Cyndi Lauper, Michael McDonald and John Oates, are scheduled to headline the 11th edition of Family Gras, along with myriad well-known artists.
The first night is pegged as “Louisiana Night,” with two famous, localized acts kicking off the event. David Batiste & The Gladiators will begin Family Gras on Friday, February 2. Their performance will then be followed by Deacon John and The Ivories. Saturday will start out with The Imagination Movers, a band of four that has been rated “Number 1 Major Tour Act for Families” by Ticketmaster and won a daytime Emmy Award for their TV show on Disney Junior Channel. Their performance will be followed by Remedy, a group of teenagers from New Orleans who blend original compositions with classic, contemporary, and alternative rock covers.
The anticipated headlining performances will be fronted by John Oates, one half of the majorly popular duo Hall & Oates. He will be playing favorites from Hall & Oates as well as songs from his most recent, solo album, Arkansas. Oates will be followed by five-time Grammy winning artist Michael McDonald. McDonald is a singer, songwriter and keyboardist perhaps best known for his role in Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers.
Closing out Family Gras 2018 will be Cyndi Lauper, an artist who certainly needs no introduction as she has held status as a pop culture icon for decades. The entire celebration and performance will preface parades from the Krewe of Excalibur and the Krewe of Caesar.
The free Family Gras festivities will begin on Friday, February 2 at 5:30 p.m. and continue into the next day. The event has been limited to two days this year as February 4 is Super Bowl Sunday, with no parades planned that day in Jefferson Parish.