For the past 15 years, American Routes has bucked the trend of great music disappearing from the radio. For cities that don’t have a great college station or a WWOZ—which, sadly, means most cities in the country—American Routes has also been one of the few dependable places to hear New Orleans music. Host Nick Spitzer, who produces the show as a faculty member at Tulane, has done right by the music of his hometown, going back to the show’s debut (on April 1, 1998), featuring Doc Cheatham and Nicholas Payton. The same month included like Jazz Fest broadcasts with Irma Thomas and Allen Toussaint.
The show’s 15th anniversary show, this weekend at Rock ‘N’ Bowl, has a suitably splashy lineup of local favorites: There’ll be sets by the Treme Brass Band and the Lost Bayou Ramblers, followed by a classic R&B revue including Irma Thomas, Robert “Barefootin’” Parker, Ivan Neville and Walter “Wolfman” Washington. Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, no slouch of a band themselves, will back up all the above. The show will be recorded and broadcast on the week of July 4th. Proceeds will benefit the show.
Spitzer will also be appearing this weekend at the Experience Music Project’s POP Conference, where he’ll be interviewed by Gwen Thompkins about the show. That happens 3pm Saturday at Tulane; further info is here. American Routes is heard locally in New Orleans on WWNO-FM 89.9 Saturday nights at 7pm and Sunday nights at 6pm.
American Routes anniversary gala at 8pm Friday, April 19. At Rock ‘N’ Bowl, 3000 S. Carrollton Ave., 504-861-1700. Tickets $20 advance, $25 at door, $100 VIP.
