This weekend, October 14-16, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation puts on the sixth-annual Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival. The free festival is held in Lafayette Square and kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 14, continuing all day Saturday and Sunday.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Photo by Elsa Hahne.
The Blues and BBQ Festival celebrates the best of the South, with international and local blues artists paired with thirteen vendors serving barbeque and grilled foods, from traditional options like ribs and pulled pork to local varieties like BBQ Oysters and Crawfish Sausage Po-Boys. Abita Beer will be on tap to wash down the two stages of music and around a dozen BBQ vendors, and adding an Abita Sports Bar to show the Saints game and other weekend sporting events.
Out-of-town headliners not to miss include Bettye LaVette, The Campbell Brothers, Marcia Ball, Super Chikan, Mel Waiters, South Memphis String Band, and our October issue cover subject Kenny Wayne Shepherd.
In addition to the food and music performances, there will also be an Oral History Stage in the NORD Theater across St. Charles Ave. on the ground floor of Gallier Hall that will present interviews with musicians on the festival lineup. Also returning is the extensive arts market, featuring about 40 different artists and its own Arts Market Café, which will serve what the festival’s website calls “interesting beverages”.
For those who live close by, local bicycle advocacy organization Bike Easy will be offering free bike valet service. For those in the opposite situation, who won’t be able to make it to the festival at all, WWOZ will be broadcasting the performances live on the radio and at wwoz.org.
Check the festival website for more info. Here’s the full music schedule and food menu.
Friday, October 14
St. Charles Ave. Stage
5:30-6:30 p.m. Henry Butler
6:45-8 p.m. Walter “Wolfman” Washington
Saturday, October 15
Camp Street Stage
11 a.m.-12 p.m. Washboard Chaz Blues Trio
1:15-2:15 p.m. Jimmie “Duck” Holmes
3:30-4:30 p.m. South Memphis String Band
5:45-6:45 p.m. Mel Waiters
St. Charles Ave. Stage
12-1:15 p.m. King James & the Special Men
2:15-3:30 p.m. Little Freddie King
4:30-5:45 p.m. Tab Benoit
6:45-8 p.m. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Oral History Stage
1:30–2:30 p.m. Tab Benoit
2:45–3:45 p.m. Mel Waiters
4–4:45 p.m. Kenny Wayne Shepherd
5:30-6:30 p.m. Luther Dickinson
Sunday, October 16
Camp Street Stage
11 a.m.–12 p.m. Voodoo Blues Challenge Winner Ed Wills & Blues 4 Sale with guest Chance Casteel
1:15-2:15 p.m. Homemade Jamz
3:30-4:30 p.m. Super Chikan & Watermelon Slim
5:45-6:45 p.m. Marcia Ball
St. Charles Ave. Stage
12- 1:15 p.m. Eric Lindell
2:15- 3:30 p.m. Luther Kent & Trick Bag
4:30-5:45 p.m. The Campbell Brothers
6:45-8 p.m. Bettye LaVette
Oral History Stage
12-1 p.m. Jimmie “Duck” Holmes
1:15-2:15 p.m. Super Chikan & Watermelon Slim
2:30–3:30 p.m. The Campbell Brothers
3:45-4:45 p.m. Marcia Ball
Food Menu
Fat Hen Grill & Grocery: BBQ Pork Ribs & Potato Salad, Pimento & Cheese with Smoked Sausage & Saltines
The Joint BBQ: Pulled Pork Sandwich, Smoked Brisket Sandwich, Smoked Chaurice Sandwich, Baked Beans
Love At First Bite: Cochon de Lait Po-Boy, Cochon Nachos
Rouses Supermarkets: BBQ Ribs
Smokin’ Buddha BBQieux: BBQ Pork Pies, BBQ Oysters, Cajun Pastrami Reuben
Beaucoup Nola: Fresh Juice Snoballs, Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Wrap, Grilled Veggie Wrap
Boswell’s Jamaican Restaurant: Jerk Chicken or Jerk Pork Plate w/Steamed Veggies & Rice, Beef or Veggie Patties
La Divina Gelateria: Roast Pork Sandwich w/Caramelized Onions & Fennel on Ciabatta Bread, Artisan Gelato & Sorbetto
Emeril’s Delmonico: Citrus & Oak Chip Brined Chicken Quarter, Roasted Chili Rubbed Corn with Artisanal Cheeses & Pepper Flakes
Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar: Lamb Ribs w/ Pepper Jelly Marinade, Muchaca Pork Tacos, Grilled Cheeseburger Sliders, Corn & Black Bean Salad
The Praline Connection: Fried Chicken Drummettes, Red Beans & Rice, Vegetarian Greens, Praline Cheesecake
Vaucresson’s Sausage Company: Hot Sausage Po-Boys, BBQ Chicken Sausage Po-Boys, Crawfish Sausage Po-Boys
Loretta’s Authentic Pralines: Assorted Flavor Pralines, Sweet Potato Cookies, Praline Cookies, Praline Shoe Soles, Praline Muffins, Pecan Pie, Sweet Potato Pie
