Alternative rockers Cracker, New Orleans mainstays Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, “Cupid Shuffle” singer Cupid, Louisiana blues master Chris Thomas King, keyboard wizard Marco Benevento and rising stars Tank & The Bangas are among the acts that will perform at the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo when it returns to the banks of Bayou St. John from May 19 to 21.
Founded in 2006 to mark the revival of the Mid-City neighborhood after Hurricane Katrina, the Bayou Boogaloo will celebrate its 12th installment this year. In addition to a diverse array of musical performances, there will be 30 food vendors serving a variety of cuisine and 60 art vendors presenting hand-crafted works. As usual, the event will be free and open to the public.
Music is slated to take place across four stages, with three main stages and one kids’ stage. Organizers are also working on a floating acoustic stage, though it may not come to fruition if logistics and sponsorships do not come together.
“The Bayou Boogaloo starts with world-class music, incredible food and the work of talented artists and artisans, and together it’s an experience that feels bigger than any of these parts,” said Jared Zeller, founder and producer of the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo. “It’s a sense of community and of sharing the good times and cultural riches of our city that makes the festival so special.”
Bayou Boogaloo also uses its unique location to showcase many community organizations and businesses, and one of them even ventures on the waters of Bayou St. John itself. The “Root Beer Float Float” is a floating dock that serves ice cream treats directly from the water, with proceeds benefitting Friends of the Lafitte Greenway and its work to support and maintain the Lafitte Greenway bicycle and pedestrian path.
Bayou Boogaloo is produced by the MotherShip Foundation, a nonprofit organization that uses proceeds from the annual festival for a variety of community improvements in the arts, culture, and recreation aa part of its ongoing Restore the Bayou Canopy Campaign.
Here’s a look at the initial lineup (more artists will be added in the future):
Cracker
Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen
Cupid
Chris Thomas King
Marco Benevento
Tank & The Bangas
Brownout
The Deslondes
New Breed Brass Band
Water Seed
Where Y’acht
Lightnin’ Malcolm
Luke Winslow King
Sean Ardoin
Charlie Wooton Project
Alfred Banks
Stoop Kids
Doombalaya
Pink Magnolia’s
James Martin Band
Kettle Black
Chapter Soul
John the Martyr
Maggie Belle Band
Kumasi
The Holy Warriors featuring Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes, Helen Gillet, James Singleton, Cole Williams, Matt Hampsey, Calvin Johnson, Rick Trolsen
Caesar Brothers’ Funkbox featuring Big Chief Juan Pardo
Nick Balaban & the N’awlstars
Video Age
More artists to be announced…
