The iconic Dew Drop Inn Hotel & Lounge, recently restored to its former glory, announces its programming for the upcoming New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The Dew Drop will introduce its first annual Groove City series, a nightly series during Jazz Fest, which will welcome some of the biggest names in Black American Music to play in the iconic venue, where many legendary music artists have played in decades past.
The Dew Drop Inn, once hailed as the South’s swankiest spot, hosted iconic Black musicians from 1939 to the 1960s, including Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and Little Richard. Now restored, it promises to be a vibrant destination blending historic charm with modern flair.
Groove City will open Weekend One of Jazz Fest with artists including Chief Adjuah (formerly known as Christian Scott) on April 25th & 26th and Maurice Mobetta Brown Soul’d Out All-Star Jam on April 27th, featuring a very special surprise guest. Weekend One will conclude with an intimate one-night-only experience featuring the now 70 years running, Chicago-born, Grammy nominated collective known as the Sun Ra Arkestra, on Sunday, April 28th.. The founder of the Arkestra, the late Sun Ra, was among the earliest pioneers of the synthesizer and the free jazz revolution of the 1960s. The broad collective has taken on many musicians over its many iterations, spanning six decades, with some original or longtime members still playing today.
The following week includes performances by Bobby Rush, Big Freedia plus the Soul Rebels, Joy Clark, Erica Falls & Friends, and Partners-N-Crime with 79rs Gang. Groove City will close out Weekend Two with one of New Orleans’ most exciting new projects evolving the Afrofuturistic style of music in the 21st century – Steve Lands’ Rearranging the Planets on Sunday, May 5th. Hot on the heels of two sold-out performances at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) for their 2022-2023 season, Louisiana-born trumpeter and composer, Steve Lands, presents his Rearranging the Planets composition with full band, comprised of an all-star cast of the city’s leading young jazz musicians, for their singular Jazz Fest 2024 performance.
Tickets for all performances are available now at dewdropinnnola.com.
GROOVE CITY FULL LINEUP:
Thursday, April 25th: Chief Adujah (formerly known as Christian Scott)
8:00pm Doors | 9:30pm Show
Friday, April 26th Chief Adujah (formerly known as Christian Scott)
8:00pm Doors | 9:30pm Show
Saturday, April 27th: Maurice Mobetta Brown’s Soul’d Out All-Star Jam w/ Surprise Guest
9:00pm Doors | 10:00pm Show
Sunday, April 28th: Sun Ra Arkestra
8:00pm Doors | 9:00pm Show
Monday, April 29th: Bobby Rush
7:00pm Doors | 8:00pm Show
Tuesday, April 30th: Joy Clark
7:00pm Doors | 8:00pm Show
Wednesday, May 1st: The Drop Inn Jam Session (Jazz Fest Edition)
8:00 pm Doors | 9:00pm Show
Thursday, May 2nd: Erica Falls & Friends present Soul Sessions
8:30pm Doors | 9:00pm Show
Friday, May 3rd: Partners-N-Crime with 79rs Gang
9:00pm Doors | 10:00pm Show
Saturday, May 4th: Big Freedia plus The Soul Rebels
9:00pm Doors | 10:00pm Show
Sunday, May 5th: Steve Lands presents Rearranging the Planets
9:00pm Doors | 10:00pm Show
