King Cake Fest and Pelicans Win!

Word must’ve gotten out because over 12,000 people attended the second annual King Cake Fest at Champions Square. And they came hungry, buying more than 50,000 “tasting tickets” benefitting babies and children at Ochsner Hospital for Children. The tickets sold at $10 for 10 King Cake tastings. Vendors also sold full-size cakes and specialties from donut King Cakes to King Cake bread pudding. But the all-day concert featuring Old Sole, The Lucky Dogs, Dr. Jazz, Bucktown All-Stars, and Cowboy Mouth was free.

Fleetwood Mac Plays Jazz Fest

Jazz Fest is about music and food but weather is always part of the story with 2 recurring themes – heat and rain. The sun was out before Saturday’s festivities but the week’s rainstorms left LOTS of mud prompting some to call the event, “Mud Fest.” And it was unusually cool. After passing the festively decorated houses with musicians playing out front on the way in, we grabbed a Panorama Foods Crawfish Bread and walked around the track. The New Orleans Bingo! Show was playing the Gentilly Stage so we paused for a few of their experimental songs with accompanying burlesque dancers.

Backstage at Vintage Trouble, KISS and Blondie!

Having lived and worked in Los Angeles for almost 18 years, I had more than my share of red carpets and backstage passes. Moving to New Orleans, I assumed my social life would include a lot less of that. Many concerts here are open to everyone and you can say hello to the band without getting on a list or wearing a laminated tag. This weekend, NOLA played host to the NCAA Final 4 and a weekend-long free concert series, the Big Dance, bringing in bands ranging from the Black Keys to Jimmy Buffett. The giant riverside Woldenberg Park was fenced in and gated and security was in full effect protecting the bands from the enormous crowds. Luckily, I had friends in high places.

Harvest Wednesday with Cowboy Mouth (lots of photos)

Harvest the Music benefits Second Harvest Food Bank and is a free weekly event at Lafayette Square every Wednesday at 5 pm through November 3rd.

http://harvestthemusic.org

I’ll be honest, not every Wednesday concert is my favorite cup of tea, but they’re always fun. I always get to run into people I know. I’m always free to dance if I care to (and I often do). There are always colorful characters in the crowd. And there’s always great food and drink. And the music’a always good even when it’s not what moves me.