Today, August 14, organizers of the National Fried Chicken Festival (FCF) presented by Raising Cane’s have announced the main stage music lineup. The three days of live performances taking place Friday, September 20 through Sunday, September 22, are presented by OffBeat.
Performing at FCF this year are Grammy-nominated acts, a new supergroup, a world-renowned marching band and musicians representing everything from bounce to blues, gospel, zydeco, latin, pop, funk, jazz and more.
Cha Wa, the Grammy-nominated Mardi Gras Indian brass band, will headline on Friday, September 20. On Saturday, September 21, a supergroup featuring DJ Jubilee, Choppa and Cheeky Blakk will make its debut as Bounce Royalty. On Sunday, September 22, FCF will celebrate the New Orleans Saints football team with a festival-closing “Who Dat Playlist,” featuring DJ Raj Smoove, Shamarr Allen and additional acts with Saints anthems.
Other performers include the Grammy-nominated Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers, Big 6 Brass Band, Khris Royal & Dark Matter featuring Erica Falls, Little Freddie King, Water Seed, the St. Augustine Marching 100, Givers, and GRïD Band with Nesby Phips. Raj Smoove will present an artist showcase featuring emerging New Orleans talent representing everything from hip-hop to soul.
“OffBeat has been the preeminent music periodical of New Orleans for over 30 years, and their musical prowess is evident by this year’s festival line-up with the deepest and most diverse line-up of music the festival has ever had,” said Cleveland Spears, III, FCF organizer and President/CEO of the Spears Group.
Jan Ramsey, founder and publisher of OffBeat, expressed her excitement about partnering with Fried Chicken Fest to produce the main-stage lineup with the OffBeat staff. “We are very happy to have participated in bringing together New Orleans musicians to perform at one of the city’s growing festivals. We look forward to the three days of talent representing the city’s exceptional music.”
FCF, which earlier this year announced it was expanding to three days instead of two, takes place in in Woldenberg Riverfront Park. The full lineup is as follows:
Friday, September 20:
Brass-A-Holics
Little Freddie King
Givers
New Orleans Suspects
Water Seed
Cha Wa
Saturday, September 21:
Fermin and Merengue4-Four
Big 6 Brass Band
Khris Royal & Dark Matter featuring Erica Falls
GRïD Band with Nesby Phips
J & The Causeways
Bonerama
Bounce Royalty
Sunday, September 22:
Franklin Avenue Baptist Church Choir
Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers
St. Augustine High School Marching 100
Raj Smoove and Friends featuring Caren Green, Xeno Moonflower, Bobbi Rae, DeeLow Diamond Man, Kris Baptiste, GG Pender, and Paco Troxclair
Who Dat Playlist featuring Raj Smoove, Shamarr Allen and guests
FCF is a free festival produced with the support of sponsors Raising Cane’s, Capital One, MillerCoors, Crown Royal and AT&T. For more information about the National Fried Chicken Festival, including the lineup for the DJ stage, VIP tickets and more, click here.
