Here’s a preview of mini-fests and special concert series happening during Jazz Fest.
Festin’ 2024
Wednesday, April 24 – Monday, May 6
Tipitina’s
The Uptown club has a 13-day lineup of after-fest and late-night shows, ranging from local favorites and touring acts to large events.
Performances include two nights by soul band St. Paul & the Broken Bones (April 27-28); Galactic featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph on both Fridays (April 26 and May 3); and another two nights by Neal Francis (late-night May 3 and May 4). The schedule also includes The Iceman Special (late-night April 26), Dragon Smoke (April 30), North Mississippi Allstars (May 2), Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe (late-night May 2), FiyaPowa! with members of Galactic and Dumpstaphunk (late-night May 4), Dumpstaphunk with Mike Dillon’s Punkadelick (May 5) and a Papa Grows Funk reunion (May 6).
The second annual Zildjian Jam — celebrating the cymbal makers — will feature Adam Deitch, Joe Dyson, Nikki Glaspie, Stanton Moore, Herlin Riley and many others on April 30. After the Daze Between festival at Faubourg Brewery closes on May 1, many of those artists will reconvene at Tipitina’s, including John Scofield, Chuck Leavell and Eric Krasno.
Kicking off Festin’ 2024 is a special all-star tribute to the late Russell Batiste, featuring members of his family, former bandmates and players like George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Stanton Moore and others.
Find tickets and more information at tipitinas.com.
Fest-O-Matic
Wednesday, April 24 – Monday, May 6
Chickie Wah Wah
Chickie Wah Wah has a packed post-festival schedule with New Orleans and south Louisiana musicians, a few album release shows and late-night sessions with Keller Williams.
Williams hosts two nights of Late Night Freek Out on April 25 and April 26. The New Orleans Klezmer All Stars (April 24), Brian Stoltz (April 30) and Benny & The Late Bloomers (May 1) will all play shows celebrating new releases. And the miniseries within the series, Louisiana Calling, will feature Sonny Landreth with artists like the Iguanas, Tommy McLain, and Roddie Romero.
There also will be performances by Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective & Turtle Island Quartet, Alynda Segarra and Dylan LeBlanc, Lost Bayou Ramblers, CC Adcock, Joy Clark, Jon Cleary, Andrew Duhon, Papa Mali’s Shantytown Underground, Los Cumbia Stars and more.
Find the full lineup at chickiewahwah.com.
Gambit previews the first weekend of Jazz Fest 2024.
Nightfest 2024
Thursday, April 25 – Sunday, May 5
Cafe Istanbul
Cafe Istanbul’s Nightfest, programmed by Poolside Productions, will feature a number of all-star collaborations and jams. New Orleans’ John “Papa” Gros kicks things off Thursday, April 25, before turning it over to two nights of Melvin Seals & JGB on April 26-27.
Organist Robert Walter will present Current Futures on April 28 with Stanton Moore, Eddie Roberts, Chris Stillwell and Cochemea Gastelum. On April 29, James Singleton will present his Malabar project with Brian Haas, Will Bernard, Mike Dillon, Aurora Nealand and James Evans. And the Hot 8 Brass Band performs April 30.
A band including Scott Page, Stephen Perkins, Norwood Fisher and more will perform a Pink Floyd tribute, Beyond the Wall, on May 2. And later that night Reed Mathis, Billy Martin and Brian Haas play with guest George Porter Jr.
Axial Tilt on May 3 and May 4 is a Grateful Dead celebration featuring Jeff Mattson, Rob Eaton, Lisa Mackey and more. And on May 5, Terence Higgins plays with Wil Blades, Ari Teitel and others, before Bonerama caps the schedule with an end-of-fest bash.
Find tickets at istanbulnightfest.com. Shows also will be livestreamed on fans.live and stageit.com.
Fest by Nite
Thursday, April 25 – Sunday, May 5
Various locations
The Fest by Nite series is full of all-star jams and tributes featuring the music of Prince, Dr. John, Chaka Khan and more, plus some headliners thrown into a slate of 20 shows. Venues include Toulouse Theatre, Joy Theater and Civic Theater and some late-night shows start after midnight. A Friday, April 26, tribute to Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead features Eric Krasno, Ross James, Nikki Glaspie and Brandon “Ted” Niederauer. On Monday, April 29, the Frequinauts show features Donald Harrison Jr., Stanton Moore, Robert Mercurio, Robert Walter and Will Bernard. Joe Russo’s Selcouth Quartet performs Friday, May 3, at Toulouse Theatre. For a full schedule, visit liveforlivemusic.com.
Groove City 2024
Thursday, April 25 – Sunday, May 5
Dew Drop Inn
The revitalized Dew Drop Inn’s music calendar includes a special slate of shows during Jazz Fest. Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah plays two nights, April 25-26; trumpeter Maurice “Mobetta” Brown, who plays with Anderson .Paak, hosts an all-star jam session on April 27; the Afrofuturistic Sun Ra Arkestra performs April 28; and blues icon Bobby Rush is featured on April 29.
Erica Falls will perform May 2 with Nicholas Payton, Nikki Glaspie and more; Big Freedia and The Soul Rebels get together on May 4; and trumpeter Steve Lands will present “Rearranging the Planets,” a new interpretation on Gustav Holst’s music, on May 5.
Find tickets and information at dewdropinnnola.com.
Midnight Preserves
Thursday, April 25 – Sunday, May 5
Preservation Hall
The Preservation Hall Foundation’s annual benefit series brings in special guests for late-night sessions with Pres Hall musicians. The guests are unannounced — Robert Plant, Pete Townshend and Gary Clark Jr. have dropped by in the past — but that hasn’t stopped the series from being a hot ticket during Jazz Fest. This year’s series is already sold out. You can find more information at preshallfoundation.org/midnightpreserves.
Jazz Afterdark Series
Saturday, April 27 – Friday, May 3
Orpheum Theater
The Orpheum Theater’s post-festival Jazz Afterdark series includes four major concerts. Grammy-winning pianist Robert Glasper’s music regularly pushes genre boundaries, especially around jazz and hip-hop. He’s joined by R&B singer-songwriter Yebba at 9 p.m. Saturday, April 27. Tickets start at $45.
Funk and soul band War has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of their landmark album “The World is a Ghetto,” which hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Original member Lonnie Jordan now leads the band, which plays with reggae band The Wailers at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 28. Tickets start at $44.
New Orleans’ queen diva Big Freedia made history last year when she became the first bounce artist to perform with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Big Freedia and the LPO are back for round two at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 2. Tickets are $58.
Roots rocker Grace Potter will play two sets at 9 p.m. Friday, May 3, one of which is a tribute to the late, great Tina Turner. Potter will be joined by New Orleans’ Boyfriend and other guests for the tribute performance. Tickets start at $39.
More info can be found at orpheumnola.net.
Shorty Fest
Monday, April 29
Tipitina’s
Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews’ annual Shorty Fest will feature music inside Tipitina’s and a block party around the Uptown venue with brass bands, Mardi Gras Indians, food trucks, high school marching bands, a kids area and more. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Galactic with Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Sun Ra Arkestra and Trombone Shorty Academy students will perform. Outdoor events start at 5 p.m. and are free. The indoor show kicks off at 8 p.m., and tickets are $125 general admission and $300 VIP via tipitinas.com. Find information at tromboneshortyfoundation.org.
NOLA Crawfish Festival
Monday, April 29 - Wednesday, May 1
The Broadside
The three-day festival has music on indoor and outdoor stages, boiled crawfish from NOLA Crawfish King, a crawfish eating competition, a cook-off and arts vendors. Guitarist Eric Krasno will be joined by Ivan Neville, Tony Hall, Raymond Weber and Anders Osborne to headline Monday night; blues rocker Tab Benoit headlines Tuesday; and on Wednesday, Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentleman will play a special tribute to Snooks Eaglin with George Porter Jr., John Boutte and more.
The music lineup also includes Porter & Runnin’ Pardners, Boutte, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, Zita, River Eckert, Kapow!, Dave Jordan’s Almost Acoustic Trio, Ed Williams’ RumpelSTEELskin, and Grateful Dead tribute band Iko Allstars.
Single-day general admission is $60 or $165 for three-day passes. There also are VIP options. Find information at nolacrawfishfest.com.
Keep up with the latest at calendar.gambitweekly.com.
Daze Between
Tuesday, April 30, - Wednesday, May 1
Faubourg Brewery
The two-day festival at brewery in New Orleans East between Jazz Fest weekends is heavy on funk, rock, soul and bands known for extended jams. Funk band Lettuce headlines Tuesday with guest guitarist John Scofield. The Krasno/Moore Project, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dogs in a Pile, Cool Cool Cool and The Rumble also play the first day.
Southern rock jam band Gov’t Mule headlines Wednesday, and Scofield will again be a special guest along with Chuck Leavell, Ivan Neville, Karl Denson, the Dirty Dozen and Daniel Donato. The day also includes Denson’s Tiny Universe project, Galactic, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, Karina Rykman and The Iceman Special.
General admission tickets are $155-$165 for both days and $70-$85 for single day tickets via dazebetweennola.com.
Six of Saturns
Wednesday, April 24 – Sunday, May 5
Ace Hotel New Orleans
The Ace Hotel’s festival-time series includes shows by locally based and touring musicians. Guitarist Joshua Starkman (who can be seen at the festival with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Charlie Gabriel) will host fest editions of his Have a Great Day variety show on April 24 and May 1. The first week also includes a vinyl DJ night (April 25), The Noah Young Band featuring Mahmoud Chouki (April 27) and Nicholas Payton (April 28).
The second weekend picks back up with shows by sound composer Cleo Reed (May 1), Jon Cleary with Pedro Segundo (May 2), Joy Clark and Lilli Lewis (May 3), Lady Wray with Jelly Joseph (May 4), and Flagboy Giz with Brass-A-Holics (May 5).
For tickets and more information, go to acehotel.com/new-orleans.
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