The Bayou Boogaloo 2025 music lineup has been announced. Now celebrating 18 years, the Mid-City festival returns on May 16 – 18.
Headliners include Big Freedia’s Gospel Revival, Honey Island Swamp Band’s Dark Side of the Bayou, and a special 4:20 p.m. set on Sunday from the 420 Funk Mob featuring members of Parliament/Funkadelic. The festival features live music, comedy, cabaret, an arts market, and various food and beverage vendors. Unique to the Bayou Boogaloo is the opportunity for festivalgoers to enjoy the music from land or water. Proceeds benefit Friends of Bayou St. John, the non-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship and protection of Bayou St. John.
Photo by Stephen Maloney / OffBeat
The festival will be held on the banks of Bayou St. John between Lafitte Street and Orleans Avenue, which is a smaller footprint than previous Boogaloos. Some changes will take place this year, including the location of the arts market—previously located between Orleans and Dumaine Streets—is between Lafitte and Orleans as well. The Orleans stage is again the primary music stage and the Variety Tent—last year’s Comedy and Cabaret Tent—is expanding to include singer-songwriters and will serve as the festival’s second stage.
“We are excited to once again bring a top-notch music line-up to our long-time home on the banks of Bayou St. John,” said Jared Zeller, festival producer, founder and President of Friends of Bayou St. John. Zeller staged the first Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo in 2006 to bring together his Bayou St. John neighbors as they rebuilt and recovered from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, the festival has grown to support cultural, community, and ecological stewardship on the banks of Bayou St. John.
Anjelika Jelly Joseph by Gus Bennett
The complete 2025 line-up also includes Jagged Little Pill: An Alanis Morissette Tribute featuring; Leo Nocentelli; LSD Clownsystem; GLBL WRMNG; Crowe Boys; “Jelly” Joseph; Desert Nudes; Billy Iuso; Alexis & The Sanity; Ghalia Volt; James Andrews & The Crescent City Allstars; Bo Dollis Jr. & the Wild Magnolias; Asylum Chorus and Kirkland Green.
Programming on the Variety stage includes John “Papa” Gros Solo Performance; Inferno Burlesque; Happy Time Healing Sheaux: Comedy, Improv, Games & More! hosted by Brett Siddell; Joy Clark; Roast Battle League New Orleans; Asylum Variety Show; Rene Gros; Work the Crowd: An Interactive Comedy Experience featuring Ryan Rogers and Marcus Bond; Drag Bingo hosted by Katrina Waters; Banks St. Comedy Brunch with JQ Palms; Comedy Gumbeaux hosted by Red Bean; Mikayla Braun; Shawan Rice; and Greetings from Queer Mountain hosted by Amanda G.
In addition to programming on two stages, Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo boasts a curated arts market, kids programming, a VIP Canopy Club, a Crawfish Eating Contest, and food from numerous local vendors.
A limited quantity of Early Bird weekend general admission in-and-out passes are on sale now for $34.50 (while supplies last) here. Once all Early Bird weekend passes have been purchased, weekend passes will increase to $39.50. Kids under 12 are free. Upgraded VIP passes are also available at the festival’s website.
