Despite his incredible success, Leo Nocentelli’s heart never left the Big Easy. Best known as the guitarist for The Meters, Nocentelli is a recipient of the 2018 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and will hold a Tribute to the Music of the Meters on Saturday, August 18 at Tipitina’s.

Emceed by Eric Paulsen, other performers include Anders Osborne, Dave Malone (frontman for The Radiators), Deacon John Moore and other surprise guests.

When Nocentelli went on tour, he did not return to New Orleans for 33 years. In a 2015 interview with Offbeat Magazine, he describes the feeling of returning to New Orleans, “The euphoria of being back home is overwhelming…Besides just being homesick, I wanted to come back so I could contribute to my city.” By holding events such as the Tribute to the Music of the Meters, Nocentelli contributes to the Crescent City and features others who do the same.

Anders Osborne won the Positive Vibrations Heartbeat Award for starting the Send Me A Friend Foundation, which provides support for musicians recovering from addiction. Osborne recalls his sobriety struggle, one of the worst parts was when he was told to put his music career on hold. The ultimate goal of the foundation is for recovering addicts to not feel pressured to use alcohol or drugs in music clubs where intoxication is the norm.

Deacon John Moore is integral to New Orleans music history. He and his band performed at the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and were also the first rock musicians to take the stage with the New Orleans Symphony. The 76 year old’s musical contribution to the city was recognized through several awards and honors such as the Louis Armstrong Jazz Pioneer Award, induction into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame and the Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement Award.

Leo Nocentelli’s Tribute to the Music of the Meters will be held at Tipitina’s on Saturday, August 18. Doors open at 9 p.m. for a 10 p.m. show. The event is 18+ and standing room only. Tickets can be purchased here.