We’re just hours away from the Best of the Beat, tonight at House of Blues. We’re taking care of last minute loose ends, shining up our shoes and crossing our fingers that nothing goes weird. We’re looking forward to what we consider the first great party of the year, one that brings together musicians, business people and fans for a night of great food and music. We’ve got a big menu of food (and booze!) tonight, and the full schedule is here:

Honey Island Swamp Band

6 p.m. – Doors open, and food service opens in the dining room and on the patio

6:30 – Panorama Jazz Band plays on the patio; Ansgar Gospel Group with Tyrone Foster plays the main room.

6:40 – Doors open to the music hall

7:15 – Food service ends; Al “Carnival Time” Johnson starts in the main room

7:30 – Nova Nola starts in the Parish

8 – Awards

8:45 – MyNameIsJohnMichael starts in the main room

9 – Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs start in the Parish

9:45 – Anders Osborne starts in the main room

10 – E.F. Cuttin starts in the Parish

10:45 – Galactic starts in the main room

11 – Honey Island Swamp Band starts in the Parish

11:45 – Bonerama with Jon Langford starts in the main room

… and there will be a surprise or two in there, so keep your eyes open.