An organization that hopes to restore the Eagle Saloon–one of New Orleans’ only surviving early 20th century jazz halls–will host a pop-up concert outside the landmark this Thursday, May 5.
The show will take place in the parking lot next door to the Eagle Saloon building, which is located at the corner of S. Rampart and Perdido (401 S. Rampart Street). It will feature a collaboration between George Porter Jr. and Tank and The Bangas, along with guest appearances by Big Sam, Quickie Mart and others.
The group, which calls itself the Eagle Saloon Initiative, wants the event to raise awareness about the venue and money for restoration efforts. Ideally the building would be transformed into a “new musical incubator that will transcend genre and inspire innovation.” Such a project would include a performance space, as well as areas devoted to jazz history and music education.
Originally built in 1850, the Eagle Saloon eventually became a hotspot in the early jazz age, frequently playing host to jazz pioneers like Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong. Many of the equally historic buildings around the bar came down as the neighborhood was redeveloped over the course of the 20th century, but the Eagle Saloon still stands, albeit in disrepair.
John Haase, curator of American Music at the Smithsonian Institution, was quoted in a May 2011 Times-Picayune article as saying: “There is probably no other block in America with buildings bearing so much significance to the history of our country’s great art form, jazz. It would be a terrible shame if these structures were allowed to disintegrate. They hold the potential to tell remarkable stories about the culture of New Orleans and the music of America.”
In order to help realize its vision, the Eagle Saloon Initiative has recruited a number of local “cultural ambassadors” to champion the resurrection of the building. Participants include musicians like Porter, Big Sam, Ivan and Ian Neville, Dave Torkanowsky, DJ Soul Sister, Deacon John Moore, PJ Morton and Eric Krasno, as well as former WWOZ programming director Dwayne Breashears, music journalist Alison Fensterstock, music historian Holly Hobbs, author Louis Maistros, writer Brett Michael Dykes and OffBeat’s own Jan Ramsey.
This Thursday’s event–which happens to take place on Cinco de Mayo–will take place from 5:30 to 8pm. Admission will cost $20, and will include free beer from New Belgium and Lagunitas.
Tickets will only be available at the gate. Those that cannot attend, but would still like to donate to the initiative, can do so here.
