George Matters.
Buttons and T-shirts proclaimed this simple truth years ago, and on Friday, January 27, 2012, OffBeat agrees when we recognize the great George Porter, Jr. with our Lifetime Achievement in Music at the Best of the Beat. Once again, OffBeat will recognize excellence in the South Louisiana music scene, and we will return this year to Generations Hall after the success of last year’s party/awards show/concert.
George Porter, Jr. Photo by Elsa Hahne.
In addition to the Meter/Funky Meter/Runnin’ Pardner/Trio member/7 Walker, we’ll also honor producer Scott Billington, who’ll receive our Lifetime Achievement in Music Business; guitarist John Rankin, who’ll receive our Lifetime Achievement in Music Education; and lawyer Mary Howell, who will receive our Heartbeat Award.
We pride ourselves on presenting a wide variety of music at the Best of the Beat, and this year we’ll feature performances by Porter, Glen David Andrews, the Soul Rebels, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses, and one of this year’s cover subjects: Big Freedia, who graced our July cover. We’ll have stages at both ends of the building, so the music will only stop for the awards. We’ll also have food from some of the finest restaurants in New Orleans.
Voting for the Best of the Beat’s yearly awards will begin on OffBeat.com on Thursday, December 8, and it will be open until January 13, 2012.
Tickets this year will be $35 the day of the show, but OffBeat’s offering an incentive not to wait. Tickets go on sale on Monday, December 5, and for one day only, they’ll cost a mere $15. After that, ticket prices will scale upwards. From December 6 to Christmas, tickets will cost $20; from December 26 to January 15, tickets will cost $25; and from January 16 until January 26—the day before the show—tickets will cost $30.
For more information and updates, follow OffBeat online, through the Weekly Beat, and on Facebook and Twitter. We’re looking forward to the Best of the Beat and hope you’ll be a part of it.
