Gambit Digital Edition: Jazz Fest 2026 Week One

® April 20-26 2026

Volume 47 Number 16

Before Jazz Had a Name

The New Orleans Jazz Museum’s new exhibition reveals the lost piano music that helped shape America’s defning art form

State Museum

New Orleans is celebrated worldwide as the birthplace of jazz But long before jazz was named— and before recording technology could preser ve its earliest sounds —the city was already home to a vibrant musical culture shaped by African, Afro-Caribbean, Creole, and European infuences. That largely unheard world comes into focus in The First Piano Professors and the Lost Music of Early New Orleans, opening in April 2026 at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

The exhibition explores a fascinating chapter of music histor y: nineteenth-century piano compositions published in New Orleans that anticipated the rhythmic vitality, complexit y, and expressive spirit that would later defne jazz. Much of this repertoire survived only as fragile sheet music, and many of the

work s are not known to have been recorded since their own time

At the hear t of the projec t is a remarkable private archive assembled over three decades by pianist and curator John Davis. Drawing from that collection, the exhibition reunites rare frst-edition scores with newly commissioned recordings, giving modern audiences a chance to hear music that has long been silent. The result is not simply a display of historical ar tifacts, but the recovery of a musical voice.

Visitors will encounter original sheet music, instruments, photographs, and publishing ephemera within an immersive sound environment developed in collaboration with the museum’s curatorial and archival teams. The newly produced recordings will

anchor the galler y experience while also ex tending beyond the exhibition through concer ts, lectures, and educational programming.

For the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the exhibition is a natural ex tension of its mission to explore the full arc of jazz histor y and culture. But this show reaches even further back, illuminating the musical foundation from which jazz emerged.

In a city where music histor y is ofen told through familiar legends, The First Piano Professors and the Lost Music of Early New Orleans offers something rarer: the chance to hear the sounds that came before jazz—and to better understand the rich cultural currents that made New Orleans one of the most important musical cities in the world.

This ar ticle is brought to you by The Louisiana

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ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

After the fall

New Visions, New Voices features flms about Vietnam, comedy and more

IN NOVEMBER, GULF COAST ASIAN ARTS AND CULTURE (GCAAC) held its inaugural Asian Film Fest, highlighted by a screening of “New Wave,” a documentary about a generation of Vietnamese-American children who got into New Wave music in the era of early MTV and spiky hair styles. One of its subjects, singer Lynda Trang Dai, also known as the “Vietnamese Madona,” attended the screening and performed at NOL A Nite Market.

GCAAC founder Thuy Pham is following up with another new event, New Voices, New Visions: Vietnamese Cinema Week, which includes feature and documentary films, a comedy show and more, mostly at Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge and its adjoining outdoor venue from April 25 through May 3.

A big part of the impetus for the event is the commemoration of the 1975 fall of Saigon, which ended the Vietnam War. It was widely commemorated last year on the 50th anniversary, and Pham thought it deserved greater recognition.

“A lot of children don’t know how our parents came to this country or what they went through,” Pham says.

The festival opens Saturday with another screening of Elizabeth Ai’s “New Wave.” In it, she revisits her love of 1980s New Wave music while growing up in California. Many Vietnamese teens thrilled to the synthesizer-driven dance music, which was closer to Eurodisco than British New Wave. It was something their parents typically didn’t like or understand.

But the real gap was that the children were mostly born in the U.S., and they had little or no experience of the war, while many of their parents had fled the war in the early ’70s and suffered the trauma of exile, dislocation and getting back on their feet in a new country. The film seeks to bridge the gap.

The New Voices series includes a variety of recent films curated by GCAAC and Zeitgeist.

Opening weekend features “Daydreamers,” director Timothy Linh Bui’s modern vampire drama, which echoes elements of “The Lost Boys” and the “Twilight” saga. Bui was born in Saigon, and his family escaped weeks before the war ended, settling in the San Francisco Bay Area. His other films include “Green Dragon” and the star-studded “Powder Blue,” with Patrick Swayze, Forest Whitaker and more.

“Daydreamers” focuses on a pair of brothers in a vampire underworld in

by Will Coviello |

Shorty Turns 40

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews has been performing since his trombone was taller than he was, and in the years since then, he’s built an incredible solo career and worked with everyone from U2 to Juvenile. He now celebrates his 40th birthday with a blowout featuring a host of heavy-hitters, including Jill Scott, Mavis Staples, Irma Thomas, Joan Jett, Leon Bridges and George Porter Jr. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at the Saenger Theatre. Tickets start at $115.90 via saengernola.com.

contemporary Saigon. The backstory is that vampires were driven out of Europe hundreds of years ago and some came to Indochina. They preyed on the new population until they also fought back. A sort of truce formed for self-preservation, and the vampires stopped hunting human blood. Some even hoped that renouncing it would be a way to transform into humans, hence the title, hoping to one day live in the daylight instead of the night.

But the temptation of blood is extremely hard to resist for the starved vampires. And that separates brothers Marco and Nhat. Marco revels in decadent Saigon nightlife and has a growing taste for blood. Nhat wonders if he can change and live among humans.

The film varies in its style and pace, from the melodramatic and gaudy environs of Marco’s nightlife to the grittier and more lonesome shadows Nhat inhabits as he starts to connect with a human woman, Ha. “Daydreamers” is in Vietnamese with English subtitles, and it screens at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 26, and Tuesday, April 29.

Also screening on opening weekend is “Jimmy in Saigon,” in which director Peter McDowell tries to uncover the mysteries of his brother’s life and death in Vietnam.

Jimmy McDowell was the first born to his Midwestern family and was a shining star to his younger siblings. He turned onto psychedelic music and drugs and dropped out of college during his junior year. That made him eligible for the draft, and he was sent to Vietnam.

He survived the war and came home, but disillusioned with the U.S., he moved back to Saigon. He died a year later at age 24. His family was devastated and fell into a silent despair around the subject. Though Jimmy had written voluminous letters home, his life and death there were a mystery.

Peter McDowell was 5 when his brother died, and he barely knew him. In the film, he contacts Jimmy’s friends and re-traces his steps in Saigon, searching for a woman named Ly-Ly his family had thought of as Jimmy’s girlfriend and her brother Dung.

Peter is gay, and in some ways, his search parallels his own sense of disconnection from his family. He patiently sorts through the distortions of time, memory, language, the war, homophobia and more. He also has stunning good fortune, meeting a doctor who treated Jimmy and finding lost possessions. It screens at 7 p.m. Monday, April 27, and Thursday, April 29.

The fest also screens Cambodianborn director Hong Khaou’s “Monsoon,” a drama about returning to Vietnam long after the war, and Truong Minh Quy’s “Viet and Nam,” a queer love story about separation that was banned in Vietnam. In “The Empathizer,” Fred Le travels to Vietnam to try to understand why his mother won’t return to her homeland.

Fred Le also performs in a touring comedy showcase called Embarrassed by Night. The lineup includes New Orleanian Rosie Tran (a producer of Le’s film), Andy Van, Viet Nguyen, Mai Lg, Binh Ngo and Sean Porter. It’s at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at the St. Claude Arts Park adjoining Zeitgeist.

For more information, visit zeitgeistnola.org or @gcasianartsculture on Instagram.

Gabrielle Cavassa

New Orleans-based vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa releases her new album and Blue Note Records debut, “Diavola,” on May 1. A rich, dynamic vocalist, Cavassa won the International Sarah Vaughan Jazz Vocal Competition in 2021, and in recent years has been a regular performer with the Joshua Redman Group. Cavassa next performs at 8 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Music Box Village with James McClaskey and the Rhythm Band. Tickets are $33.01 via musicboxvillage.com.

David Sedaris

Humorist and former NPR contributor

David Sedaris has published essays and fiction in books including “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” “Let’s Explore Diabetes with Owls,” “Calypso” and “Happy-Go-Lucky.” His latest work includes a collection of essays, “The Land and Its People,” due out in May, and a children’s book, “The Selfish Sister.” He reads from and discusses his work at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 20, at Orpheum Theater. Tickets $75.30 and up via ticketmaster.com.

Mt. Joy

Los Angeles indie rock band Mt. Joy quickly caught attention for their first single, “Astrovan,” back in 2016. And since then, the band has developed a loyal following for its folk-rock driven

PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

‘Jimmy in Saigon’ screens in the New Voices, New Visions series.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DARKSTAR PICTURES

OPENING GAMBIT

Don’t be a Jazz Fest casualty! Remember to hydrate and wear plenty of sunscreen!

THUMBS UP/ THUMBS DOWN

NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility located in New Orleans East played a major role in the successful Artemis II mission, which recently took astronauts back around the moon. Nearly 90% of the rocket was built at Michoud, and the facility has been called “America’s Rocket Factory” for its work dating back to the Saturn rockets that propelled the Apollo program. Now, the facility is busy with crews working on parts for Artemis III, set to launch in 2027.

La. Senate panel OKs bill to indoctrinate teens in conservative “success” ideology

Ben Depp, a New Orleansbased visual artist, has won the 2026 COHN | GNOF | NOL A | ARTS Award for his aerial photography of the wetlands on Louisiana’s coast. The award came with $13,000, and Depp will be honored at an Oct. 13 reception at the Marigny Opera House.

A LOUISIANA SENATE COMMITTEE NARROWLY PASSED A BILL NAMED AFTER THE LATE RIGHT-WING POLITICAL ACTIVIST CHARLIE KIRK that would force high schools to “teach” students the path to success is graduating high school or college, immediately getting a job after and only having children after marriage.

governmental and economic pressures which have been repeated demonstrated to be the primary drivers of poverty, particularly issues of gender, race, class and labor rights.

THE NUMBER OF NAMED STORMS COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS ARE PREDICTING FOR THIS YEAR’S HURRICANE SEASON.

Of those, six are expected to become hurricanes, with two expected to be major Category 3 or higher hurricanes. The total named storms is slightly smaller than an average season, which typically sees 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. Researchers say a “robust” El Nino this year will make storm development more difficult. These predictions, however, don’t mean you shouldn’t already be preparing for a major storm hitting the New Orleans area this year.

The Trump administration gave an exemption from the Endangered Species Act to the oil and gas industry operating in the Gulf of Mexico, a move that could cause the extinction of Rice’s whales, a species in the Gulf with only about 50 remaining. Despite the administration itself saying last year that encounters with oil ships would likely mean the end of Rice’s whales, a committee dubbed the “God Squad” decided to let oil and gas developers ignore ESA rules.

On a vote of 3-2, the Senate Education committee advanced Senate Bill 269 by Chair Rick Edmonds, a Baton Rouge Republican pastor. It would require both public and private schools to provide students with “data” that show that people who follow this order are less likely to end up in poverty.

The bill refers to it a “success sequence” that will “help them avoid poverty, forge a path to the middle class, and realize the American Dream.” It’s based on a controversial theory popular with far-right authoritarian extremism groups, most notably The Heritage Foundation.

The theory has little scientific data to back it up. Additionally, while its basic tenants may seem largely benign, in practice it can be used to pressure young women, in particular, into focusing on having children at an early age.

Success sequence theory also completely ignores the cultural,

The bill says the Louisiana Department of Education can involve research institutions, nonprofits “and other interested stakeholders in an effort to assemble pertinent guidance, make public service announcements, videos, handouts, and other supplemental materials to assist schools in implementing proposed law.” It does not define who counts as a stakeholder.

No one on the committee said they had a problem with the idea of having schools teach students such content. But two Black Democrats on the committee objected to naming the bill after Kirk, who had a history of making racist and other derogatory comments.

“Why muddy this bill up by putting a controversial political figure’s name on it?” asked Sen. Katrina JacksonAndrews, a Monroe Democrat.

“In the last 20 years, I can’t think of anyone that’s had the type of impact on our students on our campuses and in our cities as Charlie Kirk,” Edmonds replied.

Sen. Sidney Barthelemy II of New Orleans read some of Kirk’s

14% I LIKE TO SET UP

19.4%

State Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge

PHOTO BY JAVIER GALLEGOS / THE ADVOCATE

racist comments out loud to the committee, including “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like ‘boy, I hope he’s qualified,’ ” and “If you’re a WNBA, pot-smoking, Black lesbian, do you get treated better than a United States marine?” Kirk made both remarks on his show.

“I completely disagree with violence of the kind that Mr. Kirk lost his life [to]. But with that said, his success was founded [on] insulting people, insulting

communities, being derogatory to specific groups of people that did not think like he thought and did not look like he looked. And we take objection to hoisting the image of that sort of person up,” Barthelemy said.

JacksonAndrews also brought up when Kirk said in 2023, “Happening all the time in urban America, prowling Blacks go around for fun to go target white people.”

“When we send a bill to the student with Charlie Kirk’s name, and regardless if we like it or not, those students have to determine whether they were the ‘prowling Blacks’ that he was talking about in their urban community,” she said.

Jackson-Andrews and Barthelemy tried to amend the bill to remove Kirk’s name, but that effort failed.

They voted against the bill, while Republican Sens. Edmonds, Beth Mizell of Franklinton, and Blake Miguez of New Iberia voted for it. — Kaylee Poche

In surprise display of common sense, Louisiana Republicans kill anti-vaxx bill

THE LOUISIANA HOUSE EDUCATION

COMMITTEE APRIL 15 SHOT DOWN AN ANTI-VAXX BILL ending a requirement for nearly all students in the state to show proof of vaccination against meningococcal disease, a fast-spreading and potentially fatal illness that can lead to permanent disabilities.

HB 737, which was sponsored by Houma Republican Rep. Beryl Amedee, would have removed meningococcal disease from the list of required school immunizations for students at K-12 schools and post-secondary learning institutions. The bill ultimately failed with 8 committee members voting against it — including several of Amedee’s Republican colleagues — and 4 in favor.

Amedee has long promoted anti-science conspiracy theories about vaccines and pushed legislation undermining trust in the medical community. For instance she believes in “chemtrails,” which are not a thing, and has trafficked in baseless COVID19 conspiracy theories. She was also a driving force behind efforts to strip trans athletes of their civil rights.

During debate on her anti-vaxx bill, Amedee argued current requirements for young people, which were put in place during the 2006 and 2009 sessions, are outdated and shouldn’t apply to healthy, “low-risk” people.

“This does not prevent a family from having their children vaccinated,” she said. “It simply takes off the mandated list for all healthy children.”

Current state law already has wide-ranging exemptions for families who do not want to vaccinate their children.

Some lawmakers and other members of the public who spoke out against the measure questioned why it would be necessary to change the law when there are already such carve-outs.

The late conservative activist Charlie Kirk

PHOTO BY ROSS D. FRANKLIN / THE AP

Amedee said the bill would align the state with new — and medically unsound — federal guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is overseen by prominent anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Baton Rouge-based pediatrician Mikki Bouquet spoke out against the bill and said it can be difficult for health care providers to determine who is high-risk when it comes to the rare but devastating illness, until a patient becomes infected.

Bouquet also cited a recent outbreak in Kent, England, where several students contracted meningitis and two died. “It can hit hard and fast, and I would not wish that on any parent or child.”

Another speaker, Krystle Beauchamp, said she had contracted meningitis at 19 while attending the University of New Orleans, before the state implemented its vaccine requirements. She was hospitalized for weeks and nearly died, she said.

“I was simply going into battle unarmed,” she said. “The vaccine was not recommended or discussed with my family at vaccine time. Had it been, I know that my parents would have chosen to protect me. This highlights how critical clear medical guidance and strong public policy are.”

Meningococcal disease can lead to meningitis — inflammation in the brain and spinal cord — and other blood infections. It is fatal in up to 15% of cases and can also cause blindness, deafness, and other permanent damage. It requires swift medical intervention and antibiotic treatments, and can leave people disabled or dead within hours.

“If we come out and say that we don’t recommend this (vaccine), then we know our vaccine rates will go down, and we will see outbreaks,” Bouquet said, adding, “I can’t predict what child’s going to get meningitis. It’s in our population, and so it would not be right of me to withhold that vaccine, knowing anybody could be at risk.”

A second survivor said she was permanently disabled and had her lower limbs amputated after catching meningococcal disease while in college, before the vaccine requirement took effect.

“This is not a common cold or a slow-developing infection,” she said. “It is extremely fast-acting, highly destructive and highly contagious, and it will affect others if we leave our students at risk ... Meningococcal (disease) does not discriminate.”

— Sarah Ravits

Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Houma.

PHOTO BY MELINDA DESLATTE / THE AP/THEADVOCATE.COM

JOHN STANTON

Louisiana GOP isn’t interested in protecting the rights of Black voters

EARLIER THIS MONTH, REPUBLICANS IN THE LOUISIANA STATE SENATE blocked a common sense voter protection measure authored by New Orleans Democratic Sen. Royce Duplessis despite broad public support for the measure.

It is a sad, if perhaps unsurprising, decision on the part of Republicans in Baton Rouge who seem intent on meddling in the affairs of Black communities — but only in ways that restrict, and not protect, their voices politically.

Duplessis’ SB 365 would bar local governments from implementing laws, policies or practices which would limit or suppress the ability to vote of protected populations like Black, Latino and Asian Americans. It would also prohibit governmental bodies from using redistricting tactics that split up large Black population centers among a number of majority white areas to reduce the ability of Black candidates to win office.

The bill also would have created the Louisiana Voting Rights Commission, which would have “preclearance” say over any proposed changes to election rules and practices to ensure they are not discriminatory.

SB 365 is based on the federal 1964 Civil Rights Act, one of the biggest wins of the Civil Rights Movement that helped end Jim Crow restrictions on Black voters. While conservatives are fond of selectively quoting from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the Civil Rights Act — which King was instrumental in getting made law — has never sat well with them.

For decades they’ve chipped away at its protections, and in 2013, the Supreme Court struck down the law’s preclearance provisions. Since then, 103 polling places in Louisiana have been closed, and more than 300 precincts have been consolidated, many of which are in Black communities. Predictably, those changes have had an adverse effect on Black voters.

While the committee heard nearly two hours of testimony in favor of the bill, not a single person spoke against it. To a degree, that’s understandable: After all, making a coherent case

against making sure Black Louisianans can vote without sounding racist is an improbably hard task.

Nevertheless, Republicans on the committee quashed the bill.Meanwhile, Republicans are continuing to ram through measures to limit the say of voters in New Orleans. The full Louisiana House the week of April 20 is expected to take up legislation consolidating the city’s civil and criminal courts, eliminating the juvenile court entirely and shrinking the total number of judges hearing cases.

Republicans in the Senate are also moving their own measures, including a bill reducing the size of the appeals court and one similar to the House’s to consolidate city courts.

New Orleans is, of course, a majority-Black city. Both the House and the Senate bills would eliminate the Criminal Clerk of Court, an elected position which was recently won by Calvin Duncan, a wrongfully convicted Black man who has yet to even take office. And most of the seats on the bench that would be eliminated are currently held by Black women who were elected to those positions.

Protecting the rights of citizens is the most basic job of our lawmakers who, despite their party affiliation, are supposed to represent the interests of all Louisianans, regardless of race, which parish they are from or what party they vote for.

Politicians are fond of calling the right to vote one of our most sacred rights as Americans. And they’re correct, it is the right from which all others spring forth from and are protected by. It’s time they start acting like it.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

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Hey Blake,

I remember nighttime concerts at the Municipal Auditorium as part of Jazz Fest in the early days. When did those night concerts end?

Dear reader, NIGHT CONCERTS WERE A FIXTURE AT THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL for its first 35 years. Founder George Wein saw them as a complement to daytime performances in Congo Square and later the Fair Grounds. In 1970, the fest’s first year, concerts were held aboard the S.S. President riverboat and at the Municipal Auditorium. Tickets ranged from $3.50 to $6.50.

Pete Fountain and Clyde Kerr performed on the first night aboard the President. Fountain returned for the first night at the Municipal Auditorium, which also included Fats Domino, the Dukes of Dixieland, the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Sharkey Bonano, Papa Albert French, Sweet Emma Barrett and the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band.

The second night at the Auditorium featured Mahalia Jackson, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and the New Orleans Modern Jazz All Stars, featuring Ellis Marsalis, Earl Turbinton, Johnny Vidacovich and others. The Saturday, April 25, 1970, night concerts at the Auditorium featured Germaine Bazzle,

Al Hirt, Al Belletto, the Onward Brass Band, James Rivers and headliner Duke Ellington, who premiered his “New Orleans Suite,” which Wein had commissioned for the festival.

In the years that followed, night concerts were held at the Municipal Auditorium, as well as at the Saenger Theater, the Theater for the Performing Arts and the S.S. Admiral riverboat, among other venues. Headliners included Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and B.B. King as well as Fats Domino, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas and other local stars.

Jazz Fest ended its nighttime concerts in 2004.

IN HONOR OF NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK (APRIL 19-25), WE REMEMBER A LOST LIBRARY FROM THE CITY’S PAST: the former main branch of the New Orleans Public Library. The ornate Neoclassical building opened in 1908 at what is now called Harmony Circle.

The building, designed by the architectural firm of Diboll, Owen and Goldstein, was constructed with $275,000 in funds donated in 1902 by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Work began in 1906 and was completed in 1908. The building featured four 30-foot tall limestone columns, a massive staircase and copper dome on the roof.

The Daily Picayune described the building in a story chronicling its opening day on Oct. 31, 1908: “The Library Building is largely a reproduction of the Mars Ultor Temple of Rome, built in honor of Mars, the God of War, by Augustus Caesar, to commemorate the victory of Phillippi ... the interior of the main floor is very striking in its design.”

By 1955, however, the building was considered by some to be small and out of date. A New Orleans Item editorial called it a “has been.”

“It was built in 1908, when the city population was only 300,000. Its style was the style of the day – imposing but inconvenient,” wrote the newspaper in an editorial urging voters to approve a bond issue for a new library headquarters. “Its planning defies adaptation to modern heating, air conditioning or lighting. Its 32 steep steps may once have looked grand and stately. Now they just look discouraging to most library users.”

A new main library branch opened in 1958, and the Harmony Circle property was sold and later demolished. An office building was built on the spot, which later became K&B Plaza.

Sharkey Bonano joins the Kings of Dixieland at the Municipal Auditorium in 1970.

PHOTO BY .J. PATTERSON / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE ARCHIVE

APRI L2 3- MAY3

JAZZ FEST 2026

WEEK ONE

FOOD AND CULTURE

THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL GOT THE HYPE BALL ROLLING a little earlier than normal this time when organizers announced the 2026 lineup way back in December. It’s given fest diehards plenty of time to buy tickets and comb the schedule, but it has also meant waiting a little bit longer for the gates to open.

Finally, Jazz Fest returns to the New Orleans Fair Grounds for another eightday run of music, food and local culture on Thursday, April 23, through Sunday, April 26, and again Thursday, April 30, through Sunday, May 3.

It will again be a big event, with 12 music stages and tents featuring big touring acts and performers from New Orleans, South Louisiana and across the world. There’s also an interview stage, a stage hosting culinary demonstrations, a kids’ tent, parades, cultural performances in the Folklife Village and hundreds of food and arts vendors.

Headliners for the first four days include Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, Lorde, Jon Batiste, Kings of Leon, Tyler Childers, Nas, David Byrne, Raye, Stephen Marley and The Isley Brothers. And there’s a vast range of genres, from rock, blues, funk and R&B to the sounds that have defined New Orleans and South Louisiana, including jazz, brass bands, zydeco and Cajun music. There also

are many international bands showcasing a world of music.

The festival this year highlights Jamaican music and culture, with performances in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion and on other stages. There are performers with Jamaican heritage playing reggae, ska, dancehall and adventurous styles blending the familiar with the contemporary. There also are Jamaican artists, and New Orleans restaurant Afrodisiac will be serving dishes near the pavilion (read more on page 61).

Ticket prices vary by day, and Louisiana residents can get better prices on single-day and weekend tickets. Locals Thursday tickets are now $65 advance online and $75 the day of and at the gate. Read more about those details, the fest’s cashless policy and other useful information on page 46.

On the following pages, Gambit previews the first weekend at Jazz Fest 2026, with interviews with Jon Batiste, Catherine Russell and Gov’t Majik, picks for each day, an overview of this year’s Jamaica spotlight and more. There’s also a pullout section with a map of the grounds and daily schedules for all eight days.

Head to nojazzfest.com for tickets and other information. And keep up with Gambit’s daily coverage from the fest at bestofneworleans.com and on our social media pages.

PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

Dickie Brennan& Co.

APRIL 23

WEEK ONE THURSDAY

Gov’t Majik

11:20 A.M.-12:10 P.M.

FESTIVAL STAGE

GOV’T MAJIK HAS BEEN HITTING NEW ORLEANS STAGES FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES, but the band’s co-founder and bassist Bru Bruser has been OK with letting the self-described “Dirty South Afro-Beat Arkestra” go quiet for a spell.

The group has always drawn a good response, but Hurricane Katrina, the death of a band member and roster changes have over the years put the project on hiatus for years at a time. When things didn’t feel right, it was fine to focus on something else, says Bruser, who spent several years in Corey Henry’s Treme Funktet and now plays road dates with Erica Falls.

Recently, though, Gov’t Majik has been in a busy period. The band released the forward-looking, groove-filled “Bass Age” EP in 2023, has been packing stages with a dozen musicians at spots like the Maple Leaf and hosted a couple of editions of Felabration, an October show celebrating Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti. Gov’t Majik will open the Festival Stage at this year’s Jazz Fest, and there’s a new album coming later this year.

About four years ago, Bruser and Gov’t Majik keys player and co-founder Eduardo Tozzatto decided to get the band going again.

“This time I’ve just been more dedicated to it,” Bruser says. “We put a lot of time into the band and just wanting to get to a point where we can play a lot of these local festivals.”

Along with Bruser and Tozzatto, Gov’t Majik’s roster is a deep slate of great New Orleans musicians. The lineup is fluid but shows often include vocalist Cristen “Ten” Spencer, guitarist Danny Abel, drummer Peter Varnado, percussionists Luke Quaranta and Jafet Perez, baritone saxophonist Kyle Cripps, tenor saxophonist Rex Gregory, trumpeters Aurelien Barnes, Ricio Fruge and Steve Lands and trombonist Miles Lyons.

Gov’t Majik’s music is rooted in Afrobeat, the danceable style fusing West African rhythms with funk and jazz, but the band’s sound stretches into the beyond with psychedelic influences combined with soul, rock and New Orleans styles. Parliament-Funkadelic’s inspirations also can be felt, and P-Funk saxophonist Greg Thomas has been a frequent guest with the band over the years.

Bruser, an Alexandria native who moved to New Orleans in the late-’90s to study music at UNO, had originally been a guitar player. But after seeing Paul Jackson playing with Herbie Hancock with The Headhunters in 1998 at the House Blues, Bruser knew he had to pick up a bass, he says.

A few years later, Bruser wanted to put together a band to play some songs by Fela Kuti, Manu Dibango and other Afrobeat and Afrofunk greats — music he had fallen in love with in high school.

“When I started becoming a decent guitar player, I would try to learn that stuff along with James Brown and P-Funk stuff,” Bruser says.

He and Tozzatto started Gov’t Majik in early 2005, and the band immediately started playing a good bit along Frenchmen Street, Bruser says. But there also have been stretches of inactivity in the years since. The band made its Jazz Fest debut in 2007, and it has released a couple of albums, “Reality (It Hits You...)” and “Party Favors.”

Now, Gov’t Majik is gearing up to release “This Magic Feeling” in September. The band received a Threadhead Cultural Foundation grant to support the album and recently recorded at Studio in the Country in Bogalusa.

“I’m really happy with all of the songs on [this album], and I think it will be the best recorded, best sounding album we’ve made,” Bruser says.

Along with the Jazz Fest set, Bruser and other Gov’t Majik musicians will join guitarist Marcus Machado on Friday, May 1, at Couches Records for a late-night show of Jimi Hendrix and P-Funk music. Find more information at couchesrecords. com. Gov’t Magik can be found at govtmajik.com. — JAKE CLAPP

CAPTURE THE FLAG is back!

PROVIDED PHOTO BY JARED LYONS

THURSDAY

23 APRIL

THURSDAY

AT JAZZ FEST

Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars

11:20 A.M.-12:20 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

The soulful, woozy brass in singer Salvatore Geloso’s voice is a taste of the New Orleans dive bars Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars regularly play. And surrounding Geloso is a group steeped in rhythm and blues, jazz, funk and New Orleans style. The band released its debut project in 2025. Geloso will also be interviewed by Ben Sandmel at 3:45 p.m. Thursday on the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage. — LIAM PIERCE

Rik Jam and The Island Federation

11:20 A.M.-12:20 P.M.

CONGO SQUARE STAGE

2:20-3:20 P.M.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE PAVILION

Ronaldo “Rik Jam” Ricketts fronts this Kingston, Jamaica-based reggae band that bridges the gap between roots tradition and modern dancehall. Ricketts developed his love of music by singing in his neighborhood’s church and pursued music following his mother’s passing. The band’s live performances maintain a deep, hit-and-don’t-quit bassline gravity and their music emphasizes a conscious lyricism — despite one of their most popular songs being called “Don’t Want Consciousness.” — LIAM PIERCE

Moyuba: A Tribute to the Spirit of Michael Skinkus

11:20 A.M.-12:05 P.M.

JAZZ & HERITAGE STAGE

This year’s Jazz Fest, like many in recent memory, includes an early opening day set from energetic Afro-Latin jazz ensemble Moyuba. But this time, the local group will take the Jazz & Heritage Stage without bandleader and co-founder Michael Skinkus. The prominent New Orleans percussionist and educator passed away earlier this year, and Moyuba will honor the life and spirit of their friend with a joyful noise and carry on his memory and rhythms. — BRAD RHINES

Vieux

Farka

Toure

12:50-2 P.M.

BLUES TENT

5-6 P.M.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE PAVILION

Mali musician Vieux Farka Toure’s unique style of West African guitar dabbles in both the pentatonic and blues scales, a fusion that earned him the title “Hendrix of the Sahara.” His music honors the legacy of his father, Ali Farka Toure, but his stage show pushes the boundaries of tradition, with rock influence, fret-obliterating solos and a hypnotic desert-blues groove. — LIAM PIERCE

Nidia Gongora

12:55-1:55 P.M.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE PAVILION

4:15-5:15 P.M.

JAZZ & HERITAGE STAGE

Nidia Gongora writes and sings in the Colombian Pacific style known as cantora, and she sees her role as a cultural guardian, responsible for transmitting culture from ancestry to today. This results in a danceable sound made of a complex layering of vocals and Afro-Colombian percussion. She’s Grammy nominated and quite adept at collaborating with artists from other modern genres, so expect a diverse range of sounds. — LIAM PIERCE

Maggie Koerner

2:10-3:10 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

As Galactic’s lead singer in 2013 and 2014, Maggie Koerner funneled the power of her big, churchtrained voice into soul-shattering rockers like “Gimme Shelter.” These days, she wields her expressive strength a bit differently, reminding listeners there’s also power in emotional vulnerability. Koerner’s 2025 album “Upstate” finds the singer-songwriter, a Shreveport native, revisiting stories and experiences from her past with more introspection than urgency. Think pretty, slow-building melodies, spare accompaniments and lilting heartbreakers.

— JENNIFER ODELL

Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr. feat. Deezle and BlaqNmilD

2:10-3:10 P.M.

CONGO SQUARE STAGE

NEA Jazz Master Donald Harrison Jr. has devoted much of his career to connecting seemingly disparate music styles, genres, eras and artists in innovative ways, beginning with his pivotal 1997 album “Nouveau Swing.” An alumnus of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, the fleet-fingered alto saxophonist continued on that path with 2024’s “The Art of Passion.” Featuring producer and multi-instrumentalist Deezle, the three-track EP offers the titular song performed as a hard swing number as well as versions mixing in trap and hip-hop. At Jazz Fest, they’re joined by producer BlaqNmilD for a set of New Orleans-rooted jazz and hip-hop. — JENNIFER ODELL

Karma and the Killjoys

2:15-3:15 P.M.

LAGNIAPPE STAGE

Baton Rouge-based Karma and the Killjoys made their festival debut last year, and the quartet return this weekend with a unique brand of theatrical, Gothadjacent, self-proclaimed “piano rock.” Fronted by a pair of bewitching vocalists, the band continues to grow a dedicated following thanks to moody, eclectic

Maggie Koerner

PROVIDED PHOTO BY HUNTER HOLDER

Festival Essentials

THURSDAY APRIL 23

WEEK ONE

club gigs and inventive tunes like their latest single “This Song Was Stolen by Pirates,” described by the band as a “an anti-AI sea shanty.”

BRAD RHINES

Blind Boys of Alabama

3:30-4:35 P.M.

GOSPEL TENT

With their stirring four-part vocal harmonies, stylistic flexibility and far-reaching repertoire, this historic gospel group has become a defining feature of America’s music landscape. The Blind Boys’ membership has fluctuated since the 1940s, when the founding vocalists began performing professionally near the Alabama Institute for the Negro Deaf and Blind. Since then, the group has expanded their musical palette, delving into secular soul, R&B, jazz and rock as well as classic gospel and spiritual numbers. The group’s 2023 album, “Echoes of the South,” earned them their sixth Grammy. — JENNIFER ODELL

Cimafunk

3:40-4:55 P.M.

CONGO SQUARE STAGE

With a stage presence that’s like a Cuban James Brown, Afro-funk artist Cimafunk and his band, La Tribu, have become a Jazz Fest must-see. The band is known to deliver a sweatdrenched dance party and a fluid mix of funk, hip-hop and traditional Cuban rhythms. Cimafunk recently released the new single, “Concinarte,” and announced a new album coming May 22. — LIAM PIERCE

Nicholas Payton feat. Butcher Brown

4:05-5:20 P.M.

WWOZ JAZZ TENT

Trumpeter, keys player and composer Nicholas Payton teams up with the

collective Butcher Brown for this special “A Supreme Blue” set honoring Miles Davis and John Coltrane’s historic musical partnership. It comes amid a wave of Davis and ‘Trane tributes timed to the late artists’ shared centennial this year. Payton and Butcher Brown’s homage is poised to include reworked takes on the masterpieces “A Kind of Blue” and “A Love Supreme.” — JENNIFER ODELL

Kings of Leon

5-7 P.M.

FESTIVAL STAGE

It’s hard to believe it’s been more than 20 years since Kings of Leon dropped the debut EP, “Holy Roller Novocaine,” a punchy dose of sleazy Southern rock that kickstarted serious buzz around the Tennessee band. Their latest release, “EP #2,” follows a run that includes major hits like “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody,” nine full-length albums, countless live shows and the band evolving into a polished arena rock act.

— BRAD RHINES

Raye

5:20-7 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

British singer-songwriter Raye had gotten an early career boost after signing with Polydor Records and co-writing songs for Beyonce, Charli XCX and John Legend. But the label wouldn’t release her debut record. After Raye was finally able to leave Polydor, she released her album “My 21st Century Blues” in 2023 to instant acclaim for her mix of pop, blues, jazz and dance music and a record-setting number of wins at that year’s Brit Awards. Raye now comes to Jazz Fest with her recently released second full-length, “This Music May Contain Hope,” which blends jazz, soul and big band music for an album about facing heartbreak and self-doubt. — JAKE CLAPP

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Jon Batiste

JON BATISTE’S RECENT PERFORMANCES AT JAZZ FEST have felt like love letters to New Orleans and its culture. The Kenner born, St. Augustine High School and NOCCA alum has put a lot of meaning into the sets he’s performed when he’s back in town, turning them into celebrations of musical heritage.

“Whether it’s intentionally presented that way or not, it’s in the feeling of it. It’s always a love letter to the city,” Batiste recently told Gambit. Now a New York resident, Batiste returned to New Orleans for Jazz Fest in 2023 with a few new Grammy Awards in tow for a joyous Festival Stage headlining show. Batiste and his band were surrounded by members of the St. Augustine High School Marching 100 and the Gospel Soul Children, groups that shared in Batiste’s Grammy win for Album of the Year for his 2022 “We Are.” Buckjumpers, African-inspired dancing, nods to hip-hop and bounce and Native American drummers and singers were also featured throughout the performance in a demonstration of the many parts of New Orleans culture.

Batiste’s set on the Gentilly Stage the next year similarly homed in on the roots of New Orleans music, but in more subtle ways. Drawing from his album “World Music Radio,” the crossgenre show — again, full of Batiste’s charisma — drew from different parts of the African Diaspora, with sounds from Brazil, Cuba, Haiti and other parts of the Caribbean meeting in New Orleans.

Even his more recent non-Jazz Fest appearances have been intentional, like his Love Riot festival in the 9th Ward ahead of last year’s Super Bowl, which brought out New Orleans natives Ledisi, Tarriona “Tank” Ball, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Cyril Neville. Batiste also performed the National Anthem to open the game, sitting at a piano painted by his wife, the author and artist Suleika Jaouad.

“What we want to do this year [at Jazz Fest] is create this moment that is all of that but in the form of a dance party,” Batiste says. The dynamic multi-instrumentalist headlines the Festival Stage at 5:10 p.m. Friday.

FRIDAY APRIL 24

Batiste also will present a show titled “Swamp,” at 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the Blues Tent, and he will be interviewed by David Fricke at 1:45 p.m. Thursday on the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage.

The Festival Stage show will include songs from across Batiste’s catalogue, including his most recent Grammywinning album, the R&B and soul-leaning “Big Money.” But, of course, it’ll be presented in a unique way — Batiste described it like “a DJ set.”

“Imagine singing along and dancing and celebrating [with] 50 or 60,000 people on the Fair Grounds on that sacred land,” Batiste says, “and non-stop transcendence with all of the elements of dance and musicianship we had in years prior and weaved together.”

Batiste grew up in an extensive family of musicians and took to music quickly, picking up drums at the age of 8 and then the piano a few years later. As he starts to think about his Jazz Fest sets, many of those early experiences come to mind, he says.

“Learning how to play, being a part of this incredible cultural inheritance and realizing what it means, and thinking about all of those times,” Batiste says.

There was the time he sat down with drummer Zigaboo Modeliste at a diner, and the funk legend gave the young Batiste insight into the music business. He remembers the first performances he had with Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews when they were in 10th grade. Or maybe it’s the more recent memory of playing with his late cousin Russell Batiste at the Maple Leaf in 2023.

“I just think of all of those experiences. How do I make people feel the vibrational frequency of all of this personhood and all of this life?” Batiste says. “It’s an intangible thing. It’s not about picking songs. It’s really more like curating a musical that only happens once.”

The Sunday Blues Tent show he’s calling “Swamp” is a concept, a “world,” he started building in 2014, he says, and he’s developed a story and characters in that world. Jazz Fest will be the first time he’s presented the world on stage and outside of his inner circle.

When asked about specific music styles, Batiste described the show in more cinematic terms.

“It’s probably like a fantastical, dystopian drama that really points to the ecological state of the planet,” he says. “It’s this sort of Saturday night celebration that moves into Sunday morning revival. … Something that is futuristic but harkens back to the roots of everything — our basic human instincts and the things that are fundamental in terms of why music is one of the oldest traditions in the world.”

Batiste was the focus of Jazz Fest’s 2022 poster, and he appears again on this year’s edition. The 2026 poster is dedicated to Louis Armstrong and the 125th anniversary of his birth (although, Satchmo claimed 1900 for his birthday), and showing the lines of jazz heritage, Batiste is included next to Andrews and the Treme Brass Band’s Benny Jones and “Uncle” Lionel Batiste.

Andrews and Batiste actually met as kids at the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Jazz Camp.

“My first understanding of jazz and the first mythological figure of the music that wasn’t someone in my family that I became aware of was Louis Armstrong,” Batiste says. “So it’s a profound honor. It’s like being placed amongst the ranks of true royalty.”

Following Jazz Fest, Batiste heads out on a string of shows with orchestras around the country. Find information at jonbatiste.com. — JAKE CLAPP

PROVIDED PHOTO BY JONNY MARLOW

24 APRIL

FRIDAY

AT JAZZ FEST

Free Agents Brass Band

12:30-1:30 P.M.

JAZZ & HERITAGE STAGE

Free Agents formed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina when a group of displaced brass band musicians found themselves in Atlanta. Some band members returned as soon as they could and found work playing store re-openings and second lines. Their 2008 album “Made It Through That Water” was re-released in 2025 to commemorate Katrina’s 20th anniversary. — LIAM PIERCE

Sevana

12:45-1:45 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

3:35-4:35 P.M.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE PAVILION

Jamaican artist Sevana’s vocal style lands as a kind of soulful reggae-slash-dancehall sound in free-floating melody and occasional patois. Her expressiveness may owe a bit of credit to her acting career. She portrayed reggae artist Judy Mowatt in the Bob Marley biopic “One Love” in 2024 and the lead role in Television Jamaica’s web series “Losing Patience” in 2016. But she was a musician first, starting from the age of 16 and citing Celine Dion as her biggest inspiration. But, to make a bold comparison, her sound comes across like a Jamaican version of Lauryn Hill’s melodic work. — LIAM PIERCE

Jonathon “Boogie” Long

12:50-2:50 P.M.

BLUES TENT

To get a sense of Jonathon “Boogie” Long’s particular brand of hard-driving Southern blues rock, just take a look at the kinds of acts he’s shared a stage with: ZZ Top, Robert Cray, Joe Bonamassa and a whole bunch more. Long’s tunes are shot through with a jolt of playful showmanship — check out his latest video, “Baby I’m Through,” from his 2026 album “Courage

in the Chaos.” But when it comes to big beats, chunky riffs and blazing solos, there’s no question the Baton Rouge native and Jazz Fest regular is serious about the blues. — BRAD RHINES

Rosie Ledet

1:40-2:35 P.M.

FAIS DO-DO STAGE

A mainstay of the Southwest Louisiana zydeco scene, Rosie Ledet has been a Fais Do-Do Stage staple since the mid-’90s. With her backing band the Zydeco Playboys, Ledet packs dance floors and keeps crowds moving with her swaggering stage presence, up-tempo tunes and vibrant accordion work. — BRAD RHINES

Los Skarnales

1:55-2:55 P.M.

JAZZ & HERITAGE STAGE

5-6 P.M.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE PAVILION

The zoot suited Houston band Los Skarnales produce a punk-ska-reggae-rockabilly sound that pulls cumbia and danzon to center stage. Their fourth studio album was recorded in New Orleans, so they’re well acquainted with the city. Horns, bass, drums and ska guitar will have you skanking in no time.

— LIAM PIERCE

Cyril Neville

2-3 P.M.

FESTIVAL STAGE

Cyril Neville still goes hard at 77 years old. Part of New Orleans’ first family of funk and former member of the Meters and the Neville Brothers, Neville stays busy spreading the gospel of New Orleans grooves. His solo sets deliver a danceable lesson in music history, often covering local classics like Professor Longhair’s “Tipitina” and Dr. John’s “I Walk on Gilded Splinters” as well as hits from his own extensive body of work. Neville has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Wild Tchoupitoulas’ record, so also look out for Mardi Gras Indian funk classics. — BRAD RHINES

Givers

2:10-3:15 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

Lafayette-born band Givers struck indie pop gold with their 2011 debut album, “In Light,” propelled by the album’s catchy, infectiously upbeat lead-off track “Up Up Up.” Mainstream attention landed them slots at Lollapalooza and Coachella, along with a television debut on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and a NPR Tiny Desk performance. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the album, and the band’s original lineup plays “In Light” in full at Jazz Fest. Vocalists Tif Lamson and Taylor Guarisco also will be interviewed

Lorde

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

by

Clint

Maedgen

at 4:15 p.m. Friday on the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage. — BRAD RHINES

Ani DiFranco

4:20-5:35 P.M.

FAIS DO-DO STAGE

Ani DiFranco has been blazing her own trail and talking truth to power ever since the release of her self-titled debut album in 1990 on her own Righteous Babe record label. The prolific folk-punk musician and feminist icon is a true original, with an off-kilter acoustic guitar style and a poet’s way with words. DiFranco’s latest album is 2024’s “Unprecedented Shit,” and she recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of her classic “Not a Pretty Girl.” — BRAD RHINES

Big Freedia

5-5:40 P.M.

GOSPEL TENT

For some, seeing Big Freedia headline the Gospel Tent might raise some well-tweezed eyebrows. But to those deeper in the know, the Queen Diva is right at home there. The bounce artist grew up in the church choir and last year released a gospel album, “Pressing Onward,” which will feature heavily on Friday. Big Freedia will be back to her bounce and pop set on May 2 over on the Congo Square Stage. — LIAM PIERCE

Lorde

5:30-7 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

As a teenage pop star, Lorde’s dreamy, stripped-down electro-pop on her 2013 debut “Pure Heroine” spoke to the fragile 9th grader inside us all. Love arrived via rolled-down car windows and orange juice gifts (“400 Luxe”) while rampant materialism sparked existential dread (“Royals”). Now 29, Lorde’s sound is similar until you look under the hood. Her personal new album “Virgin” delves into weightier and at times darker matters, ranging from a past eating disorder (“Broken Glass”) to generational trauma (“GRWM”) balanced out with moments of sonic bubblegum pop. — JENNIFER ODELL

Sean Paul

5:45-7 P.M.

CONGO SQUARE STAGE

Barring anyone with the last name Marley, you’d be hard pressed to find

WEEK

ONE FRIDAY APRIL 24

a bigger Jamaican superstar than Sean Paul. As can be heard on his latest album, 2022’s “Scorcha,” the dancehall vocalist’s tightly packed lyrics still flow with the quickness. Expect Friday’s headliner to spin early 2000s hits like “Gimme the Light” or “Like Glue” to get you to the right temperature to shelter you from the storm. — LIAM PIERCE

Hiromi’s Sonicwonder

5:45-7 P.M.

WWOZ JAZZ TENT

Sonicwonder is the latest quartet project from the classically trained pianist Hiromi Uehara, whose recent original compositions favor a high-energy, fusion-oriented sound that highlights her now-signature virtuosity. The group, which also includes bassist Hadrien Feraud, drummer Gene Coye and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, released their second studio LP “Out There” in 2025. Fans of keyboard pyrotechnics, unexpected rhythmic turns and high-speed technical precision, take note. Hiromi also will be interviewed by Jason Berry at 3:15 p.m. Friday on the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage. — JENNIFER ODELL

Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

SATURDAY APRIL 25

25 APRIL AT JAZZ FEST

SATURDAY

The Deslondes

11:15 A.M.-12:15 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

Named for the 9th Ward street that serves as the band’s home base, The Deslondes have been kicking around the city’s Americana music scene for around 15 years, and next month, they release their newest album, “Don’t Let It Die: Vol. 1.” The collection of covers features influences both old and new, from songs like “Lawdy Mama” by 1950s New Orleans guitarist Edgar Blanchard to recent material written by friends Kiki Cavazos, Nick Woods and Pat Reedy. — BRAD RHINES

Little Freddie King Blues Band

12:45-1:35 P.M.

BLUES TENT

When he was 14, Little Freddie King rolled off of a train from McComb, Mississippi, and made New Orleans home. Seventy years later, King is a New Orleans icon and a gutbucket blues legend. In September, though, King took a bad fall from his electric bicycle and injured his arm, hand and leg. The fall left lasting damage, and unfortunately, King’s guitar-playing days may be behind him. Still, he can sing, and he’s bound and determined to keep up his Jazz Fest streak, so King and his band are taking the Blues Tent stage with two guest guitarists. Along with King on vocals, the band will include drummer “Wacko” Wade Wright, harmonica player Bobby Louis, bassist Robert Snow and guitarists Ryan Scully and Tony Dios.

Keep an eye out, too, for King’s recently released album “Live at BJ’s Lounge.” The record captures the storied bluesman in his element at his longtime Bywater haunt shortly before his accident. “Live at BJ’s Lounge” is vinyl only and can be found at Louisiana Music Factory, Euclid Records and BJ’s.

— JAKE CLAPP

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

1:55-3:05 P.M.

FESTIVAL STAGE

Two-time Grammy-nominated blues rocker Samantha Fish released her latest album, “Paper Doll,” last year around the time she hit the Festival Stage for a set full of swagger and fire. The guitarist and vocalist mostly plays originals, like the catchy, passionate “Sweet Southern Sounds,” but she’ll occasionally throw in her take on ’60s rhythm and blues, like Barbara Lewis’ “Hello Stanger.” The Kansas City, Missouri-born, New Orleans-based Fish releases “Paper Doll Live” in early June to capture the evolution of her 2025 album into raw, soulful, crowd-revving crescendos. — LIAM PIERCE

Lutan Fyah

2:10-3:10 P.M.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE PAVILION

4:45-5:30 P.M.

JAZZ & HERITAGE STAGE

Jamaican musician Lutan Fyah is known for his work with reggae stars like Beenie Man and more recently Ky-Mani Marley, one of Bob Marley’s sons. His up-tempo reggae and smooth vocals cover a range of topics. Songs about Rastafarianism and cannabis are chief among them — “Weed Oooooh” is one of his top streamers — but his 2025 release, “Strength and Resistance,” gets political and a lot more serious.

— JENNIFER ODELL

3:30-4:50 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

Tyler Childers

5:20-7 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

Much respect to the Jazz Fest schedule-makers who managed to book the one-two punch of Jason Isbell and Tyler Childers, two of the biggest names in independent country music, to close out the Gentilly Stage on the fest’s first Saturday.

After an early 2000s stint with alt-country rockers Drive-By Truckers, Jason Isbell launched a solo career with his own outfit, the 400 Unit, releasing two albums to modest acclaim. It was the 2013 album “Southeastern,” partly inspired by Isbell’s newfound sobriety, that really took off thanks to the emotional songcraft of numbers like “Cover Me Up” and excellent musicianship. While some thoughtful introspection is to be expected with Isbell’s latest record, last year’s “Foxes in the Snow,” fans can also count on the 400 Unit to raise a ruckus on older material and maybe even a surprise throwback tune or two from the Truckers days.

Kentucky son Tyler Childers makes his Jazz Fest debut this year, touring behind his latest album “Snipe Hunter.” The singer-songwriter isn’t afraid to ruffle the feathers of country music traditionalists with his outspoken views on social and civic issues, like the pro-Black Lives Matter fiddle tune “Long Violent History” from 2020. The new record, a collaboration

Samantha Fish

Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit

PHOTO BY MAX BECHERER / THE NEW ORLEANS ADVOCATE

with influential producer Rick Rubin, puts Childers’ twang-and-holler approach to modern country front and center, from the winking ode to success “Eatin’ Big Time” to the lonesome lament on substance addiction, “Nose on the Grindstone.”

— BRAD RHINES

BrukOut

Sound System

3:35-4:35 P.M.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE PAVILION

The Jamaican sound system has an important history in the country’s culture. Made up of a group of DJs and emcees and stacks of speakers, the sound system rose out of necessity to become a party staple, playing dancehall, reggae, hip-hop, dub and remixes. BrukOut Sound System was founded by London-born producer and DJ Seani B, and at Jazz Fest, he’ll be joined by musicians Nesta, Laa Lee and Izzy Bossy. BrukOut also performs Sunday at 1:15 p.m. in the Rhythmporium and at 3:35 p.m. in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion.

— JAKE CLAPP

Kr3wcial

4:45-5:30 P.M.

RHYTHMPOURIUM

New Orleans-born rapper and producer Kr3wcial has been carving out a unique place in Crescent City hip-hop. He’s a dynamic vocalist, turning on

KITCHEN KI HE OPEN OP 11AM-10PM 11 -10P FRI&SAT AT TILL 11PM LL

a dime from smooth flows to gruff phrasing, and he’ll roll gospel, soul, jazz and string instruments into his sound. Last fall, he released the meaningful full-length album “God is With Us,” which for now can be found on vinyl at Peaches Records. He’s performed at Jazz Fest before with the glbl wrmng collective, but he makes his solo festival debut on Saturday. — JAKE CLAPP

Dave Koz & Friends

Summer Horns

5:20-6:50 P.M.

WWOZ JAZZ TENT

Saxophonist Dave Koz has played smooth jazz and soft rock-inspired instrumental pop in a variety of contexts since he left Richard Marx’s band in 1989 to go solo. He’s released multiple holiday albums and recorded with artists as diverse as Xian aTunde Adjuah, Barry Manilow and Eric Benet. But his go-to touring act is Summer Horns, which he debuted in 2013. Recent performances have focused on familiar ’70s pop and jazz hits arranged for a 5-piece horn section. — JENNIFER ODELL

Rhiannon Giddens

5:25-6:55 P.M.

BLUES TENT

Grammy-winning banjoist and vocalist Rhiannon Giddens could recently

be found in the movie “Sinners,” for which she also was a music consultant, and playing on Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter.” Those projects are just the latest in the work done by MacArthur Genius since her days with the Carolina Chocolate Drops: promoting the Black musical traditions at the foundations of American roots music. Giddens last year released her latest album, “What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow,” a collaboration with fiddler Justin Robinson.

— LIAM PIERCE

Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers

5:25-6:55 P.M.

FAIS DO-DO STAGE

From the radio hits of the ’80s, to a touring member of the Grateful Dead and forays into bluegrass and jazz, Bruce Hornsby’s 40-year career has taken some unexpected twists and turns. And the 71-year-old pianist and songwriter continues to innovate. His new album, “Indigo Park,” released earlier this month, is another step forward. It’s an eclectic collection of snappy pop songs with unpredictable melodies, wide-ranging instrumentation and thoughtful lyrics that should translate well to the Fais Do-Do stage.

— BRAD RHINES

Stevie Nicks

5:30-7 P.M.

FESTIVAL STAGE

Stevie Nicks has been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, first for her part in Fleetwood Mac, whose eponymous and “Rumors” albums helped define the sound of 1970s pop-rock, and then for her prolific solo work, which extended far beyond the famously drama-addled band. Nicks wrote a number of Fleetwood Mac’s songs, so her sets often roll classics like “Landslide” and “Rhiannon” next to solo hits like “Edge of Seventeen.”

— JENNIFER ODELL

Nas

5:55-7 P.M.,

CONGO SQUARE STAGE

East Coast hip-hop legend Nas still attacks the mic with the same focus that made “Illmatic” a landmark album more than 30 years ago. The son of jazz and blues player Olu Dara, the emcee came out swinging in 1994 with his debut album, and last year, he released his latest album, the long-awaited collaboration with DJ Premier, “Light-Years.” It’s been a few years since Nas’ last time at Jazz Fest, his 2017 set featuring The Soul Rebels.

Stevie Nicks

PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

WEEK ONE JAZZ FEST

Making Moves

Public transit, e-bikes and other ways to get to Jazz Fest

WE CAN’T TELEPORT YET, but there are other ways to get to Jazz Fest no matter what part of town you’re coming from.

Festival attendees have several reliable options for transportation, whether it’s through ride share apps, e-bikes, taxis or the good ole RTA bus. It’s also the best time of year to meander through the neighborhood on foot or by bike and soak up the lively scene of neighbors boiling crawfish, toasting with bloody marys on their porches and cranking up the tunes.

City buses, e-bikes and cyclist info

Public transit users will want to connect to the No. 91 JacksonEsplanade RTA bus, which makes several stops near Jazz Fest along Esplanade Avenue. The closest RTA stop is Maurepas and Esplanade, just a few blocks from the Sauvage Street entrance to the Fair Grounds.

Using the RTA is likely the cheapest option for most festival goers who are coming from other parts of town, as a bus, streetcar and ferry ride costs $1.25. For those who want to bounce around town using public transit, there’s an option to fork over $3 for a Jazzy Pass, which gets users unlimited rides for the day and includes the option to also take the streetcar and the Algiers ferry.

You can plan your route and get bus and streetcar updates through the Le Pass mobile app and at norta.com. Riders also can buy tickets in the app. New Orleans’ Blue Bikes program, meanwhile, is easy to navigate and a fun way to get around the city. The Blue Bikes app directs users to the closest available e-bikes through a map, and the bikes are available to unlock for a $1 and then 35 cents per minute after.

After your ride, park the bike at a designated “hub” for free, or pay an extra $2 fee to leave it at another public bike rack. Note that the bikes have an electric charge and move faster than regular bikes, so be extra cautious about traffic, and stay in bike lanes when possible. The bikes automatically light up at night for an extra safety measure.

Entrances and parking lots

There are three entrances to get into the Fair Grounds: at Gentilly Boulevard, Sauvage Street and Trafalgar Street. Festival goers also can buy their tickets day-of near the Sauvage Street entrance. Expect some heavy foot traffic, but lines tend to move pretty quickly even during peak hours.

Both the Gentilly and Sauvage pedestrian entrances have designated bike parking for cyclists.

There’s also a car parking lot for people with disabilities, next to the Gentilly entrance. Spaces cost $65 daily on Thursdays and Fridays, and $75 on Saturdays and Sundays. Parking is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Some VIP ticket holders can also use the private lot.

Parking nearby

A lot of the street parking spots within earshot of the Fair Grounds, from Fortin Street to Grand Route St. John, are limited to neighborhood residents only and are blocked off to other vehicular traffic.

So for those who insist on driving their own cars or hitching a ride in a carpool, be prepared to hoof it for several blocks, as street parking options are limited the closer you get. Keep in mind this is not the best time to test your luck when it comes to parking in illegal spots: Parking enforcement officers will be out in full force issuing tickets and booting cars that are obstructive.

Just consider your stroll over to the gates a good warmup for all the dancing you’ll be doing once you get inside. Also, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the street scenes and porch parties in the surrounding area — it could end up being some of the most fun you’ll have during Jazz Fest.

Downtown shuttles

Jazz Fest offers an Express Shuttle, giving air-conditioned rides from downtown hotels and from City

Park. Passes can be added to online ticket sales.

A one-day shuttle pass is good for one round-trip and costs $29. It gets festival goers from one of four designated pickup spots to the Fair Grounds and back to their starting point. A weekend pass, which covers one round-trip daily for four days, costs $96.

Departure sites are at the Sheraton Hotel; the Steamboat Natchez dock; the Hyatt Regency Hotel; and by City Park on Wisner Boulevard near Fillmore Avenue (which is a free parking location).

The Express Shuttle operates from 10:30 a.m. till 7:30 p.m. One-way passes can also be purchased upon exiting. More information can be found at graylineneworleans.com/ jazz-fest-express.

Rideshares and taxis

Drop-off and pickup points for Lyft and Uber users are limited to areas outside of the perimeter of the Fair Grounds to avoid disrupting neighborhood traffic. But they can be accessed starting at Moss Street, St. Bernard Avenue, DeSaix Boulevard, Broad Street and Ursulines Avenue.

Taxis are allowed to get a little closer, and there are drop off and pickup sites near Stallings Playground on Gentilly Boulevard and at the Walter Wolfman Washington Memorial Park off Esplanade Avenue, which is near the Sauvage Street entrance.

Things to check out on the way in and out

Dedicated festival goers have certain rituals, and for many, that includes grabbing a drink on their way in or out of the gates, either from the Seahorse Lounge (1648 Gentilly Blvd.) or Liuzza’s by the Track (1518 N. Lopez St.). Both spots are close to festival entrances on Gentilly and Sauvage Street, respectively.

There’s also Sauvage Fest, a longstanding house and block party with live music. Festival goers also are likely to catch a brass band or two playing in the streets after the gates close for the night.

Meanwhile, Pal’s Lounge (949 N. Rendon) is close to scenic Bayou St. John and is always a lively scene, starting in the afternoons and lasting into the late night — it’s a favorite meet-up spot for friends and neighbors to catch up and rehash the highlights of the day. Be on alert for pop-up food vendors, too. — SARAH RAVITS

JAZZ FEST JAZZ FEST

APRIL23RD –MAY 3RD,2026

WEEK ONE JAZZ FEST

JAZZ Fest 2026 INFO

THERE’S A LOT TO NAVIGATE BEFORE YOU GET TO THE MUSIC STAGES AT JAZZ FEST. Below is a quick guide on tickets, accepted forms of payment, accommodations for disabled fest goers and what attendees can bring to the fest. For more information, see the FAQ page at nojazzfest.com/faq.

Tickets

JAZZ FEST HAS A VARIETY OF TICKET OPTIONS, from single tickets to weekend and VIP passes. Online purchase requires setting up an account on axs.com. Ticket prices include fees. Tickets for children ages 2-10 are $5 at the gate.

Louisiana residents (with Louisiana billing address zip code) can get single-day tickets for Thursdays for $65 in advance or $75 at the gate. Friday and Sunday tickets are $109 in advance and $119 at the gate, and Saturday tickets are $129 in advance and $139 at the gate.

Non-Louisiana residents can purchase Thursday tickets for $109 in advance. Single-day tickets for Friday and Sunday are $139 in advance and Saturday tickets are $159 in advance.

Weekend passes are $379 for Louisiana residents in advance and $459 for non-residents in advance. Various weekend passes with added amenities are available.

Visit nojazzfest.com/tickets for details about tickets.

On the Grounds

» Jazz Fest is cashless. The box office and food and other vendors accept credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.

» Jazz Fest is accessible to people with disabilities. There is information on nojazzfest.com/faq about available resources. To get further information in advance of the festival, email access@nojazzfest.com. There is an Access Center with information on services and facilities. It is located in front of the Grandstand. Limited parking in an accessible lot is available for $65-$75 per day.

» There are two medical tents on the festival grounds. One is near the edge of the track between the Gentilly and Fais Do-Do stages; the other is on the edge of the track between the Festival Stage and Jazz & Heritage Stage.

» Water filling stations: There are water refilling stations near the Rhythmpourium and at the end of the Food 2 area on the Grandstands side.

Allowed on the Grounds

Below is information on what Jazz Fest allows and prohibits on the grounds. There are metal detectors and bag searches at the entrances.

JAZZ FEST PERMITS:

» Small bags and backpacks (17 by 12 by 10 inches) and 12-pack soft coolers

» Single, collapsible chairs

» Wheelchairs and medical scooters

» Push strollers for children

» Blankets and small tarps not exceeding 6 by 8 feet

» Factory-sealed bottled water and snacks for personal consumption

» Hand-held, personal-sized umbrellas

» Fully trained service animals to assist attendees with disabilities

JAZZ FEST PROHIBITS:

» Large or hard-sided coolers and soft or rolling coolers larger than 12-pack size

» Rolling bags

» Wagons and carts

» Pets

» Glass

» Outside beverages except factory-sealed water

» Personal tents

» Playpens or portable cribs

» Shade canopies, shelters or beach or pole-style umbrellas

» Athletic games, kites and throwing discs

» Large chairs with rockers, foot rests, side tables, etc.

» Inserting stakes, poles or any other objects into the ground, or use of ropes, cords, tape, etc. to reserve space

» Bicycles or other wheeled personal transport devices (e.g. skateboards, scooters, hoverboards, go-peds and Segways) are not allowed inside the gates

» Inflatable items

» Drones

» Video- and audio-recording equipment

» Unauthorized vending or promotional items

» Weapons, illicit drugs and other contraband

Transportation

There are many ways to get to and from the Fair Grounds, including bicycle, taxi, rideshare and shuttle. For information and tips on the best options, see “Making Moves” on page 34.

PHOTO BY WILL COVIELLO / GAMBIT

8 – 10 | M Y 15 – 17

Starring Cristina Perez Edmunds ith Script b Denise ltobello

The story behind the woman who became he Lady in the utti Frutti Hat.

SCAN FOR TICKETS

Catherine Russell

3:05-4:10

EACH MONDAY, the Hot Club of New York hosts a listening session centered around 78 rpm records. The group calls itself “a temple of jazz shellac,” and the meetings — which are ticketed and open to anyone via Zoom — are often themed and involve a special presentation on the rare jazz and blues records in the club’s catalog.

Vocalist Catherine Russell is a Hot Club regular, and she decided to not only dedicate her upcoming album, “Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center,” to the group but also focus on songs originally released on those fragile, shellac 78 records.

“They’ll have a theme every week, so they’ll have Coleman Hawkins or Louis Armstrong and then play recordings so you can learn at the same time,” Russell recently said during a call from New York. “There’s great vintage equipment to play the records, and sometimes they play test pressings, where it’s just one copy of something. It’s really always interesting.”

Some of those early jazz, swing and blues songs that are featured on “Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center” also will be included in Russell’s set when she performs at Jazz Fest Sunday in the Economy Hall Tent. She’ll be joined by bassist Russell Hall, drummer Domo Branch, guitarist and Russell’s musical director Matt Munisteri and Ben Paterson on piano and Hammond B-3 organ. New Orleans trumpeter Wendell Brunious also will join the set for a few songs.

Russell’s lauded career includes eight solo full-lengths, collaborative recordings with Sean Mason and Colin Hancock’s Jazz Hounds, three Grammy nominations and vocal credits on more than 200 albums, including with David Bowie, Steely Dan and Rosanne Cash. But “Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center” is her first solo live album.

“I like to be in control of what goes out into the world, and then if it’s live, I’m thinking about it during the performance and all that type of stuff,”

Russell says. “So this time, I just tried to forget that it was being recorded and tried to have a good time.”

Recorded in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Appel Room, Russell and her band play a rousing set of songs first recorded by Hot Lips Page, Blanche Calloway, Cab Calloway, Tiny Grimes, Helen Humes and more.

She also includes the song “Old Man River,” originally recorded by her father, Luis Russell, the celebrated pianist and bandleader who lived for a time in New Orleans and later acted as Louis Armstrong’s musical director. Born into a deep musical heritage, Catherine Russell’s mother was the pioneering vocalist and guitarist Carline Ray.

Tap dancer Michela Marino Lerman also appears on several songs, adding another layer of rhythm to the music. The inclusion of tap onto the album helps illustrate the intertwined history of jazz and dancing, Russell says, and how shows once would often feature a variety of acts.

With songs from the ’30s and ’40s on “Live at Jazz at Lincoln Center,” Russell not only dusts off some “deep, deep cuts in jazz history” but demonstrates how full of life these songs are. But it’s both about performance and preservation.

“If we’re not delving into our own jazz heritage, then I don’t think I’m doing my job,” she says. “There’s so much material out there. It brings these things into the present, and you get to learn about people that you haven’t heard of that put out great music.”

Find Catherine Russell at catherinerussell.net.

PROVIDED PHOTO BY GILBERTO TADDAY / JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER

26

APRIL AT JAZZ FEST

SUNDAY

Nomfusi

12:45-1:45 P.M.

CONGO SQUARE STAGE

5-6 P.M.

CULTURAL EXCHANGE PAVILION

South African Afro-soul vocalist Nomfusi sings R&B anthems against poverty like 2009’s “Nontsokolo” but also has the pop appeal to lead vocals on the Calippo remix “Heat (African Day),” a deep house track. Her stage show includes ballads and rock jamouts alike, her voice ranging from a coo to the clicks of her native Xhosa language to a powerful, trumpet-like blast — all coming together in a soulful, slow simmer.

— LIAM PIERCE

Dr. Michael White’s Original Liberty Jazz Band feat. Thais Clarke

1:40-2:40 P.M.

ECONOMY HALL TENT

Clarinetist, composer and historian Dr. Michael White is among the world’s leading traditional New Orleans jazz experts. He’s also an expressive and engaging musician whose tone, repertoire and style all reverberate with the history of the music he loves. A devotee of clarinetist George Lewis, White played with Ernest “Doc” Paulin and Danny Barker’s legendary Fairview Baptist Church Marching Band before launching the Original Liberty Jazz Band in 1981. Their Fest sets with singer Thais Clarke often range from classics, like Lewis’ “Burgundy Street Blues,” to bawdy early blues. It’s a consistent festival highlight. — JENNIFER ODELL

Boyfriend

2:10-3:10 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

New Orleans-based vocalist and songwriter Suzannah Powell recently announced she’s retiring her stage persona Boyfriend later this year, telling fans her alter ego “has said what she came here to say.” For more than a decade, Boyfriend’s prickly synth-pop bangers have tackled issues around identity, feminism and sexuality, while her cabaret-style performances, featuring flocks of backup dancers, inspired fans to arrive in costume as Boyfriend, among other weird moments of revelry. Get your rollers ready. — JENNIFER ODELL

Gitkin

2:25-3:10 P.M.

RHYTHMPOURIUM

Led by New Orleans-based guitarist and Pimps of Joytime member Brian J. Gitkin, the band Gitkin makes genre-defying music that’s moody, atmospheric and mostly instrumental. The songs swirl with a whole host of influences ranging from surf

rock, spaghetti western soundtracks, global jazz and psychedelic funk. The project’s fifth full-length album, “Where the South Winds Wail,” is due out next month. — BRAD RHINES

Irma Thomas

3:35-4:45 P.M.

FESTIVAL STAGE

Irma Thomas’ formidable career took off in the 1960s when she scored hits with “It’s Raining” and “BreakA-Way” and began working with Allen Toussaint, who would come to see her as a muse. The Grammy winner’s rich voice has since become synonymous with New Orleans’ golden age of R&B. In 2025, the Soul Queen of New Orleans joined forces with Galactic to release the remarkable “Audience With the Queen.” Thomas also performs a gospel set on the festival’s second Sunday. — JENNIFER ODELL

St. Vincent

3:40-4:55 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

Art rock musician and guitar wizard St. Vincent has had a celebrated career across her seven studio albums and a collaboration with David Byrne. And it’s easy to see why: She tackles each new project with a fresh perspective and style, from the baroque pop of the album “Strange Mercy” to the more cinematic and industrial influences on 2024’s “All Born Screaming.” St. Vincent took home three Grammy Awards for “All Born Screaming,” including best Alternative Music Album.” Her most recent release is “Live in London,” recorded with the 60-piece Jules Buckley Orchestra. — JAKE CLAPP

The Music of Marcia Ball

3:40-4:50 P.M.

BLUES TENT

Late last year, friends and fans of Marcia Ball were caught by surprise when the renowned blues singer and pianist shared her recent ALS diagnosis and announced her retirement from performing. A longtime resident of Austin, Texas, Ball has been a fan favorite in New Orleans since the 1970s. Her rollicking piano licks and soulful singing voice anchored a musical style that straddled Texas and Louisianastyle blues, R&B, country and soul. At Jazz Fest, the Marcia Ball Band with guest friends like Jon Cleary, Sue Foley, Terrance Simien and more will pay tribute to Ball’s career. — BRAD RHINES

Shirley Caesar and The Caesar Singers

3:55-4:55 P.M.

GOSPEL TENT

Pastor Shirley Caesar’s long and prolific gospel career has earned her the moniker “First Lady of Gospel” and 12 Grammy Awards. Caesar cut her first record in 1951 and worked briefly with the popular

St. Vincent PROVIDED PHOTO BY WILLIAM BAUM

incubator-act the Caravans before launching the solo career that’s made her an icon. Caesar’s known for near-ecstatic performances that combine music and mid-song preaching breaks. Her most recent Grammy came courtesy of “Come Jesus Come,” a duet with Cece Winans.

— JENNIFER ODELL

Rod Stewart

5:25-7 P.M.

FESTIVAL STAGE

Sir Roderick David Stewart has compiled so many hit songs that even the most casual fan can start reeling them off: “Maggie May,” “Hot Legs,” “Young Turks, “Downtown Train” and on and on. Still rocking the bleachedblond rooster cut and leopard-print stage clothes at 81 years old, it’s easy to make a “Do You Think I’m Sexy” crack, but Stewart continues to wear it well and shows no signs of slowing down.

— BRAD RHINES

David Byrne

5:30-7 P.M.

GENTILLY STAGE

It’s no secret Talking Heads co-founder David Byrne prioritized his own artistic vision above the group’s as their frontman. But his recent solo projects seem grounded in more symbiotic artistic exchanges, from his collaborations with St. Vincent to the ensemble cast feel of musical theater piece “American Utopia.” His new album, “Who Is the Sky?,” is similarly group-oriented: Ghost Train Orchestra arranged and performs on every track. On his current tour, Byrne shares music and movement duties

with his musicians and dancers while rocking through a mix of new material and Talking Heads classics. — JENNIFER ODELL

The Isley Brothers

5:40-6:55 P.M.

CONGO SQUARE STAGE

It’s hard to believe the same band was behind 1959’s gospel-fueled doowop hit “Shout,” the smooth 1973 chart-topper “That Lady” and 1975’s gritty, politically charged funk-rock anthem “Fight the Power.” But then, The Isley Brothers have covered a lot of ground in the past 70 years, including a stint with Jim Hendrix as their guitarist and a recent Beyonce collaboration. Their current touring incarnation features founding vocalist Ronald Isley, longtime guitarist Ernie Isley and plenty of sultry, funk-infused soul jams from their ’70s and ’80s-era catalog. — JENNIFER ODELL

The Ron Carter Foursight Quartet

5:45-7 P.M.

WWOZ JAZZ TENT

You’d be hard pressed to find a better musician to close out the first weekend in the WWOZ Jazz Tent than Ron Carter. The 88-year-old bassist is widely considered the most recorded jazz bassist in history; name a jazz giant — Thelonious Monk, Cannonball Adderley — and he’s probably backed them at some point. With his quartet, Carter favors a restrained, conversational swing, where the bass doesn’t just keep time but quietly steers the show. — LIAM PIERCE

Dr. Michael White

PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

WEEK ONE JAZZ FEST

Learning patois

THE CULTURAL EXCHANGE

PAVILION IS ALWAYS A JAZZ FEST HIGHLIGHT. The tent can be a great place to hear global folk styles, dance to high-energy music, enjoy a cultural demonstration or two and get a reprieve from the sun.

Jazz Fest each year highlights a different country, with performances in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion and on other stages, artist demonstrations and a food vendor stationed near the Pavilion. In 2026, the festival is spotlighting Jamaica.

The lineup includes Jamaican, Caribbean, reggae and ska artists, including some based in Jamaica, New Orleans and elsewhere. The tent schedule also includes artists from Mali, Haiti and more.

Bigger acts with Jamaican heritage, like Stephen and Ziggy Marley and Sean Paul have headlining sets on the Congo Square Stage, and jazz pianist Monty Alexander will headline the WWOZ Jazz Tent. But many of the Jamaican musicians and bands will pass through the Pavilion. Here are some highlights.

Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, reggae singer Rik Jam released his debut album, “The Genesis,” last year. On it, he reflects on his own upbringing and religion. He performs with the Island Federation the first Thursday at Jazz Fest on the Congo Square Stage and at the Pavilion.

Silver Birds Steel Orchestra started in 2007 as an outreach program for high schoolers and is now a staple on the Jamaican resort circuit. The orchestra features steel drums and plays everything from Bob Marley to Lady Gaga.

Catch them the first weekend at the Pavilion Thursday, Friday and Saturday, in the Children’s Tent on Friday and on the Jazz & Heritage Stage Saturday.

Also on the first Saturday, modern roots reggae artist Lutan Fyah of Jamaica plays the Pavilion stage and the Jazz & Heritage Stage. Fyah has put out a whopping 19 full-length records and a live album and often includes songs with socially conscious and religious lyrics in line with his Rastafari beliefs.

You’ve likely heard of reggae, ska and dancehall, but mento, a style of Jamaican folk music, greatly influenced those popular genres heard today. ShowJam’s Mento Band plays the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday with sets at the Pavilion, Children’s Tent, Jazz & Heritage Stage and Rhythmpourium.

The Skatalites played together for a few years in the ’60s, backing Bob Marley & The Wailers and becoming one of the foundational bands of modern Jamaican music. The ska band reunited in 1983 and have been playing together ever since, releasing 17 studio albums over the years. They play the Pavilion the second Friday and Saturday and also take the Gentilly Stage that Friday.

On the second Thursday, hear from Jesse Royal, the 36-year-old roots-reggae revival singer-songwriter, at the Pavilion and the Jazz & Heritage Stage. His third and most recent studio album, 2025’s “No Place Like Home,” was nominated for a Grammy, and a deluxe version comes out May 16.

Reggae is at the heart of 32-year-old Jemere Morgan’s music, though he mixes it with hip-hop, R&B and other genres. Afterall, his grandfather is

reggae legend Denroy Morgan. Jemere Morgan plays the Pavilion Saturday and Sunday and catch him on the Jazz & Heritage Stage Saturday and the Festival Stage on Sunday.

On the final day of the festival, Sunday, May 3, Kingston-born Dex Daley and his reggae band JAM-X will get things started at the Pavilion. Daley formed JAM-X in 1989 and the group gained acclaim playing summer shows in New York and New Jersey in the ’90s and early 2000s. Enamored with events like Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, Daley moved to New Orleans in late 2012. He and JAM-X fuse reggae and steel drum sounds with New Orleans jazz and blues.

Closing out the Pavilion on the final Sunday is Lila Ike, a 32-year-old Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter. She’s on a hot streak after releasing her debut album “Treasure Self Love” with features from H.E.R. and Joey Bada$$ last year and performing at this year’s Grammy awards. You can also

see her earlier in the day on the Congo Square Stage.

If you work up an appetite dancing at the Pavilion, Gentilly restaurant Afrodisiac is making their Jazz Fest debut at Cultural Exchange Village’s food stand, serving up oxtail stew with rice and peas, jerk mushrooms with rice and peas and fried fish topped with pickled vegetables and fried sweet dumplings.

There also are exhibitions spread around the Pavilion, including photography by Patrick Planter and a multimedia exhibit by Maxine Walters and Matthew McCarthy focused on posters advertising dancehall parties. And in the nearby Cultural Exchange Artist Demonstration Tent, Jamaican sign makers, basket weavers, textile artists and more will be showing their works. Also, keep a look out for the group Kaya Jonkunno leading traditional folk parades around the festival grounds featuring characters, drums and fife.

—

KAYLEE POCHE

Jazz Fest 2026 highlights Jamaican music and culture

Ziggy Marley is one of the Jamaican artists highlighted at this year’s Jazz Fest. He performs May 1.

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

People danced in the Cultural Exchange Pavilion Stage during the 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

EAT + DRINK

Agave bloom

Espiritu Mezcaleria opens a second location by Beth D’Addono |

WHEN HALEY SAUCIER AND GRANT CAREY STARTED WORKING at the original Espiritu Mezcaleria & Cocina in the CBD, they weren’t planning on owning the business. It took the lens of the pandemic to make that change happen, both for them and for the original partners Jason Mitzen, a certified mezcal specialist, and longtime New Orleans chef Nanyo Dominguez.

For all of them, like for so many people, 2020 ushered in an “if not now, when” mindset. Mitzen and his wife had twins and wanted to spend more quality time together as a family. Dominguez wanted his own restaurant and left to open Besame in September 2021. Saucier was on the Espiritu opening team in 2018, leading her to discover an abiding passion for mezcal and its history and culture. Carey had worked in event production, which ground to a halt during lockdown.

“I’d lost the love for what I was doing,” Carey says. “Haley was back working at Espiritu as bar manager, so I started serving. When Jason took our sweat equity into account and made us a sweet deal to buy the business, we jumped at the chance.”

Now there are two Espirtus. The couple opened the second location in Mid-City last fall in the spot that was formerly Rosella, a block behind Mandina’s Restaurant.

“From the beginning, mezcal drove the bus,” Carey says.

Carey moved to New Orleans from Delaware in 2009 to attend the University of New Orleans. He met Saucier, a Ponchatoula native, when they were both working on the Syrian refugee resettlement in 2013.

Fans of the beautiful but shortlived Rosella will feel right at home at Espiritu. The fetching pink and pistachio green interior color scheme remains the same, with the addition of some upholstered church pews for seating and some extra shelving and a new bar top. Although this location is smaller than the one downtown, it has additional seating in the expansive tree-shaded patio. The overall effect

from fermented agave, mezcal is still created using traditional methods like roasting in underground pits.

High on Hogs

THE WEATHER WAS BRILLIANT FOR HOGS FOR THE CAUSE THIS YEAR, the barbecue was delicious and another record for charitable fundraising was shattered.

Back in 2009 two friends decided to host a pig roast to raise money to help a family in need and were able to give $7,500. This year, the organization that grew from this benevolent impulse brought in $6.65 million.

The 18th annual Hogs for the Cause barbecue cook-off and festival drew thousands of attendees and smashed its own fundraising record of a year before by $1.4 million.

is welcoming and casual, offering a cantina for the neighborhood.

The mezcal list provides context and a foundation for the restaurant’s menu and speaks to the owners’ respect for mezcal’s origins and founders.

“For people who aren’t familiar with mezcal in its original context, it might seem trendy,” Carey says. “But it’s most likely the oldest spirit on earth, dating back to Aztec times.”

And while the smoky, agave spirit is driving a boom in mezcalarias in places like Mexico City and New York, it wasn’t always so popular. Its history is intertwined with the pre-Hispanic indigenous population of what is now Mexico, and the artisanal spirit was once considered a passable drink for the common folk.

“Mezcal was looked down upon for a long time, an attitude powered by racism,” Carey says. “Finally, the generations of Zapotec families that have been making small batches of mezcal are getting the recognition they deserve.”

A strictly regulated Denomination of Origin (DO) spirit made in Mexico, mezcal must be made in one of nine states, primarily Oaxaca but also Durango, Guerrero and Puebla. Made

Espiritu’s bar features both ancestral and artisanal mezcal in flights, in house-made shrubs and infusions and craft cocktails. During the weekday, there’s a 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. happy hour with $6 margaritas, $3 Tecate beers, a mezcal and beer combo for $8, as well as food specials, including $3 a la carte tacos.

Carey and Saucier’s scratch kitchen offers many Mexican favorites like birria tacos, in this case made with barbacoa lamb. Lamb is also served with mole.

Other Mexican staples include chili relleno, pozole and at least 10 kinds of tacos, including vegetarian filling options like cauliflower and sweet potato. The Creole queso is a huge hit, a cheesy dip powered by crawfish and roasted poblano chilies. There’s also a daily ceviche.

The huitlacoche quesadilla is another big seller, made with the earthy, Mexican corn truffles. The entire menu is gluten free.

“The celiac safe crowd is really loyal,” Carey says. “They want to be able to eat something delicious without getting a stomachache. Our goal was to be accessible to people. That’s hospitality, right?”

For two days, Hogs for the Cause turned the grounds around the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena into a festive landscape of barbecue, music and New Orleans good times. It was also a showcase of determined generosity

and service to others. The organization supports families dealing with pediatric cancer, and since Becker Hall and Rene Louapre started it with that first pig roast, it has become the most important funder for this work nationally.

The teams taking part fuel the giant charity cook-off with the food they serve through the weekend and the money they raise throughout the year. Once again this year, the fundraising champion was team Fleur de Que, which brought in more than $825,000. Carnivore Carnival, a team led by the Shed barbecue restaurant of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, won the top barbecue award.

There were many other awards and levels of fundraising achievement. Here is how it all shook out for 2026.

Manning Family Children’s Grand Champion: Carnivore Carnival

Whole Hog: Carnivore Carnival

Ribs: Swinel Richie

Haley Saucier and Grant Carey serve Mexican favorites at Espiritu Mezcaleria.

PHOTO BY MADDIE SPINNER / GAMBIT

PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

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Pork Butt/Shoulder: Piggy Stardust

Porkpourri: Porkchopitoulas

Best Sauce: Swinel Richie

Fan Favorite: PorkBelly Cartel

Blue Plate Mayonnaise

Best Side: Wet Wet

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Best Bacon: Swinel Richie

”Just Winging It” presented by Tabasco: Sixteen Cracklins

Miller High Life Pony Challenge: Bark & Bite BBQ

Friday Night Party: Hoggystyle

Best Booth: House of Hogs

Best Social Media: 2nd Hand Smokers

Fundraising Champ: Fleur de Que, raised more than $825,000 Teams that raised more than $300,000: March of the Pigs (more than $375,000) and Swine Krewe (more than $300,000).

More than $200,000: Bark & Bite BBQ, The Boars Nest, Hoggystyle, Hogwatch and 2nd Hand Smokers.

More than $100,000: Morten

Andersen’s Mullets, River Pork Pilots, WooTay BBQ, Deswine Intervention, Deuce Pigalow

Pork Gigolo, Glazed & Confused, Mr. Pigglesworth, Captain Porkenheimer, Mr. Pig Stuff, Piggy Stardust and Porkbelly Cartel. — Ian McNulty / TheTimes-Picayune.

Crawfsh and barbecue

AMONG CRAWFISH BOILERS, THERE ARE THE OLD SAGES calmly proceeding with the process they’ve always used. Others are technicians, who approach the task as a scientific inquiry and may as well be wearing lab coats.

Then there are wild ones, those for whom the crawfish boil is a passion. They leap to the work, purge with purpose and say they have secrets but then giddily divulge them while proffering a sample from the pot.

Spend a little time around Steven Boulet, maybe just across the counter at his Metairie restaurant and seafood shop Bon Temps Boulet’s, and it’s clear he belongs to that last category. He’s a man who seems gleeful to have found his calling and is living it to the hilt.

The result is superlative boiled crawfish at Bon Temps Boulet’s, and some surprises from the barbecue smoker as well.

Bon Temps Boulet’s is a colorful, bustling, low-slung spot on a stretch of Airline Drive. Inside, it’s a colorful hodgepodge of thrift store finds,

FORK & CENTER

friends’ artwork, totems from travel and hunting trophies. It feels like a place found down a country highway.

Bon Temps Boulet’s is open only through crawfish season, from January to the end of June. Steven runs the shop with his wife, Chelsea, who has a background in restaurants. Steven, on the other hand, says the first restaurant he worked in was the one he owns, this one. But he was born into the crawfish business.

He grew up in Crowley, the heart of crawfish country. He was surrounded by the business, running traps on his family’s ponds in grade school and steering a pickup truck for his father’s wholesale delivery routes before he had his driver’s license.

Visit enough boil rooms and it’s soon evident everyone in the game has their own hack with gear, technique or seasoning. Boulet absorbed all this on his delivery rounds, which he would refine with his own catering business.

Selling wholesale was his introduction to New Orleans, and eventually to Justin LeBlanc, who at the time ran two locations of his Bevi Seafood Co. LeBlanc was ready to sell his business, and they struck a deal for the Metairie location of Bevi that would become Bon Temps Boulet’s.

But that was also in early 2020, just before COVID-19 shut down restaurants. Takeout crawfish kept the new business alive, but the pandemic muted its debut. This crawfish deserves more attention.

The red shells of his crawfish look polished. Stretch out a tail and the underside is pearly white and clean. There’s an easy peel from the shell and a juicy bounce to the meat.

The flavor is balanced and complex, hitting the palate in different notes between salty, spicy and even the slightest bit creamy-sweet.

The shop has the usual boiled sides, and the chalkboard menu lists a repertoire of fried seafood and Cajun gas station specialties, notably boudin balls and boudin egg rolls.

The other key item here is an unconventional brisket sandwich. Instead of a choice of fatty or lean slices, you get a house creation of the best of both.

The 20-hour smoke on the brisket produces a lot of juice and smoky garlic. Boulet pulls the fat chunks from the meat, fries it like crackling, and works the crunchy bits back into the pulled brisket with the garlic. The mix of meaty strands, salty crust and fat gushes with flavor.

The ideal Bon Temps Boulet’s surf and turf for two is a 3-pound tray of crawfish and a brisket sandwich on the side.

Afterward, find some of the housemade hand scrub, stocked in the restroom and sold by the jar. It’s a gently fragrant mix of raw sugar and coconut oil that lifts the orange stains and seafood scent.

Crawfish is serious business here, between daily orders, catering gigs and moving live sacks, reaching back to Boulet’s contacts from his wholesaler days. But he still keeps firing off new specials. So, there might be an off-themenu sauce for the smoked chicken wings, or the kitchen might produce its periodically available black truffle Buffalo sauce.

The shop also carries the mantle of Bevi for really good, not-too-sweet fresh fruit daiquiris. They wrangle the spice on the palate as effectively as the hand scrub on the fingers.

Bon Temps Boulet’s is still a relative newcomer to the local crawfish scene, but it feels like it’s been around forever, and — like its way with crawfish — has been steeped for a lifetime. — Ian McNulty / The Times-Picayune

Steven Boulet runs Bon Temps Boulet’s.

PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

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Shaka Garel

Restaurateur

by Will Coviello

SHAKA GAREL AND CHEF KAY GAREL

OPENED THEIR RESTAURANT Afrodisiac Nola in Gentilly in 2022, a couple of years after their food truck was destroyed during Hurricane Zeta. His parents are from Kingston, Jamaica, and her family’s from South Louisiana. They blend Jamaican and Creole flavors at the restaurant, and they’ve been bringing their food to local festivals. This year, they’re serving Jamaican dishes at the Cultural Exchange Pavilion at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. For more information, visit afrodisiacnola.com or nojazzfest.com.

How are things going at the restaurant?

SHAKA GAREL: We have a pretty good following in Gentilly. We’re about four years old.

It’s the best stuff from my family, and Kay’s a hell of a chef. She has her own twist she puts on things and also embraces the classic seasonings we use in these dishes.

I am first-generation Jamaican. I was born in the states. My parents are from Kingston — my mom is from Pembroke, and my dad is from Trench Town. We spent every summer in Jamaica while I was coming up because my parents wanted us to be connected to family and our culture. I go to Jamaica whenever possible.

My wife was born and raised in Lafayette, but her family is from New Orleans. That’s the basis of our restaurant, the Jamaican-Creole fusion. It’s not just a Jamaican restaurant. That’s why we have jerk boudin.

What have you been serving at festivals?

G: This was our third year doing French Quarter Festival. It’s a different menu than at Jazz Fest.

At French Quarter Fest, we do jerk turkey necks. We have our own jerk wet rub. We smoke them and finish them in the oven and serve them with a little gravy. We do our jerk Louisiana crawfish with stone-ground grits and serve it with jerk butter sauce.

We also do jerk boudin balls. It’s pork that we marinate with our jerk seasonings and smoke. That’s served with a Dijon jerk mustard sauce.

Jazz Fest is two weekends, so it’s the biggest thing we’ve done. We’re proud to be representing.

What

will you serve at Jazz Fest?

G: The theme of the Cultural Pavilion is Jamaica, so they were looking for classical dishes. We are doing our oxtails, which is also an item at the restaurant, rice and peas and we’re doing our Jamaican fried fish, but it’s fried fish with escovitch.

The escovitch fish is fried Louisiana catfish. Escovitch is Jamaican. There is an oil and vinegar base sauce with allspice and different seasonings. We slice red, green and gold bell peppers in strips along with onions and cook it down. It’s almost like being pickled. There’s a little scotch bonnet pepper in there as well. We put the peppers and onions over the fish, and then we drizzle it with the sauce. It’s classic in Jamaica.

We also have a sweet cornmeal fried dumpling we call festival. It’s cornmeal and flour and vanilla. You’re basically making a dough and frying it.

Jazz Fest had some suggestions. They wanted a vegan option. We have an item that’s popular among vegans at the restaurant. We call it our vegan jerk chicken, which is actually a jerk oyster mushroom.

There’s a lot of people, especially in Rasta culture, who are vegans or who eat that way. But I wouldn’t say that mushrooms are common in Jamaica. I’ve heard of people using jackfruit in the same way. It has the texture of meat, but you can season it and it soaks up the flavor. Oyster mushrooms are really popular here, and they have the texture and you can grill it or smoke it. Some people get it on a salad, or you can make a sandwich. But it’s unique to us.

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Kay and Shaka Garel opened Afrodisiac Nola.

PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

MUSICBOXVILLAGE

Out to Eat is an index of Gambit contract advertisers. Unless noted, addresses are for New Orleans and all accept credit cards. Updates: Email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (504) 483-3106.

3rd Block Depot — 316 Chartres St., (504) 5524095; 3rdblockdepot.com — The menu ranges from seafood gumbo and Gulf shrimp ceviche to smashburgers and steaks. Brunch brings shrimp and grits and more. Reservations available. Breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner daily. $$$

Acropolis — 3841 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 888-9046; acropoliscuisine. com — The menu of classic Greek dishes includes souvlaki, gyros, moussaka, spanakopita, hummus and Greek salads, along with seafood options. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$

Angelo Brocato’s — 214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; angelobrocatoicecream. com — This Mid-City sweet shop serves its own gelato in flavors like praline, salted caramel and tiramisu, as well as Italian ices in flavors like lemon, strawberry and mango. There also are cannolis, biscotti, fig cookies, tiramisu, macaroons and coffee drinks. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $ Annunciation — 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245; annunciationrestaurant.com — Gulf Drum Yvonne is served with brown butter sauce with mushrooms and artichoke hearts. There also are oysters, seafood pasta dishes, steaks, lamb chops and more. Reservations recommended. Dinner Thu.-Mon. $$$

Audubon Clubhouse — 6500 Magazine St., (504) 558-1200; audubonclubhouse.com — The menu by Dickie Brennan and Co. includes crabmeat cheesecake, shrimp remoulade, fried oysters, burgers, sandwiches and more. Outdoor seating available. Reservations recommended. Brunch, lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Banana Blossom — 500 9th St., Gretna, (504) 500-0997; 504bananablossom.com — There are traditional Thai dishes like pad thai, green curry, pineapple fried rice, drunken noodles and coconut shrimp as well as original creations. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$ Boil & Barrel — 900 Harrison Ave., (504) 3322645; boilandbarrel.com — The menu includes dishes like barbecue shrimp, char-broiled oysters, boiled crawfish, seafood platters and roast beef po-boys. The bar offers a long list of bourbons and whiskies. Outdoor seating available. Reservations available. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$$

Budsi’s Authentic Thai — 1760 N. Rampart St., (504) 381-4636; budsisthai.com — Chef Budsaba Mason prepares dishes from her native Issan region of Thailand and other popular Thai dishes like papaya salad, grilled pork shoulder, larb, khao soi, pad thai and red curry. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$

Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop — 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 835-2022; gumbostop. com — The Gumbo Stop has several gumbo varieties including chicken and sausage gumbo and seafood gumbo with shrimp, crab and crawfish. The menu also has boudin balls, Bayou shrimp scampi, crawfish etouffee and fried shrimp po-boys. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$ The Commissary — 634 Orange St., (504) 274-1850; thecommissarynola.com — Dickie Brennan’s Commissary supplies his other restaurant kitchens and also has a dine-in menu and prepared foods to go. A smoked turkey sandwich is served with bacon, tomato jam, herbed cream cheese, arugula and herb vinaigrette on honey oat bread. The menu

$ — average dinner entrée under $10

$$ $11-$20

$$$ — $20-up

includes dips, salads, sandwiches, boudin balls, fried oysters and more. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Sat. $$

The Country Club — 634 Louisa St., (504) 945-0742; thecountryclubneworleans.com —

The Bywater restaurant and pool has a menu of crab beignets, truffle mac and cheese, shrimp and grits, burgers and more. Outdoor seating available. Reservations recommended. Lunch, brunch and dinner daily. $$$

Delacroix Restaurant — 1 Poydras St., (504) 655-9002; delacroixrestaurant.com — With views overlooking the Mississippi River, the restaurant serves a mix of South Louisiana dishes like duck and andouille gumbo, crawfish bisque, shrimp buns, blackened redfish and crawfish étouffée. Reservations available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$

Desire Oyster Bar — Royal Sonesta New Orleans, 300 Bourbon St., (504) 586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar — A menu full of Gulf seafood includes oysters served raw on the half-shell or char-broiled with with Parmesan, garlic and herbs. The menu also includes po-boys, gumbo, blackened fish, fried seafood platters and more. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$

Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House — 144 Bourbon St., (504) 522-0111; bourbonhouse. com — There’s a seafood raw bar with raw and char-broiled oysters, fish dip, crab fingers, shrimp and more. Redfish “on the half-shell” is cooked skin-on and served with crab-boiled potatoes, frisee and lemon buerre blanc. The bar offers a wide selection of bourbon and whiskies. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$

Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse — 716 Iberville St., (504) 522-2467; dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com — The menu includes a variety of steaks, plus seared Gulf fish, lobster pasta, barbecue shrimp and more. A 6-ounce filet mignon is served with fried oysters, creamed spinach, potatoes and bearnaise. Reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$

Domenica — 123 Baronne St., (504) 6486020; domenicarestaurant.com — The Italian restaurant offers a mix of wood-fired Napolitano-style pizzas and house-made pastas. Appetizers include various salumi and cheese boards, antipasti, roasted cauliflower and more. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$

Don’s Seafood — 4801 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 888-1555; donsseafoodonline.com — The seafood options range from char-broiled oysters to seafood gumbo, fried shrimp and catfish platters and stuffed flounder. The menu also has rib-eye steaks. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. $$

Elizabeth’s Restaurant — 601 Gallier St., (504) 944-9272; elizabethsrestaurantnola. com — Elizabeth’s is known for its signature praline bacon, and the menu also includes boudin balls, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and eggs Florentine. Outdoor seating available. Reservations accepted for parties of 10 or more. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$

Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; katiesinmidcity.com — The Cajun Cuban is stuffed with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. The eclectic menu also includes char-grilled oysters, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, fried seafood platters,

pasta, salads and more. Delivery available. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. $$

King Brasserie & Bar — Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, 501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 3243000; kingbrasserieandbar.com — The restaurant’s menu is inspired by the cuisine of the Riviera and southern France. There are dishes like steak frites and bouillabaisse as well as blackened Gulf fish and barbecue shrimp and oysters. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern — 700 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 613-2350; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes oysters, flatbreads, burgers, sandwiches, salads and sharable plates like NOLA Tot Debris. A slowcooked pulled pork barbecue sandwich is served with coleslaw on a brioche bun. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Legacy Kitchen Steak & Chop — 91 Westbank Expressway, Gretna, (504) 513-2606; legacykitchen.com — The selection of steaks and chops includes filet mignon, bone-in rib-eye, top sirloin and double pork chops and a la carte toppings include bearnaise, blue cheese and sauteed crabmeat. There also are burgers, salads, pasta, seafood entrees, char-broiled oysters and more. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$ Luke — 333 St. Charles Ave., (504) 378-2840; lukeneworleans.com — The raw bar offers oysters, boiled shrimp, cured tuna, smoked trout dip and more. The menu has dishes like shrimp and grits, crab omelets, crawfish etouffee and steak frites. Reservations encouraged. Breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Lyons Corner — 537 Gravier St., (504) 5270006; lyonscornernola.com — The eclectic menu includes Cajun prawns, bang-bang fried oysters, chicken sandwiches, salads and more. In the morning, there are breakfast empanadas. Delivery and takeout available. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com — The menu of Japanese cuisine includes sushi, signature rolls, tempura fried items, udon noodles, teriyaki, salads and more.The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado, snow crab, green onion and wasabi roe. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Sun.-Fri., dinner daily. $$

Mosca’s — 4137 Highway 90 West, Westwego, (504) 436-8950; moscasrestaurant.com — This family-style eatery serves Italian dishes and specialties including shrimp Mosca, baked oysters Mosca and spaghetti bordelaise and chicken cacciatore. Chicken a la grands is sauteed with garlic, rosemary, Italian herbs and white wine. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Sat. Cash only. $$$

Mother’s Restaurant — 401 Poydras St., (504) 523-9656; mothersrestaurant.net — This counter-service spot serves po-boys dressed with sliced cabbage like the Famous Ferdi filled with ham, roast beef and debris. Creole favorites include jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice and more. Breakfast is available all day. Delivery available. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro — 720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930; orleansgrapevine.com — The wine bar offers a selectoin of cheese boards and appetizers. Creole pasta combines shrimp and andouille in tomato cream sauce. Reservations accepted for large parties. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$

Acropolis Cuisine (3841 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 8889046; acropoliscuisine.com) serves a Greek salad topped with gryo meat.

Pascal’s Manale — 1838 Napoleon Ave., (504) 895-4877; pascalsmanale.com — This Creole-Italian spot invented New Orleansstyle barbecue shrimp, and the menu also includes seafood gumbo, crab cakes, oysters and Italian-style pasta dishes. There’s also an oyster bar. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$$

Peacock Room — Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, 501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 324-3073; peacockroomnola.com — At brunch, braised short rib grillades are served over grits with mushrooms, a poached egg and shaved truffle. The dinner menu has oysters, salads, pasta, shrimp and grits, a burger, cheese plates and more. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Mon., brunch Sun. $$

Pizza Domenica — 4933 Magazine St., (504) 301-4978; pizzadomenica.com — Pizza is the focus of this offshoot of the Italian restaurant Domenica. There also are meatballs, roasted cauliflower and house-made pastas. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$

Restaurant August — 301 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 299-9777; restaurantaugust.com — The fine dining restaurant serves Creole and contemporary dishes featuring foie gras, Gulf fish, duck and more. Reservations recommended. Dinner Sun.-Fri., lunch Fri. $$$ Rivershack Tavern — 3449 River Road, Jefferson, (504) 834-4938; rivershacktavern.com — This tavern along the levee offers a casual menu of roast beef po-boys, burgers, fried shrimp platters, catfish and gumbo. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$

Shaya — 4213 Magazine St., (504) 891-4213; shayarestaurant.com — The Mediterranean and Middle Eastern menu includes dishes like hummus, falafel, kebabs, grilled chicken and wood-oven pita bread. Outdoor seating available. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$

Stingray’s Restaurant & Bar — 1303 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner, (504) 443-4040; stingraysseafoodrestaurant.com — Zydeco fish is stuffed with crabmeat dressing and topped with shrimp cream sauce. The menu also includes fried shrimp and oyster platters, grilled redfish, crabmeat jalapeños, and boudin egg rolls. Reservations available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$

Tableau — 616 St. Peter St., (504) 934-3463; tableaufrenchquarter. com — The menu features traditional and creative Creole dishes. Pasta bouillabaisse features squid ink mafaldine, little neck clams, Gulf shrimp, squid, seafood broth, rouille and herbed breadcrumbs. Outdoor seating available on the balcony. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Thu.-Sun. $$$

Tacklebox — 817

Common St., (504) 827-1651; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes raw and char-broiled oysters, seafood platters, po-boys, fried chicken, crab and corn bisque and more. Redfish St. Charles is served with garlic-herb butter, asparagus, mushrooms and crawfish cornbread. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$

Tavi — 330 N. New Hampshire St., (985) 200-2045; tavirestaurant.com — The menu combines dishes from the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean. There’s hummus, falafel, kebabs, flatbreads, grilled fish, lamb burgers and more. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$

Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 1212 S. Clearview Parkway, Elmwood, (504) 733-3803; 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 510-4282; 4024 Canal St., (504) 302-1133; 4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; 70488 Highway 21, Covington, (985) 234-9420; theospizza.com — A Marilynn Pota Supreme pie is topped with mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions. There also are salads, sandwiches, wings, breadsticks and more. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. $ The Vintage — 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144; thevintagenola.com — There’s a full coffee drinks menu and baked goods and beignets, as well as a full bar. The menu has flatbreads, cheese boards, small plates and a pressed vegetable sandwich with avocado, onions, arugula, red pepper and pepper jack cheese. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$

Vyoone’s — 412 Girod St., (504) 381-4384; vyoone.com — The French-Creole menu includes dishes like escargot, crawfish beignets, crab cakes, shrimp pasta, duck a l’orange and lamb chops. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun. $$$

Willa Jean — 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 5097334; willajean.com — The bakery and cafe serves biscuits with honey butter, cookies, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, shrimp and grits and more. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$

Yinzer’s Amazing Cheesesteaks — 1514 Delachaise St., (412) 860-6801; yinzersamazingcheesesteaks.com —There are classic and original cheesesteaks filled with steak, chicken and more. Diners can opt for toppings like provolone, house-made cheddar whiz, mushrooms, onions, banana peppers and more. Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun. $

PHOTO BY EMMA SCOTT / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

sound that has evolved with alt-rock and post-rock elements. The band’s latest album is last year’s “Hope We Have Fun.” Mt. Joy stops in New Orleans for a show at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Champions Square. Tickets start at $38.15 via ticketmaster.com.

Goose

It may be reductive to call Goose a “jam band.” Sure, they can let songs stretch out and flow into unexpected places, but it always starts with good songwriting. Their engaging studio albums are full of clever indie rock rolled with funk, electronica and some psychedelia, and then the band improvises within the structure on stage to see how things turn out. Goose recently announced its sixth full-length album, “Big Modern!,” due out June 12. See them live at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, and Wednesday, April 22, at the Saenger Theatre. Tickets start at $60.99 via saengernola.com.

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings

Over the course of 10 studio albums produced together, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have developed their own mix of country, folk and Americana. Their most recent release is 2024’s “Woodland,” named for their Nashville studio. But this spring, they’re on a brief tour singing the songs of the Grateful Dead. At 9 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Saenger Theatre. Tickets $60.50 and up via saengernola.com.

Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers

Accordionist and vocalist Dwayne Dopsie builds on the zydeco style he learned by watching his father, Rockin’ Dopsie Sr., but injects the sound with rock, blues and a lot of heat. He and his band, the Zydeco Hellraisers, play at the Wednesday at the Square concert series April 22 in Lafayette Square. Kings of Brass opens at 5 p.m. Admission is free. Find info at ylcwats.com.

Emil Wakim

On “Saturday Night Live,” comedian Emil Wakim played a lookalike to Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing a health insurance CEO, as well as bits playing Saudi Arabian Prince Mohammed Bin Salmen, also accused of masterminding a murder. But more often, Wakim got spots on the Weekend Update segment making jokes about being

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Lebanese-American. He’s left the SNL cast after a season, and now he’s focusing on stand-up. He performs at 7 & 9 p.m. Saturday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25, at Sports Drink. Tickets $28.99 via sportsdrink.org.

Festival International de Louisiane

While New Orleans is busy with Jazz Fest this week, Lafayette is throwing its own great festival. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Festival International de Louisiane will host five days of music, food and art around downtown Lafayette. This year’s lineup includes Stephen Marley, Rhiannon Giddens, Cimafunk, Delgres, Natu Camara, Givers, Nomfusi, Las Cafeteras, Zachary Richard and more. The fest runs Wednesday, April 22, through Sunday, April 26, and is free to attend. Find more info at festivalinternational.org.

Cafe Istanbul Nightfest

Event producers Poolside Presents host a slate of shows at Cafe Istanbul to fill the nights after Jazz Fest. This year’s lineup includes sets by the collective Butcher Brown with Nigel Hall, the Grateful Dead tribute Axial Tilt, the great Nolatet celebrating its new album, Will Blades, Melvin Seals and more. Find the lineup, tickets and more details at cafeistanbulnola.com.

Swing in the Oaks

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra performs its annual family-friendly, springtime concert on Tuesday, April 21, in City Park. The orchestra will be joined by student musicians from the LPO Academy for a pops program conducted by Matthew Kraemer. The LPO will be set up in the Peristyle, and seating is along the Great Lawn. The concert starts at 6 p.m. and is free to attend. Find more info at lpomusic.com.

People Museum

Last year, synth-pop band People Museum was invited to score a new work by contemporary ballet choreographer Cassi Abranches. The piece “Dusk” was premiered by the Marigny Opera Ballet, and People Museum decided to record their score. They celebrate the release of the new album, “Dusk,” with a show at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at Music Box Village. Sabine McCalla will open. Tickets are $35.01 for adults and $22.17 for kids ages 3-10 via musicboxvillage.com.

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Orig in al ly from Ci nc in nati,O hi o, Irec entl y ma de th em ovetoN ew Orle an stoj oi n Ma nn in gFam il yChi ld re n’sa sthe newChi ef of Ca rd io lo gy.Throu gh outmycaree r, Ih ave be en de di cate dtocarin gfor ch il dren with co mp lexa nd co ng en ital he ar tcon diti on s, alwa ys stri vi ng to ma ke am ea ni ngfu l dife re nc ei nthe li ve sofp atie ntsa nd th ei r fa mi li es .Mycom mitm enttoa dvan ci ng he ar t ca re fo rc hi ld re niswhatu ltim atel yd rew me to Ma nn in gFam il yChi ld re n’s. It ’s an opp or tu nity to le ad,ser ve an db ep ar tofa te am th at prio ritize sexc epti on al,e qu itab le ca re fo reve ry ch il dreg ardl es sofafam il y’s ab ility to pa y.

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What trulysetsusapart is ourcom mitment to equity andexcellence. At ManningFamily Children’s,every childistreated with the same levelofattention,respect andhighqualit ycare, regardless of theirbackground or circumstances.Weare proudtoser ve our comm unit ybymakingworld-class pediatric hear tcareaccessibleclose to home

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MUSIC

FO R COM PL ETE MUSIC L ISTINGS AND MO R E EVENTS TAKING PL ACE IN THE NEW O RL EANS A R EA, VISIT CALENDAR.GAMBITWEEKLY.COM

To learn more about adding your event to the music calendar, please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com

MONDAY 20

30/90 Margie Perez, 6 pm; Piano Man ‘G’, 9 pm

ALLWAYS LOUNGE Betsy Propane & The Accessories, 7 pm

APPLE BARREL — Mark Appleford, 6 pm; Decaturadio, 10:30 pm

BACCHANAL — Byron Asher, 6 pm

BAMBOULA’S The New Orleans Rug Cutters, 12 pm; Jon Roniger Band & The Good for Nothin’ Band, 4:30 pm; Ted Hefko & The Thousandaires, 9 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE — Red Beans & Blues with Alex McMurray and Joe Cabral, 9 pm

BUFFA’S — David Doucet, 8 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL Bring Back Bob 420 Fest: 2nd Lion, 3 pm; Higher Heights, 6 pm; Keep It Rolling Brass Band, 10 pm

CARROLLTON STATION Meryl Zimmerman and Friends, 10 pm

DBA Secret Six Jazz Band, 6 pm; Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet, 9:30 pm

DOS JEFES — John Fohl, 8:30 pm

HOUSE OF BLUES Howard Jones, 8 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR — Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes, 4:20 pm; George Porter Jr. Trio, 7 pm; 10 pm

NOLA BREWING & PIZZA CO — Bluegrass Pickin' Party, 7 pm

OKAY BAR — Gold Connections + Good Morning Midnight + Internet Dating + Quinn Pilgrim, 7 pm

POORBOYS — Gumbolaya, 9 pm

SATURN BAR BC Coogan, 8:30 pm

SIBERIA — TAPA NA PANTERA: Brasileiro, Cumbia, & Hip-Hop Party, 9 pm

SNUG HARBOR — Charmaine Neville Band, 7:30 pm; 9:30 pm

SPOTTED CAT Jenavieve & The Winding Boys, 2 pm; Dominick Grillo & The Frenchmen Street All-Stars, 6 pm; Aurora Nealand, 9:30 pm

ST. ROCH TAVERN Slow Motion Cowboys + Chasen Wayne & The Honky Tonk Machine, 9 pm

TUESDAY 21

30/90 — Sugar & The Daddies 6 pm; Higher Heights, 9 pm

APPLE BARREL Bubbles Brown, 6 pm; Jackson’s Flying Circus ft. Mike Doussan & Chris Roberts, 10:30 pm

BACCHANAL Tangiers Combo, 6 pm

BAMBOULA’S — F K-rrera Music Group, 12 pm; Giselle Anguizola Quartet, 4:30 pm; Caitie B. & The Hand Me Downs, 9 pm

BANKS STREET BAR The Love Muscles + Taylon Floyd & The Wild Echoes, 8 pm

BAR REDUX Jenny X, 9 pm

BJ'S LOUNGE BYWATER Bruisey's Bottoms Up Open Mic, 9 pm

BUFFA’S Alex McMurray, 7 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL — The-Super-MostFantastic-Blues-N-Such-Jam, 7 pm

DBA — Miss Martha & Her Good Time Gang, 6 pm; Kid Chocolate & The Free POC, 9 pm

DOS JEFES Raphael Bas, 8:30 pm

GASA GASA — ADULT + Donzii + The Treasury, 9 pm

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NUNEMAKER

AUDITORIUM (MONROE HALL)

Vocal Jazz Ensemble: Crescent Collective, 7:30 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR Very Good Tuesdays, 8 pm

THE RABBIT HOLE Rebirth Brass Band, 10 pm

ROCK 'N' BOWL Latin Night with DJ Nayo, 7 pm

SAENGER THEATRE Goose, 8 pm

SALON SALON — Silver Lining Serenaders, 7 pm

SIBERIA Evil Taurus Party with Laughing Torso, Totem, + More, 8 pm

SNUG HARBOR — Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, 7:30 pm; 9:30 pm

ST. ROCH TAVERN Hairaoke: Haircuts & Karaoke, 8 pm

THE RABBIT HOLE — Rebirth Brass Band Tuesdays, 10 pm

TOULOUSE THEATRE Goose Afterparty: Flying Mojito Bros, 12 am

VAUGHAN’S LOUNGE — Cuttin’ Up with Lil Prince & The Youngbloods, 10 pm

WEDNESDAY 22

30/90 Mother Ruckus, 6 pm; The Budz, 9 pm

BACCHANAL — Jesse Morrow, 6 pm

BAMBOULA’S Jacky Blaire & The Hot Biscuits, 12 pm; Swingin’ with John Saavedra, 4:30 pm; Jelly Roll Stompers, 9 pm

BANKS STREET BAR — Gregg Hill, 7 pm

THE BARNETT LOBBY DJ Spin Grifey, 7 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE — 007, 9 pm

BLUE NILE New Breed Brass Band, 9 pm

BMC — Johnny Mastro, 6 pm; Under The Covers, 9 pm

BUFFA’S — Tyler Bond, 7 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL — Jam-ilton, 6 pm; Mother Ruckus, 9 pm

CHICKIE WAH WAH — The Desert Nudes, 8 pm; The Band of Heathens, 10:30 pm

COMMONS CLUB — Leaux Fye Tribe, 6 pm

THE CRYPT — Miss Amerikan Vampyre + Blood Lovely, 8 pm

DBA — Stephen Walker N’em, 6 pm; The Next Level Band feat. HaSizzle & Hotboy Ronald, 10 pm

DOS JEFES — Gloria Turini, 8:30 pm

GASA GASA Joey Peebles, 9 pm

GENERATIONS HALL Jazz & Heritage Gala , 7 pm

JOY THEATER Lukas Nelson + Sabine McCalla, 8 pm

Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers perform at YLC’s Wednesday at the Square in Lafayette Square April 22 at 5 p.m.

PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE

MUSIC

LAFAYETTE SQUARE — WATS:

Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco

Hellraisers + Kings of Brass, 5 pm

LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ Cardboard Cowboy, 10 pm

LONGUE VUE HOUSE & GARDENS

Bogue Chitto, 5:30 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR Happy Organ

Hour with Joe Ashlar, Stanton Moore & Chris Adkins, 8 pm; Tanglers Bluegrass, 11 pm

MARIGNY BRASSERIE Legacy Jazz Band, 7 pm

MAYFIELD’S 208 BOURBON Irvin

Mayfeld ft. Kermit Rufns, 6 pm

MRB — Lynn Drury, 7 pm

NO DICE Very Cherry, 9 pm

SAENGER THEATRE Goose, 8 pm

SANTOS BAR — Chambre Noir with Paco, 10 pm

SATURN BAR — Surf Rock Night with DJ Schwaminator, 5 pm; Beau Cheval, Andrew Jobin, Johnny Dawson, 9 pm

SIBERIA Ken Mujo + Bullshit Machine + Static Static + Dummy Plus, 9 pm

ST. ROCH TAVERN — James McClaskey & The Rythm Band, 9 pm

TIPITINA’S — North Mississippi

Allstars with Special Guest Cedric Burnside, 8 pm

TOULOUSE THEATRE Goose

Afterparty: The Breaks ft. Eddie Roberts, Stanton Moore & Robert Walter, 12 am

THURSDAY 23

30/90 Dapper Dandies, 6 pm; Kim in the Wind, 9 pm

3116 — Couches: Cassie Watson

Francillon with Special Guests, 9 pm

APPLE BARREL — Bubbles Brown, 6 pm; Johnny Mastro & Blue Midnight, 10:30 pm

BACCHANAL Raphael Bas, 6 pm

BAR REDUX — Hobo Gadget Junk Band, 9 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE — Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, 9 pm

BLUE NILE Eddie Roberts Birthday Bash ft., Stanton Moore, Robert Walter & More!, 11 pm

BUFFA’S — Tom McDermott & Aurora Nealand, 7 pm

CAFÉ ISTANBUL — Butcher Brown Big Band with Nigel Hall, 9 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL — Paradise Jazz Band, 6 pm; Armani Smith and Soul Ties, 10 pm

CARROLLTON STATION — Jef Fest ft. Paul Faith & The Barstool Prophets + Loose Cattle + Beach Angel, 8 pm

CHAMPIONS SQUARE Mt. Joy, 8 pm

CHICKIE WAH WAH Kevn Kinney, 8 pm; The Wild Tchoupitoulas 50th

Anniversary, 10:30 pm; Boca Phil Afterparty w/ DJ Alex Wasily, 1 am

CIVIC THEATRE — Bayou by Bus: A Neville & Marley Joint ft. Cyril Neville, The Nth Power, Ivan Neville & More!, 10 pm

DBA Palmetto Bug Stompers, 6 pm; Vegas Cola Band, 10 pm; Khris Royal Presents: Funk Noire, 1 am

DOS JEFES — The Bryce Eastwood Band, 8:30 pm

FAIRGROUNDS RACE COURSE & SLOTS New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, 11 am

GOOD MEASURE James Martin Band, 8 pm

HOLY DIVER Don Wayne & The Banana Creems, 9 pm

THE HOWLIN’ WOLF — Lisbon Girls & Mango, 9 pm

THE JOY THEATER — STS9- Human Dream Tour, 8 pm

LE BON TEMPS ROULE — The Soul Rebels, 11 pm

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NUNEMAKER AUDITORIUM (MONROE HALL) Loyola Presents: Red, White... and Beautiful!, 7:30 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR — 007, 8 pm; Johnny Vidacovich, George Porter Jr. & Luther Dickinson, 10 pm; Pocket Chocolate, 12 am

MUSIC BOX VILLAGE People Museum Album Release w/ Sabine McCalla + Ocean Boyfriend + Laura Fischer, 7 pm

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & BLUES

MARKET Donald Harrison’s Hornucopia: Soul & Smooth Jazz Lovers, 7 pm; 9 pm; 11 pm

NO DICE — Parrotfsh + Beach Face, 10 pm

NOLA BREWING & PIZZA CO — The River Benders plus The Sweet Lillies, 8 pm

OKAY BAR Azad Safavi + Silver Liner Serenaders + Sunset Jazz Band, 8 pm

ROCK 'N' BOWL Rosie Ledet plus Chubby Carrier, 8 pm

REPUBLIC NOLA — The Rumble ft. Christone Kingfsh, Jennifer Hartswich, Kanika Moore & More!, 10 pm

SAENGER THEATRE — Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, 9 pm

SALON SALON — Sam Dickey & Read the Sands, 7 pm

SATURN BAR Homo Cosmic Cajun Jazz Daddy Disco, 10 pm

SNUG HARBOR David Navarro & Horacio “El Negro” Jazz Cubano, 8 pm; 10 pm

STORYVILLE MUSIC HALL — Last Night at the Rue Bayou, 7:30 pm

TIPITINA’S — Greensky Bluegrass, 9 pm

MUSIC

People Museum perform an album release show at Music Box Village with Sabine McCalla, Ocean Boyfriend and Laura Fischer Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m.

TOULOUSE THEATRE Givers, 9 pm; Goldfsh: Disco Fish, 2 am

VAUGHAN’S Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet, 10:30 pm

FRIDAY 24

30/90 Justin Donovan, 2 pm; Jef Chaz Blues, 5 pm; Street Lyfe, 8 pm; DJ London (Upstairs), 10 pm; Strange Roux, 11 pm

APPLE BARREL — Bubbles Brown, 6 pm

THE ALLWAYS LOUNGE & CABARET

— The New Orleans High Society Hour

- Live Jazz and Burlesque, 8 pm

BACCHANAL David Sigler, 1 pm; Willie Green III, 7 pm

BAMBOULA’S New Orleans Rug Cutters, 11 am; Felipe Antonio Quartet, 2:15 pm; Les Getrex & Creole Cookin’, 6:30 pm; Bettis & The 3rd Degree Brass Band, 10 pm

BAR REDUX — Lily Unless & The If Onlys, 9 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE — The Mike Dillon Band + Crush Diamond, 9 pm

BLUE NILE — The Caesar Brothers’ FunkBox, 7:30 pm; Kermit Rufns & The BBQ Swingers, 10:30 pm; DTF: Deitch, Teitel, Fribush, 1 am

BROADSIDE Cimafunk & La Tribu, 8 pm

BUFFA’S Washboard Chaz Trio, 8 pm

BLUE NILE BALCONY ROOM — Stooges Brass Band, 11 pm

CAFÉ ISTANBUL — AXIAL TILT - A Grateful Dead Celebration, 10 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL Blackdog, 2 pm; Jamey St. Pierre & The

Honey-creepers, 6 pm; Higher Heights, 10 pm

CARROLLTON STATION The Andrew Duhon Quartet + Cortland Burke, 8 pm

CHICKIE WAH WAH — Louisiana

Calling ft. Sonny Landreth & The Iguanas, 8 pm; Lost Bayou Ramblers, 11 pm; C.C. Adcock & The Lafayette Marquis, 1:30 am

CIVIC THEATER — BADBADNOTGOOD,9 pm

THE CRYPT — GOTH Y CUMBIA: Lapis + Los Koombeans + Lewican + Flavia, 8 pm

DBA Michael Watson & The Alchemy, 6 pm; The Soul Rebels, 10 pm; Smack City All-Stars R&B Party ft. Thomas Glass, Alfred Jordan Jr., Shea Pierre & More, 1 am

DOS JEFES — Tom Fitzpatrick with Sax & The City, 9:30 pm

DOUBLE DEALER The Manu Gomez Band, 9:30 pm

FAIRGROUNDS RACE COURSE & SLOTS — New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, 11 am

THE FILLMORE — Live Nation & Dayglo Present The Meters + Special Guests Dumpstaphunk, 8 pm

GASA GASA King Tuf with Morgan Nagler, 9 pm; HollyRock, 2 am

GOOD MEASURE — Swinging in New Orleans ft. Stephen Walker, 9 pm

THE JOY THEATER — STS9- Human Dream Tour, 8 pm

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$3.50 Domestics, $4.50 Imports, $5 House Spirits, & $5.25 Calls

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MUSIC

LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ — Colin Davis

& Night People, 10 pm; Smoker’s World, 12 am

LE PETIT THEATRE — Boyfriend

Presents: In The Garden, 8:30 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR — Skerik, Stanton Moore & Brian Haas, 8 pm; New Orleans Suspects with Luther Dickinson & Jennifer Hartswick, 10 pm; Naughty Professor, 1 am

MARIGNY OPERA HOUSE — Maggie Koerner & Friends ft. Hans Williams, Gina Leslie, and Phin, 7:30 pm

MUSIC BOX VILLAGE — Gabrielle

Cavassa with Special Guests James McClaskey, 7:30 pm

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & BLUES

MARKET Nicholas Payton & Butcher Brown, 8 pm; 10 pm

NO DICE — My Beloved, 9 pm

NOLA BREWING & PIZZA CO —

Swamp Boss - Honey Island Swamp Band plays Springsteen, 8:30 pm

NOLA 'NACULAR — Half Raccoon and Ben Polaroid (live music), 6 pm

THE RABBIT HOLE Big Freedia’s Shakedown, 7 pm; Goshfather With Dr. Romance & Flamingeaux, 11 pm

REPUBLIC NEW ORLEANS

BoomBassador: BoomBox + The Polish Ambassador, 11 pm

ROCK 'N' BOWL Cowboy Mouth plus Boogie Long, 8:30 pm

SAENGER THEATRE Charley Crockett with Lee Fields, 8 pm

SANTOS BAR — All The Love Cuz with DJs Hunno & Airheadzz, 10 pm

SATURN BAR — Terrestrial Funk & Batucada Groove, 9 pm

SIBERIA Urq & The Dismal Villagers + Avery Island BCE + Glish, 9 pm

SNUG HARBOR Jon Cleary presents “The Kitchen Sink Concerts” ft. Pedro Segundo, 8 pm; 10 pm

STORYVILLE MUSIC HALL Last Night at the Rue Bayou, 7:30 pm

ST. ROCH TAVERN Max Bien Kahn + Chris Lyons + Bruisey Peets, 9 pm

TIPITINA’S — The Dip + Parlor Greens, 9 pm

TOULOUSE THEATRE — Break Science, 2:30 am

SATURDAY 25

30/90 — Jake Landry, 2 pm, The Frequency Kanectk, 5 pm; Tyler Kinchen & The Right Pieces, 8 pm; Zena Moses & Rue Fiya, 11 pm

APPLE BARRELL — Smoky Greenwell Blues Band, 10:30 pm

BACCHANAL — Miles Berry, 1 pm; Bayou Manouche, 7 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE — Quintron & Miss Pussycat, 9 pm

BLUE NILE — The Rumble ft. Big Chief

Joseph Boudreaux Jr., 10:30 pm

BROADSIDE — Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen with Special Guests John Boutté & Charlie & The Tropicales, 8 pm

BUFFA’S — Dusty Santamaria, 8 pm

CAFÉ ISTANBUL — AXIAL TILT - A Grateful Dead Celebration, 10 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL — The Rumpshakers, 1:30 pm; Bon Bon Vivant, 6 pm; Sierra Green, 10 pm

CANOA La Ñapa Fest ft. Sonido Bestial - Latin Dance Hall + Cultural Collaboration led by DJ Yeyo, 7 pm

CARROLLTON STATION — Jef Fest ft. The Crowe Boys + Olivia Barnes, 8 pm

CHICKIE WAH WAH Darrell Scott, 8 pm; Durand Jones, 10:30 pm; Subatomic Sound System + Screechy Dan + Norwood Fisher, 1 am

DBA — The Soul Rebels, 10 pm; Nikki & The Homies, 2 am

FAIRGROUNDS RACE COURSE & SLOTS — New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, 11 am

THE FILLMORE — Better Than Ezra + Eve 6 + Big Sam’s Funky Nation, 9 pm

GASA GASA — Kaytraaaa! Club!, 12:30 am

GOOD MEASURE — Sunpie & The Louisiana Sunspots, 9 pm

HOUSE OF BLUES Mac McAnally, 9 pm

LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ — Pocket Chocolate, 10 pm; The Snozzberries, 12 am

MAPLE LEAF BAR — The Desert Nudes, 8 pm; Honey Island Swamp Band, 10 pm; ZITA, 1 am

MUSIC BOX VILLAGE — Headhunters 3rd Annual Bembé Celebration ft. Gitkin, Herlin Riley & DJ C’est Funk, 1 am

NO DICE BORZOI + Graveyard Hours + The Kings Cannons, 9 pm

NOLA BREWING & PIZZA CO Filthy Six All-Stars, 9:30 pm

OKAY BAR “Heatwave!” Soul + R&B Dance Party w. DJ Ann, 9 pm

THE RABBIT HOLE Morning 40 Federation, 8 pm; The Crystal Method, 10 pm

ROCK 'N' BOWL — Bonerama plus River Eckert, 8:30 pm

REPUBLIC NOLA Voodoo Dead ft. Steve Kimock, George Porter Jr., Jackie Greene & More!, 10 pm

SAENGER THEATRE — Shorty Turns 40 ft. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Leon Bridges, Jill Scott, Joan Jett & More!, 8 pm

SANTOS BAR — Psyched Fest ft. The Quickening, Los Koombeans, Two Tone Merigold & More!, 10 pm

MUSIC

SNUG HARBOR — Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, 4:30 pm; Kyle Roussel “Church of New Orleans,” 8 pm; 10 pm

SIBERIA — Dan Deacon + Tashi Delay, 9 pm

STORYVILLE MUSIC HALL Last Night at the Rue Bayou, 3 & 8 pm

TIPITINA’S — Galactic ft. Jelly Joseph + Melt, 9 pm; The Greyboy Allstars, 2 am

TOULOUSE THEATRE —The Funk Sessions ft. Ivan Neville, Adam Deitch, + More!, 2:30 am

SUNDAY 26

ALLWAYS LOUNGE — Sunday Swing with Tuba Skinny, 8 pm

BACCHANAL Cristen Spencer, 1 pm; Noah Young, 7 pm

BAMBOULA’S — Them Jaywalkers, 11 am; Laura Doyle Quartet, 2:15 pm; Midnight Brawlers, 5:30 pm; Kat Kiley, 9 pm

BAR REDUX — Take Your Folkin Clothes Of, 9 pm

BJ’S LOUNGE The Deslondes + Jackson & The Janks, 9 pm

BLUE NILE Once A Dozen ft. R oger Lewis, Julius McKee, Big Sam & More!, 11 pm

BROADSIDE — Adam Deitch’s 50th Birthday Celebration ft. Oteil Burbridge, Ivan Neville, Marcus Machado & More!, 8 pm

CAFÉ ISTANBUL — Current FuturesRobert Walter, Stanton Moore, Will Bernard, Chris Stillwell & Skerik, 9 pm

CARROLLTON STATION — Mahmoud Chouki & Friends, 9 pm

CHICKIE WAH WAH — Zachary Richard, 8 pm; The Heavy Heavy + Lou Hazel, 10:30 pm

DBA Glen David Andrew’s Birthday Bash, 10 pm

Charlie & The Tropicales perform at The Broadside with Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen and John Boutté Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m.

GASA GASA — Mike Dillon’s New Orleans Percussion Consortium ft. Nikki Glaspie & Kris Myers, 9 pm

FAIRGROUNDS RACE COURSE & SLOTS — New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, 11 am

HOWLIN’ WOLF — Hot 8 Brass Band, 10:30 pm

JOY THEATER — Take Me To The River All-Stars, 8 pm

MAPLE LEAF BAR — Keiko Komaki, June Yamagishi & Donald Magee, 8 pm; Maple Leaf Allstars, 10 pm; Toubab Krewe, 1 am

NO DICE Father, 10 pm

OKAY BAR Warren Burns + Dirty Rotten Snake In The Grass + Joe’s Truck Stop + The Crybabies, 7 pm

OLD ARABI LIGHTHOUSE RECORDS AND BOOKS — Open Mic Night with Guest Host Frenchie Moe, 6 pm

REPUBLIC NOLA — Mountain Grass Unit with TBC Brass Band, 9 pm

ROCK 'N' BOWL — The Petty Krewe, 8 pm

SALON SALON — Sunday Spinnz with DJ Madspinnz, 7 pm

SATURN BAR — Whip Appeal, Greazy Alice, Chris Lyons Band, 9 pm

TIPITINA’S — Tab Benoit + Dustin Dale Gaspard, 9 pm

TOULOUSE THEATRE —

Sylvan Esso, 10 pm

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Boyfriend

New Orleans pop artist Boyfriend last year premiered her fantastic album “In the Garden” with a theatrical stage show. The concept reimagines the story of the Garden of Eden from Eve’s perspective, with Boyfriend portraying Eve, Big Freedia as God, Jake Shears as Adam, Peaches portraying the Serpent and Billy Porter serving as the narrator. Boyfriend will again stage “In the Garden” featuring the voices of her collaborators at 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 24, at Le Petit Theatre. Tickets start at $22 via lepetittheatre.com.

Jazz Fest flms

The first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was recorded on 16mm film by Don Perry, capturing performances by Duke Ellington, Mahalia Jackson, Danny Barker, Pete Fountain and more. The Friends of the Cabildo screen those films at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Admission $20, $10 for Friends of the Cabildo members. Visit friendsofthecabildo. org for information.

Ali Macofsky

While growing up in Los Angeles, Ali Macofsky got a peek into entertaining when she started helping do prank calls for a local radio station. She’s since done some TV, writing and

stand-up. She performs at 7 & 9 p.m. Sunday, April 26, and Monday, April 27, at Sports Drink. Tickets $28.99 via sportsdrink.org.

Band of Heathens

Over two decades, Austin, Texas’ Band of Heathens has taken a DIY approach to building a following for its mix of roots rock and country. The group’s latest release is February’s “Country Sides.” The Last Jiminez opens for them at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, at Chickie Wah Wah. Tickets $32.61 via chickiewahwah.com.

‘Marama’

In New Zealand-born Taratoa Stappard’s horror thriller ‘Marama,’ a young Maori woman is brought to England and pressured to work for a British noble as a governess. As she learns about his past as a whaler plying the southern Pacific and finds cultural artifacts he’s brought back to England, she uncovers his colonizing past and sets out for revenge. The film was a selection in the Toronto International Film Festival and was just named Scariest Film at the Overlook Film Festival. It opens April 24 at The Prytania Theaters at Canal Place. Visit theprytania.com for tickets and information.

Zwanze Day

The Belgian brewer Brasserie Cantillon is known for its experimental and limited releases of lambic beers. On Zwanze Day, a small number of bars and restaurants around the world debut new releases. The only location in Louisiana this year is Cochon. A tasting event at the restaurant includes pours of this year’s Artemis La Blanche and Artemis La Rouge releases, as well as other Cantillon lambics, plus a spread of whole hogs, Belgian-style sausages, charcuterie, fries and more. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 25. Tickets $180 via cochonrestaurant.com.

Zurich Classic

The PGA Tour event features professional golfers, a Pro-Am event and more at TPC Louisiana on the West Bank on April 20-26. Daily tickets $45 and packages are available. For tickets and information visit zurichgolfclassic. com for information.

WHAT’S WORKING WHAT’S NOT

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Boyfriend performs on Friday, April 24, at Le Petit Theatre.

PHOTO BY MADDIE SPINNER / GAMBIT

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PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE

IRRATIONAL NATIONALS

By Frank A. Longo

Bird of

Place for a place

Vexed

Maui shindig

Bari’s

Likelihood

Intensely cold

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Tonic, for gin

Small bay

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Shaver’s cut

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