You know what they say about New Orleans: there’s just something in the water here. And you know what they say about New Orleanians… that “je ne sais quoi” just runs in the blood. We would expect nothing less to be true of trumpet king and New Orleans ambassador Kermit Ruffins’ children. In fact, his entrepreneurial spirit is apparently also coded into his DNA, as this week his two daughters, Christina and Neshia, announced the launch of their new entertainment company, Ruffins Girls Productions, LLC.

Neshia Ruffins

The sisters, only 20 and 21 years old, partnered to form the event production venture in order to “create events to entertain and give exposure for the New Orleans music and arts community,” says Neshia, the younger of the two. She feels that “there are many talented young people in this city and we are excited to now be involved, not only on a performing level but a business level as well.”

Christina and Neshia are hosting their first series of events at a few of the city’s premiere venues like Café Istanbul and the recently re-opened Treme Center, just up the street from dad’s newest spot, Kermit’s Treme Speakeasy. The pair say they are open for business and ready to begin accepting event production inquiries now.

Christina Ruffins

Get a taste for the Ruffins Girls’ style this Friday, May 24 at their debut music showcase, “The Bachelor of Arts,” which opens with Kermit and the BBQ Swingers and closes with over a dozen local hip hop and R&B artists, including Kashflow, MidCity AB and the Baby Boyz Brass Band. The show kicks off at 5:00 p.m. at Café Istanbul.

Or check out their second edition at the Treme Center on Saturday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. featuring Nayo Jones, Mykia Jovan, The Sleeping Giant and Guitar Slim Jr. This concert will see not only Kermit and the Swingers again, but will also have plenty of dad’s world famous BBQ on deck. A swing dance contest and a ladies hat contest are among some of the other fanfare.