As the dog days of summer draw to a close, the fall concert season in New Orleans begins to heat up. Arguably the most-anticipated concert series of the season, Second Harvest Food Bank’s weekly Harvest the Music series is set to return to the grounds of Lafayette Square on Wednesday evenings from September 19 through October 24.
Big Sam's Funky Nation from Harvest the Music 2011. Credit Kim Welsh.
Aside from the cooler temperatures and earlier sunsets, the month of September holds a greater significance to the series’ overarching mission: raising awareness about hunger in the region. On a national level, Second Harvest, in conjunction with several other food banks across the country, rally behind Feeding America’s “Hunger Action Month.”
Though often overlooked, an estimated 13-percent of Louisiana’s population struggles with hunger. To counter this issue, Second Harvest Food Bank’s Greater New Orleans and Acadiana division directs all proceeds generated from Harvest the Music’s food and drink sales towards fighting hunger across 23 southern Louisiana parishes.
About the music, this fall’s top-notch bill is filled with local powerhouses, exciting up-and-comers, hometown heroes and regional heavyweights. Here’s a look:
September 19: The Iguanas plus Los Po-Boy-Citos
September 26: Dr. John and the Lower 911 with Jon Cleary plus Natalie Mae and Johnny Sansone
October 3: Anders Osborne with Dave Malone and the Bonerama Horns plus Mia Borders
October 10: JJ Grey and Mofro plus Colin Lake
October 17: North Mississippi Allstars with Alvin Youngblood Hart and Lightnin’ Malcolm plus the Young Pinstripe Brass Band
October 24: Rebirth Brass Band plus the Mississippi Rail Company
