New Orleans needs little excuse to party, and Valentine’s Day—coming this Monday—is no exception. Whether you’re married, single, or looking for an activity to make an awkward date easier, there are plenty of opportunities this weekend to feel the musical love.
On Saturday, Tipitina’s starts getting in the mood with “Big Love”, featuring Big Sam’s Funky Nation with up-and-coming jam/funk group Earphunk opening. There’s currently a giveaway to win a free pair of tickets.
Also Saturday, the Skull Club in the Marigny hosts “Love Carnival: A Celebration of the Heart & Farewell to the Flesh” an art show as part of the St. Claude Art District’s monthly gallery night, featuring music by Doc Otis and the Junker Jazz Allstars.
At One Eyed Jacks Sunday, Fleur de Tease is giving a Valentine’s Revue Show “exploring the many types of love”—the invite even mentions necrophilia.
Valentine’s Day at the CAC, Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra are presenting “Shakespeare in Love”, with two performances of Duke Ellington’s “Such Sweet Thunder” suite of jazz themes based on Shakespeare plays and sonnets (we interviewed Delfeayo Marsalis last month about his own reworking of the Ellington compositions). Harry Shearer will make a guest appearance at the shows to recite Shakespeare sonnets.
The bard’s other obsession was carnal knowledge, and that’s what’s celebrated at “Sex in the City” at the House of Blues, a concert for the ladies. R&B/pop singer Nadiyah Skyy and Best of the Beat Best Hip-Hop Artist nominee Na’Tee headline the show, with fellow females Mykia Jovan, Elysian Fieldz, TheSeKondElement, Lady Cam and Princess Denisia opening.
If music be the food of love, well, so is food. “Eiffel Love” at the Eiffel Society offers a special 5-course dinner for two accompanied by jazz singer Sasha Masakowski and her guitarist father Steve Masakowski. At 10 p.m., DJ Soul Sister takes over to play mellow-but-funky “pillow talk” records.
Finally, for the end of the night there’s The Saint’s “Valetine’s Day Throwdown” featuring country psych rockers Felix, electro rockers Jean Eric, dubstep DJ Shanook, and rappers Young Big Dogz.
