ave I used that title before? Probably. But, indeed, that’s what OffBeat’s been about for almost 30 years now.
One thing that my brain picked up on pretty early is that the number and quality of festivals we have in New Orleans and throughout Louisiana is astounding. But festivals showcase what we do best: food and music. So it’s no wonder that we have more damn festivals than anywhere else in the country.
I always say, the more, the merrier.
Two great and totally different festivals are on our radar in May, now that the 2015 Jazz Fest has come and gone (as I write this, it’s still happening!). That’s the Bayou Boogaloo on May 16-17 on the shores of Bayou St. John, and the Birdfoot Festival that takes place in venues around the city beginning on May 20.
The Boogaloo has added something different with its great location. There’s nothing more relaxing and enjoyable than being able to enjoy New Orleans’ access to water. If we can’t have the lake, then the bucolic Bayou St. John is a close second. Add in the food and music ingredients, and the fact that it’s a free festival and you have a can’t-lose proposition. Personally I think a “Lakeshore Festival” would be a great summer festival: stages with music, food and arts stationed along our beautiful Lakeshore Drive—or whenever it’s finished, the Lafitte Festival that could take place within the Lafitte Greenway. And then there’s Crescent Park along the river. So much potential.
New Orleans: Celebration City!
Another festival that’s taking place in May is the Birdfoot Festival, a fledgling music festival (at four years’ running) that is taking a different musical approach that promotes classical music in venues throughout the city. I know this is a longshot, but I think this festival could possibly attract a lot more people from out of town, those “quality” tourists I’ve spoken about in previous Mojo Mouth columns and in my blog. These are folks who enjoy classical music (we polled our readers a couple of weeks ago and found that they also enjoy many different forms of classical music, including orchestral, chamber, vocal, opera and more). The Birdfoot Festival (named after the birdlike “footprint” of the Mississippi Delta) is trying to establish New Orleans as a center for a classical music festival. My recollection of our visit to the classically-oriented Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina was that I loved when classical music was performed in outside venues. There are a lot of beautiful places to present music in the city outside: the many parks, the lakefront (again); most of the universities have beautiful spaces too.
We need more festivals for locals and for visitors. Period.
Festival promoters, take note.
