School’s out and the summer heat is in, and New Orleans goes with the flow by slowing its pace. There are definitely fewer festivals around town in June but the Northshore seems quite the happening place this month with a couple of their most popular festivals lined up in the next few weeks.
Locally there’s not a better musical compliment to the humid sultry weather than the tropical sounds of reggae. Okay, maybe zydeco, but that’s what makes the Reggae Riddums International Arts Festival (June 12 & 13) in City Park such a treat; it’s not usually found in such abundance in Louisiana.
The funky hippie crowd comes out in full force to enjoy the 14 or so bands that perform over the weekend. Before I attended I thought the scene was going to be very young and a little wild but just bring your blanket, a little incense, wear that pucca necklace and you’ll fit right in with this laid-back, peace-loving group.
Over the last 13 years Reggae Riddums has evolved beyond just reggae to include a Caribbean/world beat sound. This year’s two-day lineup includes world beat music of Burning Spear, Miami’s Havana Soul, Jamaica’s Mystic Revealers, Haiti’s Papa Jube, Razel, New Orleans own Executive Steel Band and Cool Riddims and Sista Teedy. I can’t be of much help with musical descriptions but I do know this is a chance to experience the uplifting Caribbean music right in our own backyard.
The tropical sounds are complemented by the tropical food items for sale including Caribbean Fish & Jerk Chicken, Jama- Jama (a delicious spinach concoction), curry chicken, conch fritters, Jamaican meat pie or red beans and rice. Hours: Saturday and Sunday noon—dusk; $17.50 a day or $15.00 with two canned food items; 504-367-1313 or www.reggaeriddums.org
Covington’s Bluesberry Festival (June 5) is a play on words with the intention to present blueberries accompanied by blues music. It does a litde of both but not overwhelmingly. What you will find is a nice little music festival in pretty Bogue Falaya Park in Covington. A stage is situated near the bayou and presents a day of entertainment with performances by Jay Elliston, Little Freddy King, Arnadee Frederick, Roland Stone, Little Queenie, and Coco Robicheaux. Feel free to bring your blanket and spread it under one of the many trees that shade the park.
The Northshore is home to a number of local blueberry farmers. In past years at least one grower has sold pints and flats of Louisiana berries and blueberry bushes. Among the food booths a number of local restaurants sell a selection of dishes, including shrimp poboys, shrimp stuffed potato, shrimp and crawfish pasta and crawfish bread. An unusual change of pace for beverages includes a selection of Absolut Vodka “Blue Lagoons” (light blue-colored currant flavored drinks) and Abita Beer with a berry variety. Desserts were on the menu too: sweet potato pies, all natural smoothies and one booth had a fruit cup containing a few Minnesota blackberries.
The park is a natural playground for kids, but just in case, a special kids’ area is arranged with hands-on activities and special performances. About 30 arts and crafts booths fill our the rest of the event, presenting high quality unique pieces. Although the theme of the festival is “the spirit of blueberry is in the air,” it seems to be more spirit than anything else. Hours: Noon-7 p.m; $10 at the gate, kids 10 and under are free; 504-892-8650.
One common question that people always ask is: “Where’s a really good seafood festival?” I usually think of it as more of a 4th of July festival, but Mandeville’s Seafood Festival (July 2-4) really does justice to the name. Many of the other “seafood” festivals I’ve visited think that by having catfish and oyster po-boys that’s all they need. At this event you can expect to find seafood gumbo, shrimp stew, catfish and oyster poboys, seafood Veracruz, shrimp on a stick, soft-shell crab poboy, shrimp poboy, and crawfish/shrimp etouffee from the 20 or so booths.
Held at the Lakefront Harbor, which sits right on Lake Pontchartrain, the water setting helps add to the ambiance, A grassy area in front of the stage allows plenty of room to plop yourself as you watch the weekend’s entertainment, Friday night acts include Kim Carson, The Top Cats, AI “LiI’ Fats” Jackson and over the next two days Glenn Dale Fontenot, the Boogiemen, Bennie Anderson & the Drifters, Randy T., Johnny Angel & the Swingin’ Demons, play with the weekend closing out with a performance by the Domino Show Band,
A cluster of craft booths offer a little diversion, but this is mainly a food and music event punctuated by fireworks on Sunday around 8:45 p,m. to celebrate the Fourth, During the day this can be a very hot festival which in turn makes it not so enjoyable. But I can remember a distinctly pleasant evening when I took the time to sit out on the pier, listening to water slap against the rocks, taking in the lake’s presence while the music played in the background. Hours: 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Admission $5; 504-624-9762.
Back for its fifth year, New Orleans has the honor of hosting one of the best produced Black festivals in the country with the Essence Music Festival. Always held over the Fourth of July weekend, the festival presents evening concerts in the Superdome and a series of empowerment seminars at the Convention Center during the days. The main stage on the floor of the Superdome presents such headlining acts as Patti LaBell, Lauryn Hill, Brian McKnight, Maze, The O’Jays and Dru Hill.
The four smaller stages arranged in the Super Lounge areas, surrounding off the walkway of one of the upper tiers, attempts to create an intimate nightclub setting and actually does a very nice job, Some of the more than 20 acts found on these smaller stages include Bobby Blue Bland, Average White Band, the Spinners, Etta James, Bobby Marchan, The Ohio Players, Betty Wright and the S.O.S. Band. Fifteen or so local restaurateurs make sure there’s plenty of southern down-home food to feed the crowds, with such great dishes as Jamaican chicken, seafood gumbo, smothered chicken, mustard greens, cornbread, red beans and rice, fried chicken, crawfish pasta, pralines and sweet potato pie.
During the day the public is invited to sit in on empowerment seminars with. panels of speakers. A couple thousand people sit in on such topics as You Call Will: Overcoming Lift, Challenger, Getting Rich in America and Thriving in the New Millennium. On Sunday, touch on relevant inspiring topics such as Sisters Speak From the Heart and Brothers Tell the Truth. When I attended last year it was truly motivating and uplifting to be a part of such a huge gathering of concerned individuals trying to find some answers to important issues. Very touchy-feely-which may be why the majority of the audience is female, but that’s what women do best.
The Convention Center also houses a dozen or so food booths, about 30 African-American craft booths and a substantial book area with an elaborate Black history selection. The music portion of this festival is a great opportunity to get dressed up and step out to mingle and hear music. Ladies—you can’t wear a dress too tight or short. Gentlemen—pull out that hat and the fancy vest. The day events are free to the public and evening tickets range in price from $25 to $55 each night. Call 1-800-762-9523.
