local artists and chefs taking center stage. This year’s festival is bolder and more unmistakably New Orleans than ever. We can’t wait to welcome locals and visitors to the Quarter.”
The festival has become the largest free celebration of Louisiana’s music, food and culture. The Loyola Esplanade in the Shade stage will be a major focal point, showcasing emerging talents, established performers, and the school’s students and alumni.
Jonathan McHugh, Hilton-Baldridge Eminent Scholar and Chair in Music Industry Studies at Loyola, said that entering another year of partnership with French Quarter Fest continues to be both energizing and deeply meaningful for students and faculty alike.
“French Quarter Fest is such an iconic celebration of New Orleans music and culture, and we’re incredibly proud to be part of it,” McHugh said. “Sponsoring the Esplanade in the Shade stage for a third consecutive year speaks to the strength of our partnership, and having our students, as well as Loyola alumni, play this amazing stage means so much to us, and to the local community and music industry alike.”
The Loyola Esplanade in the Shade stage will offer programming Friday through Sunday, with musicians from Loyola performing throughout the weekend:
Friday, April 17, from 12:20 to1:35 p.m. – Tuller, Not Related, Liam Escame and Surco
Saturday, April 18, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Loyola University Commercial Ensemble
Saturday, April 18, from 2:10 to 3:30 p.m. – Tay, Heavensworld, Ja Fearce & Azure Skye, DIZZY!, and Left Hook featuring Lizette
Sunday, April 19, from 12:20 to 1:35 p.m. – Across Phoenix, James Wyrtzen and the Barnburners, and Kissing Disease
The New Orleans Legacy Coalition, featuring the offspring of some of New Orleans’ most well-known musicians, will perform April 17 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
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