It’s another music-stacked festival week in New Orleans with non-stop live music and cultural events to keep you satisfied! Check out this week’s OffBeat Weekly Picks (5/2 – 5/8):

Jon Batiste dazzles at the 2024 Jazz Fest. Photo: OffBeat/Noé Cugny

It’s week two of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds Race Course, offering an astounding lineup of music, food and culture. With performances by local legends and international stars, Louisiana food, arts, crafts and culture and so much more, Jazz Fest promises another unforgettable weekend for music lovers and festival-goers alike. Be sure to check out our handy OffBeat Guide To Jazz Fest for everything you need including a searchable database containing every scheduled performance and a description of each performer. You can view the full lineup and access the guide here.

Photo: OffBeat/Jason Kruppa

Don’t miss your chance to catch Meschiya Lake + The Little Big Horns while she’s back in town during JazzFest at d.b.a. New Orleans on Thursday, May 2 at 6 p.m. Meschiya Lake has been spreading her infectious blend of jazz and blues across the globe since the release of her debut album, Lucky Devil, in 2010. From performances at Lincoln Center in NYC to stages in Brazil, Canada, and beyond, Lake’s passion for music and dance has earned her numerous accolades and awards, including NPR’s top ten albums of 2010. Meschiya Lake continues to inspire and delight audiences worldwide and puts on a show you don’t want to miss. Learn more here.

Photo courtesy Big Freedia / Instagram

Experience the electrifying fusion of New Orleans hip hop and orchestral music as the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) joins forces once again with bounce artist Big Freedia at the Orpheum Theater on May 2. Following a sold-out performance in 2023, the LPO and Big Freedia return to deliver another unforgettable night of music. Led by conductor Jonathan Taylor Rush and featuring arrangements by Jay Weigel, this high-energy concert will showcase Big Freedia’s biggest hits like “Louder,” “NO Bounce” and “Explode,” along with special guest appearances. With general admission seating on a first-come, first-served basis, get ready to experience the ultimate celebration of New Orleans culture and music. Learn more or purchase tickets here.

New Orleans bassist, singer, songwriter, and producer Roland Guerin is set to mesmerize audiences with his latest EP, diving into the captivating world of Prog:Funk at The New Marigny Theatre on Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m. Guerin’s new release has garnered critical acclaim, securing a spot on Tidal’s 50 Most Out There Jazz releases and Apple Music’s curated New Rock playlist. Guerin has graced stages around the world as music director for Dr. John and bassist for Allen Toussaint, and has played with Paul Gilbert, Marcus Roberts, John Scofield, Mark Whitfield, George Benson, Ellis Marsalis, Gerry Mulligan, Jimmy Scott and many more. For those yet to hear Guerin or visit this beautiful new venue, this presents a wonderful opportunity to do so. Tickets are available here.

The Rumble. Photo: OffBeat/Keith Hill

The 22nd Annual Bayou Rendezvous is at Howlin’ Wolf on May 3 – 4, benefiting the New Orleans Musicians Clinic. This New Orleans Jazz Fest tradition features nine bands on two stages, starting at 8 p.m. and going until 8 a.m. the next morning! For $49.50, enjoy performances by The New Orleans All-Stars, Cool Cool Cool, The Rumble, Adam Deitch, Good Enough For Good Times, Robert Walter, Simon Lott, Reed Mathis, Will Bernard, Sgt. Splendor, Wil Blades, Ari Teitel, Jamison Ross, special guests and more. With a late-night dance party and a sunrise breakfast jam, one ticket covers both stages all night long. Tickets and additional lineup information is available here.

Tank at Jazz Fest 2022. Photo: OffBeat/Noé Cugny

Don’t miss Tank and the Bangas live in concert at Toulouse Theatre on Saturday, May 4, joined by special guest HaSizzle at 8 p.m. Tank and the Bangas, winners of the 2017 NPR Tiny Desk Contest and Grammy-nominated for Best New Artist in 2020, bring their unique blend of funk, soul, hip hop and spoken word to the stage. With influences ranging from gospel to Disney, Tank and the Bangas promise an eclectic and magical performance that defies genre stereotypes. General admission tickets for this 18+ event range from $32 to $60 You can learn more or purchase tickets here.

Groovemaster Presents an extraordinary evening of music featuring Terence Blanchard alongside The E Collective and the renowned Turtle Island Quartet at Chickie Wah Wah for two shows on Saturday, May 4. Blanchard, recently named one of the 2024 National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Masters, brings his world-class talent to the stage once again, showcasing his Grammy-winning prowess and numerous accolades, including his groundbreaking opera debut at the Metropolitan Opera in 2021. He has composed more than forty film scores, including some that have been nominated for Academy Awards ( with his longtime collaborator Spike Lee). He also serves as the artistic director of SFJAZZ in his spare time. Don’t miss the chance to witness a true American master in action and indulge in an evening of exceptional music at Chickie Wah Wah.

Also on Saturday, Anders Osborne’s NOLA Birthday Bash will be at the Civic Theatre in New Orleans starting at 9 p.m. The event celebrates Osborne’s 35 years at Jazz Fest and features special guests and longtime collaborators including Eric Lindell, Luther Dickinson, Jackie Greene, George Porter Jr, Dave Malone, Maggie Koerner and Shannon McNally alongside the birthday boy himself, Anders Osborne. Get your tickets now for a night filled with unforgettable music and celebration.

Steve Lands: Rearranging The Planets.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Groove City 2024 series yet, be sure to make it to the Dew Drop Inn on Sunday, May 5 at 10 p.m. for the Afrofuturistic stylings of Steve Lands’ Rearranging the Planets. Hot on the heels of two sold-out performances at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) for their 2022-2023 season, Louisiana-born trumpeter and composer Steve Lands presents his Rearranging the Planets composition with full band, comprised of an all-star cast of the city’s leading young jazz musicians, for their singular Jazz Fest 2024 performance. You can check out the full Groove City lineup and learn more about this and other shows featuring Big Freedia, Erica Falls and more at dewdropinnnola.com/events.

Victor Campbell, Jazz Fest 2024. Photo: OffBeat/Noé Cugny

Don’t miss another installment of the free Wednesday at The Square music series this coming week in Lafayette Square on May 8, with Lost Bayou Ramblers + Victor Campbell y la Timba Swamp, 5 to 8 p.m. As a cherished fixture of New Orleans’ cultural scene, Wednesday at The Square brings together locals and visitors alike every week from March 6 – May 8. The events support the Young Leadership Council‘s initiatives to improve the community’s quality of life and cultivate leadership among young professionals. You can view the complete lineup for the 2024 Wednesday at The Square music series here.

Weekly Picks (5/2 – 5/8)