Big Freedia, Naughty Professor, Big Sam’s Funk Nation and Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs are among the acts that will perform at the National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans. Slated to take place in Woldenberg Park on September 23 and 24, the second annual edition of the event will feature two stages.
Other acts on the bill include Sean Ardoin + Zydekool, Motel Radio, Kristin Diable & The City, and Los Po Boy Citos. Additionally, Big Freedia’s set will cap off an “Ode to NOLA Bounce” that will feature Partners-N-Crime, Cupid, Denisia and the Big Easy Bounce Band.
As previously reported, last year’s inaugural Fried Chicken Festival drew far more people than anyone expected, bringing prohibitively long food lines and densely packed crowds to Lafayette Square. This year’s gathering has been expanded to two days and moved to a larger location. It’s also been rebranded as the National Fried Chicken Festival. The name change is more than just a superficial branding effort as well. According to the New Orleans Advocate, vendors from 10 states have signed up to participate and the festival has brought on a few national sponsors such as AT&T and Best Buy.
There’s more in the way of programming too, including a new cooking demo stage that will be headlined by chef Jeff Henderson of “Flip My Food” fame. Of course, old programming like live music and the fried chicken competitions will return (Original Fiorella’s won Best Fried Chicken last year, with Jazz City Cafe winning Best Use of Fried Chicken in a Dish).
The National Fried Chicken Festival will be free and open to the public.
Main Stage music schedule:
Saturday
11:00 – Casa Samba Kick Off Parade
11:30 – Chicken on the Bone
1:00 – Los Po Boy Citos
3:00 – Kristin Diable & The City
4:30 – Sean Ardoin + Zydekool
6:00 – Shamarr Allen & The Underdawgs
7:30 – Naughty Professor
Sunday
11:00 – Casa Samba Kids on Stilts with Tipitina’s Youth Band
11:30 – Spirit of New Orleans Gospel Choir
1:00 – Papo y son Mandao
3:00 – Motel Radio
5:30 – Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Ode to NOLA Bounce
Appearance by Denisia
6:30 – PNC & The Big Easy Band
7:15 – Big Freedia
DJ Stage music schedule:
Saturday
11:00 – DJ Raj Smoove
4:00 – DJ T-Roy
Sunday
11:00 – DJ Captain Charles
4:00 – DJ Quickie Mart Gospel Choir
