The NOLA Downtown Music and Arts Festival will take place in the Central Business District and Warehouse District, on August 27th through the 29th, 2015.

Colin Lake. Illustration by Kevin Thayer.

Food trucks, musicians, films, art, bowling and pop-up shops are expected, as well as special presentations regarding the 10th anniversary of Katrina.

The event is open to the public and will run for three days in the downtown area, from Andrew Higgins Drive and Diamond Street to Fulton Street and the Piazza d’Italia.

Free live music will be hosted by the festival in venues of the neighborhood, such as the Howlin’ Wolf, Little Gem Saloon and the House of Blues.

Pending a full line-up, performances from Diane Cameron, singer/songwriter Colin Lake and the San Diego-born, soul and spoken word band The Lyrical Groove are expected.

Harris Rea

The festival is hosted by the Music Business Institute in the context of their 23rd Cutting Edge C.E. Conference, an event for entertainment business professionals, presenting sessions on entertainment law, music business, film financing and tax credits and more.

The Cutting Edge will also present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Louisiana Red Hot Records founder Harris Rea at August 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Room at the House of Blues. Rea also founded Peaches Records with his wife, Shirani, as well as Big Easy Distribution Company.