WHERE NOW New
Orleans Sound Advice Four more music fests
NOLA CRAWFISH FESTIVAL Sandwiched between Jazzfest weekends, April 30-May 2, this fun fling combines two of New Orleans’ greatest passions—music and mudbugs. Jon Cleary, Tab Benoit and others perform, while festgoers pinch, slurp and sip on local brews. Central City BBQ, 1201 S. Rampart St.; nolacrawfishfest.com WEDNESDAY AT THE SQUARE Lafayette Square gets into the groove midweek with this free springtime concert series, which continues through May. Opening
Wednesday at the Square
acts begin at 5 pm, with headliners taking the stage at 6:30 pm. April 4: Sweet Crude; April 11: Flow Tribe; April 18: Wayne Toups; April 25: Big Sam’s Funky Nation. St. Charles Ave. and Lafayette St.; ylcnola.org JAZZ IN THE PARK This popular Thursday evening Armstrong Park throwdown plays it loose and easy with its lineup, pulling from the Tremé neighborhood’s wealth of homegrown talent. Kermit Ruffins, James Andrews, John Boutte: You never know who might pop up on stage, and that makes it all the more fun. The free fest kicks off its 13th season April 26 at 5 pm. N. Rampart and St. Ann streets; pufap.org
PARTY LIKE IT’S 1718 The Picton Castle
OUT+ABOUT
The city’s 300th anniversary celebration continues in full force this month with a variety of tricentennial to-dos. In addition to the Historic New Orleans Collection’s “New Or-
Floating Options
leans, the Founding Era” and the Ogden Museum’s “Salazar:
Move over, Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean: A new fleet cruises into town April 19-22, when the Tall Ships® dock along Woldenberg Park. Hailing from the Netherlands and around the U.S., the six vessels offer free tours, along with fast-pass tickets for visitors who want to jump to the front of the line. An on-deck/dockside gala, featuring live entertainment, incredible edibles by leading local chefs and a massive fireworks display, takes place April 21. The event dovetails with NOLA Navy Week, April 23-29. The free, weeklong affair features ship visitations, a Navy Band concert at St. Louis Cathedral, a seafood cookoff, lectures at the Historic New Orleans Collection and, yes, even more fireworks. For details, visit tallshipsnola2018.com and Facebook.com/NolaNavyWeek.
Louisiana State Museum mounts “Recovered Memories:
16 W H E R E N E W O R L E A N S I A P R I L 2 018
Portraits of Influence in Spanish New Orleans” exhibits, the Spain, New Orleans and the American Revolution” April 20 at the Cabildo, where the signing of the Louisiana Purchase took place. Other events include an inter-faith prayer service at St. Louis Cathedral April 17, a gathering of international dignitaries at historic Gallier Hall April 20-22 and citywide “Family Reunion” block parties April 22, followed by fireworks. Did we mention the costumed dog parade? For a full lineup, visit “New Orleans, the Founding Era”
2018nola.com.
(TOP LEFT) ©TALL SHIPS® AMERICA; (TOP RIGHT) ©PAUL BROUSSARD/NOCVB; (BOTTOM) ©HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION
FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE LOUISIANE It’s not every day you get to hear Tuvan throat singing. Francophone performers from 20-plus countries (Morocco, Gambia, Mali, the Republic of Congo) turn downtown Lafayette into a global musical melting pot April 25-29. festivalinternational.org