After eight years of being a part of the Jazz Fest season, the Ponderosa Stomp will move to the fall in 2010. The yearly celebration of the unsung heroes of rock ‘n’ roll, soul, R&B, blues, rockabilly and swamp pop has grown from individual concerts at the Circle Bar to shaggy, all-night parties at the Rock ‘n’ Bowl, to finely tuned presentations at the House of Blues. The Stomp has grown to include a conference at the Cabildo for the last two years, and in 2008, there was a Ponderosa Stomp showcase in the Blues Tent at Jazz Fest. The Stomp has become a frequent part of SXSW, and it has now ventured to New York City twice, most recently to Lincoln Center to honor Wardell Quezergue. The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation was formed, and it presents regular concerts with Louisiana roots musicians at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and takes artists to schools.
According to a press release, the move to the fall is being made to make it possible for the Stomp to take place on a weekend, making it easier for local and out-of-town fans to attend. No date or location has been announced.
The Ponderosa Stomp Foundation is in the middle of a fall fund drive to help raise money to continue its efforts to support Louisiana’s legacy artists. This short film above by Brian Gourley and Jeff Nichols helps explain the Stomp’s mission. Those who want to donate can do so here; the goal is $40,000 by December 31.
The Stomp is launching a fall fundraising drive to build upon these recent successes and to continue to expand their unique and vital work. Cultural preservation efforts require the technical skill, time and expertise of their small, committed staff to be successful. Even a lean machine like the Stomp needs additional resources to continue to turn the mission into action. “We are on a crusade to convert the masses of music fans and vinyl junkies to the gospel of the Ponderosa Stomp. We hope a visit to www.ponderosastomp.org will create a disturbance in your mind and that you will get up off your thing and get involved with the Stomp,” explained Padnos.
To Donate: https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/MakeDonation.aspx?ORGID2=203846140&PcaItemId=18015
Watch the Stomp Film: www.PonderosaStomp.org
