The 11th annual Birdfoot Festival returns March 10-18 with a concert series exploring humanity’s intertwined relationship with the natural world.
Birdfoot 2023 will bring an acclaimed group of international and local musicians and composers together to collaborate and perform concerts and interactive events across New Orleans and into Southeast Louisiana. In addition to mainstage concerts and other signature events such as Birdfoot Backstage, 2023’s festival will feature a Listening Pilgrimage, a season-specific series of outdoor pop-up concerts.
The “pilgrimage” will take audiences to many places like the Contemporary Arts Center Rooftop on Friday, March 10, for nature lovers, forest bathers and oxygen breathers; The Benshoff Sculpture Garden in City Park on March 11 for a musical experience that will bring the niches and alcoves of the sculpture garden to life with sound and music; Whitney Plantation in Wallace, LA on Sunday, March 12 for a musical walk acknowledging the past, honoring the present and planting seeds of hope for the future; The Material Institute in the St. Roch neighborhood on Tuesday, March 14 and additional secret locations to be revealed in the lead-up to the festival.
This year’s festival welcomes esteemed guest artists Jenna Sherry (Violin, Creative Director), Adé Williams (Violin), Rose Hashimoto (Viola), Mira Williams (Viola), Chris Beroes-Haigis (Cello), Madelyn Kowalski (Cello), Carol McGonnel (Clarinet), and Josh Perry (Percussion).
Some concerts and events to look forward to this year include:
Born by the River – Wednesday, March 15 – Marigny Opera House
A concert that contemplates how place and memory shape the stories we tell about ourselves and how these stories in turn shape our relationship with the land we call home. Music by Louisiana composers Edmond Dédé, Camille Nickerson, and Ben Zervigon, as well as John Luther Adams, Carlos Simon, Yaz Lancaster, Lei Liang, Carl Maria von Weber and more.
Child of Tree – Saturday, March 18 – George and Joyce Wein Jazz and Heritage Center
Taking inspiration from Child of Tree, John Cage’s radical piece for amplified cactus, Birdfoot’s final concert asks how we can better understand our entwined relationship with the natural world through our ears. Music by Beethoven, John Cage, Juri Seo, Christopher Fox and local composer James May.
Birdfoot Backstage – Thursday, March 16 – Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans
Birdfoot Late Night – Secret time and location
Family Concert – Saturday, March 11 – Louisiana Children’s Museum in City Park
For tickets, more information on Birdfoot Festival’s return and to view the full schedule and roster of artists, visit this website.
