New hip-hop releases, classic New Orleans artists and alternative rock define this weekend with events featuring Kaye the Beast, Allie Baby, Men I Trust, Crowbar, Irma Thomas, Galactic featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Bad Operation, Motel Radio, Legatron Prime, Jon Cleary, Allay Earhart and many more. Below is a list of highlight music in NOLA this weekend to check out. For more complete info, check out our calendar listings:

Thursday, December 1 – Music In NOLA

Kaye the Beast (Hi-Ho Lounge)
Show: 9 p.m.
A year ago, Kaye the Beast aka Khiry Armstead, released an album pondering stardom and all the good and the bad associated with fame. Now, he’s back with another album, “I Like You. I Think We Should Go Together,” which brings things back to the moment for a softer release. The local hip-hop rapper has tight ties with Alfred Banks, of glbl wrmng, who inspired him to put out his homemade beats, for real, starting Underdog Central together. He pulls from varying influences like movie soundtracks by Danny Elfman to pop rap like Kanye. Proper Channels, Yung Delirious and DJ Novi will also perform. Tickets are available here.

Friday, December 2 – Music in NOLA

Allie Baby (Gasa Gasa)
Show: 8 p.m.
Like OffBeat mentioned last week for Bayou Classic, Allie Baby is the “Femme Fatale” of New Orleans hip-hop and has been making moves in the local hip-hop seen for nearly 15 years. Now, she’s back with a little bounce in 2022 with her new single and music video for “When The Shit Goes Down.” Other artists playing will be Kr3wcial, Flagboy Giz, Bjsocole, Briki Fa President and DJ Rakimbeau. Tickets are available here.

Men I Trust (House of Blues New Orleans)
Show: 7:30 p.m.
Only a few tickets are left to see Men I Trust this week and for good reason. The indie band blends elements of shoegaze and pop to create melodic and sonically rich songs that both the jazz-heads and indie-heads can enjoy. They’ve also found viral success on TikTok for their mellow cut “I Hope to Be Around (Live) and the fuzzed-out “Show Me Out” both often played over “a e s t h e t i c” or nostalgic photo albums. Get into the groove by visiting this link.

Crowbar (Southport Hall)
Show: 8 p.m.
Not much more can be said about the New Orleans metal institution that is Crowbar. They’ve been at it for decades and were some of the earliest sludge metal pioneers among bands like Eyehategod. They’re so old in fact, that MTV and a Beavis and Butthead episode broke the band into mainstream success. But these old-heads still got it, a testament to their Melvins-inspired songwriting and bleak mix of doom and hardcore that is even more potent live. Tickets are available here.

Saturday, December 3 – Music in NOLA

Improvisations Gala (New Orleans Jazz Museum)
Show: 7 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Irma Thomas, Galactic featuring Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Mahmoud Chouki, Aurora Nealand and many more will play at the New Orleans Jazz Museum for their annual Improvisations Gala. There’s more to it than just live music, however. Illuminated installations, digital sculptures, video-mapping projections and other sights will define the event. Food and drink will also be provided by different caterers like Messina’s Catering & Events and PJ’s Coffee. For more information and tickets, visit this link.

Bad Operation (Saturn Bar)
Show: 9 p.m.
New Orleans ska band Bad Operation will bring their brand of “new tone” to Saturn Bar with performances by Nashville ska band Stuck Lucky and local punk band Pure Mutts. Bad Operation only plays a couple of times a year in New Orleans but every show is high energy full of skanking, crowd-surfing and trombone crowd-lunging. New Orleans has a long history with ska music and Bad Operation carries that torch forward. For ticket information, visit this link.

Bad Operation’s trombonist, Daniel “D-Ray” Ray. Photo by Dalton Spangler

Motel Radio (One Eyed Jacks)
Show: 7:30 p.m.
New Orleans indie rockers Motel Radio have been riding on chill vibes since the release of their album in September called “The Garden.” It’s a self-produced album all about growth and positivity with a folksy twang and a kaleidoscope of synths and pedals. Baton Rouge’s dream pop band Riarosa and alt-country, singer-songwriter Maddy Kirgo will also perform. Tickets are available here.

Swamp Fete (Audubon Zoo)
Saturday, December 3 – Sunday, December 4
Times: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you’re looking for something all-ages and outdoors, then Swamp Fete is your best pick this weekend. It’s a Louisiana music and culture event featuring all the charms of Audubon Zoo. Cajun and zydeco music performances as well as Cajun food and crafts will be the heart of the event in addition to local wildlife and conservation education. Lost Bayou Ramblers, Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots, Gina Forsyth (Duo), Sarah Jayde Williams (Duo) and others will perform. For information and tickets, visit the Audubon Nature Institutes’ event page.

Boiler Room x Freewater (Republic NOLA)
Show: 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.
Underground music streaming platform, Boiler Room, known for its spotlighting of hip-hop, dance and electronic artists around the world, are hosting an event at Republic NOLA featuring artists Lil Jodeci, DJ Kelly Green, Antwigadee, DJ RBD and Legatron Prime. For tickets, visit this link.

Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen (Zony Mash Beer Project)
Show: 8 p.m.
For over two decades, New Orleans-based pianist Jon Cleary and his band The Absolute Monster Gentlemen have shared their love of New Orleans’ rich music history with exciting live performances. Cleary and the band made a name for themselves as torchbearers for New Orleans greats like Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Art Neville, Dr. John, and James Booker. This weekend, they will continue to share that love and passion at Zony Mash Beer Project. Tickets are available here.

Loyola Symphony Orchestra (Louis J. Roussel Performance Hall)
Starts: 7:30 p.m. 
Loyola Symphony Orchestra performs under the direction of Dr. Jean Montès, featuring the 2022 Concerto/Aria Competition winner Ms. Julia Ernst, Mezzo-Soprano. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Loyola University New Orleans website.

Sunday, December 4 – Music in NOLA

Allay Earhart EP Release Party (Peach’s Records)
Show: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Local hip-hop artist Allay Earhart will release his new EP, Great Habits, Great Heights produced by Chef Alexander and released through Cold Drank Recordings. Earhart has been making music in New Orleans’ underground for several years now with multiple albums and mixtape releases. The emcee’s charisma and determination is infectious and bleeds through his music as a genuine, homegrown artist. To RSVP and preorder the EP, visit this link.

Follow OffBeat on socials for more music in NOLA this weekend.