Family Gras 2014

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FAMILY GRAS 2014

FEBRUARY 21, 22 & 23

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FAMILY GRAS | 2014

IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR FAMILY GRAS FEATURES MUSIC, FOOD, PARADES AND MORE.

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nce again, Jefferson Parish stages its annual Family Gras (www. facebook.com/familygras; @familygras) — three nights and two days of Mardi Gras fun geared toward kids as well as adults, with live music, food stands, costuming and parade pageantry.

Two Metairie parades will pass by the Family Gras area. On Friday, the Krewe of Excalibur will roll past in its 13th annual procession, and on Saturday, it’s the Krewe of Caesar, known for its elaborate neon-lit floats.

The Krewe of Atlas parade normally brings Family Gras to a close on Sunday night, but Atlas announced last month it will not roll this year.

Friday night’s music lineup consists of local favorites Amanda Shaw and Cowboy Mouth (the latter has played every Family Gras). Saturday features The Sizzlin’ Band, the NOLA Super Group, Steve Augeri (lead singer of Journey from 1998 to 2006), The Voice winner Cassadee Pope, The X-Factor contestant Cher Lloyd and The Orchestra (consisting of former members of Electric Light Orchestra).

On Sunday, the lineup includes Blood Sweat & Tears featuring American Idol contestant Bo Bice, as well as Courtney Cole, Danielle Bradbery, Wilson Phillips and Montgomery Gentry.

Admission is free, but a “VIP Royal Pass” ($99; available at www. ticketmaster.com through Feb. 20) allows backstage access, prime parade and stage viewing, and access to VIP food and beverage stations.

FRIDAY, FEB. 21 Excalibur 7 p.m. (should reach the festival grounds about 8 p.m.)

Theme: A Knight at the Renaissance Faire Floats: 20 King: Patrick Bain Queen: Toni Sullivan-Adams Throws: fedoras, lighted wands, necklaces, bracelets, yo-yos, logo beads

METAIRIE

Feronia

The krewe marks its 35th anniversary with a special gold doubloon, but the rest is all fun and games. The theme focuses primarily on children’s games, including Monopoly, Where’s My Water and Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots. Guest riders include New Orleans Saints punter Thomas Morstead and other players. Black and gold football beads likely will be a popular throw.

Veterans Blvd.

Clearview Shopping Center

Houma

Caesar 6 p.m. (should reach the festival grounds about 7 p.m.)

Theme: Gametime Floats: 26 King: John Roche Jr. Queen: Nicole DaLeo Throws: lighted lanyards, slap bracelets, and plush Caesar axes, dogs and leopards

Severn

SATURDAY, FEB. 22

El Dorado

Martin Behrman

12th St.

Bonnabel

The Knights of Camelot and Ladies of Avalon time travel to the familiar surroundings of a contemporary renaissance faire. Floats depict jousting and medieval games, Celtic culture, Brighton Castle and more. Prized throws include miniature wooden shields hand-decorated by krewe members. Guest riders include The Top Cats and Kenner Mayor Mike Yenni.

FAMILY GRAS | 2013

FAMILY GRAS | 2014

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FAMILY GRAS 411 • Family Gras is Friday, Feb. 21, Saturday, Feb. 22, and Sunday, Feb. 23.

• Festival Plaza is on the neutral ground of Veterans Memorial Boulevard where it intersects with Severn Avenue, in front of Lakeside Shopping Center.

• There’s live music on an outdoor stage from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 11:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Sunday (see “Hit parade,” p. 7).

• Admission is free.

• VIP Royal Passes are available and provide premium seating at the front or sides of the stage, admission to meet-and-greet sessions with musicians, two meals and two drinks per day, a VIP food and beverage area and VIP restroom facilities.

VIP INFO

Royal Passes are $99 for all three days. They are available at www.ticketmaster.com through Feb. 20 (there is a service fee) and at the festival grounds on the day of the show. (Tickets are cash only at the festival.)

• Costuming is encouraged • Budweiser and Coca-Cola products and bottled water are available for purchase.

• Family Gras is on the Metairie parade route. Excalibur begins at 7 p.m. Friday and is expected to reach Festival Plaza about 8 p.m. The Krewe of Caesar rolls at 6 p.m.

Saturday, and should reach the Family Gras site about an hour later.

• The Flambeau Food Court includes more than a halfdozen vendors selling a variety of dishes including po-boys, seafood, sausage, gumbo, wraps, chicken on a stick, fried Oreos, daiquiris and more (see “Food carnival,” p. 7).

• A kids’ area includes a free 24-foot rock climbing wall for all ages, a photo booth and more.

• There is an art market featuring arts and crafts from local artists.

• For more information, visit www.familygras.com or www. facebook.com/familygras or follow the festival on Twitter: @familygras.

SOME RULES • No outside food or beverages.

• No pets.

• No skateboards or bikes on festival grounds. (Bike racks are provided.)

HIT PARADE

A variety of music acts take the stage at Family Gras

FRIDAY, FEB. 21 Amanda Shaw 5:30 p.m. Friday New Orleans’ homegrown fiddle player, who at age 23 already has four records under her belt (her most recent album, Good Southern Girl, was released on Poorman Mayfield Music, the record label co-founded by Jazz star Irvin Mayfield), imbues traditional Cajun fiddling with high-energy contemporary pop and rock.

Cowboy Mouth 7 p.m. Friday Cowboy Mouth has been a New Orleans music institution since it formed in the late ’90s.

The rock group continues to play hits like its anthem “Jenny Says” for audiences near and far, and most sets include “I Believe,” a tribute to the New Orleans Saints.

SATURDAY, FEB. 22 The Sizzlin Band 11 a.m. Saturday This Louisiana band has been around since 1985 and plays old-fashioned rock and roll.

NOLA’s Supergroup featuring John Gros, Brian Stoltz, Mark Mullins, Craig Klein, Raymond Weber, Casandra Faulconer, Chuck Credo IV Noon Saturday NOLA’s Supergroup is a powerhouse of seven local musicians, including John Gros of Papa Grows Funk, Chuck Credo of The Mixed Nuts and bassist Cassandra Faulconer. Brian Stoltz is on guitar, and the septet also includes Mark Mullins and Craig Klein of Bonerama and Raymond Weber, formerly of Dumpstaphunk.

Steve Augeri 1:30 p.m. Saturday The former lead singer for Journey from 1998 to 2006 now tours with his namesake band and released the new single “Home Again” in December 2013.

Cassadee Pope 3 p.m. Saturday The singer-songwriter won NBC’s The Voice in 2012 and in 2013 released the Billboard No. 1 country album, Frame by Frame. She performs pop and pop-country as a solo act and also with her band, Hey Monday.

Cher Lloyd 4:30 p.m. Saturday The 20-year-old British pop star won over audiences on The X-Factor and released her

debut album Sticks + Stones in 2011. A second album, Sorry I’m Late, is forthcoming. Lloyd charms her fans with jumpy dance moves and high-energy singles.

The Orchestra 6:15 p.m. Saturday The Orchestra comprises former members of Electric Light Orchestra, the British band that produced modern rock songs with a classical sound until 2001. The new band, which includes six members of the original orchestra, released the compilation Anthology in 2009.

SUNDAY. FEB. 23 Courtney Cole 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mandeville native Courtney Cole competed to be one of CMT’s Next Superstars in 2011, and though she didn’t win, the gig put her on the map. She’s written songs with notable stars like Brett James and Justin Weaver and performs around the Southeast.

Blood, Sweat and Tears featuring Bo Bice 12:45 p.m. Sunday Blood, Sweat and Tears began performing in 1968. Members have changed over the years, but the brand of the band remains, and this version is under the leadership of Bo Bice, a one-time runner-up for American Idol.

Danielle Bradbery 2:05 p.m. Sunday The 17-year-old winner of NBC’s latest season of The Voice combines pop and country with storybook lyrics, not unlike fellow pop-country sensation Taylor Swift. The teenager released her debut album, Danielle Bradbery, in 2013.

Wilson Phillips 3:30 p.m. Sunday The ’90s pop group returned to the spotlight in 2012 when its hit “Hold On” was featured in the movie Bridesmaids. Composed of the offspring of musical legends Brian Wilson and John and Michelle Phillips, the band broke up in 1993 but revved up again in 2004 with a Christmas album and a handful of singles.

Montgomery Gentry 5 p.m. Sunday Kentucky natives Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry have recorded seven albums together and are teaming up for an eighth to be released this spring. Their appearance at Family Gras follows the release of their latest single, “I’ll Keep the Kids,” which features the edgy twang for which the duo is known.

Louisiana fiddler Amanda Shaw kicks off the music on Friday night.

FOOD CARNIVAL Flambeaux Court food vendors and their menus

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A&L Catering Crawfish and shrimp fettuccine, fried chicken wings with fries and a roll, and sandwich and fries with a choice of grilled crawfish, shrimp or link sausage on a bun

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Big Wil & the Warden Po-boy fillings include alligator sausage, bacon-wrapped shrimp, rib-eye steak and soft-shell crab and are served with fries. Other offerings include chicken on a stick, corn dogs, gyros and funnel cake.

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Cypress Cafe & Catering Chicken and sausage gumbo with rice, crawfish corn bisque, grilled chicken Caesar salad wrap, nachos and shrimp Caesar salad

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The Happy Belly Deep-fried Oreos and PB&Js, onion mum, red beans and rice, shrimp stew, shrimp remoulade

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MyMe’s Catering Barbecue shrimp po-boy, crawfish pasta, fried fish with crawfish sauce, hot wings with fries and stuffed crab with potato salad

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New Orleans Cookery Alligator on a stick, seafood pocket, blackened chicken, etouffee, jambalaya and Louisiana crab cake

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New Orleans Original Daiquiris Flavors include 190 Octane, jungle juice, pina colada and white Russian in 12-ounce, 24-ounce and 32-ounce sizes

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Smoking Ques Hamburger and french fries, Nathan’s hot dogs, pulled pork sandwich, smoked honey sausage