“First time I”ve seen the Cottonmouth Kings in the daytime,” Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes noticed at today’s French Quarter Fest press conference in Jackson Square. The Frenchmen Street regulars played at the foot of the statue of Andrew Jackson to an audience of festival supporters, media types, and musicians, including Deacon John and Tim Laughlin. Barnes spoke as the face of the festival’s advertising and as a representative of the National Park Service, which sponsors the festival’s children’s stage.

At today’s press conference, Festival Executive Director Marci Schramm announced this year’s dates—April 12 to 15—including the expansion of “Local Lagniappe Thursday” from a part day to an entire day. More than 800 musicians will perform over the course of the weekend, and more than 70 restaurants will be part of the “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch,” including first-time participants K-Paul’s, Blue Dot Donuts and Grand Isle. Capital One will once again sponsor the free shuttle buses to offsite parking with more shuttles in the mix, and it is teaming with French Quarter Festival to make this year’s festival app free. Schramm also presided over the unveiling of the poster by artist Brandon Delles, which puts the late Coco Robicheaux in Andrew Jackson’s place atop the horse in Jackson Square with the festival spread out below him.

While speakers including Councilperson Jackie Clarkson and Deacon John sang the praises of the festival and New Orleans, the proceedings were briefly interrupted when everybody turned to watch empty Mardi Gras floats pass on Decatur as they got in position for the weekend. Soon after, the Tropical Isle’s Earl Bernhardt, Pam Fortner and the dancing, inflatable hand grenade took to the microphone to announce that the Bourbon Street club will sponsor fireworks during this year’s festival.

While at the microphone, Barnes recalled his first time playing the festival at a stage atop Jax Brewery. “That was a little big bigger than Benny’s Bar, which was my usual gig,” he said. But that festival appearance led to an invitation to play a festival in Houston, which led to one in Martinique, and that changed the profile of Sunpie Barnes and the Louisiana Sunspots.