French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) , producers of the August event Satchmo SummerFest, has announced the upcoming 2023 lineup. The annual festival, dedicated to the life and music of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, will take place on August 5 and 6 at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
The festival started in 2001 to honor New Orleans’ own Louis Armstrong, who was a main focus of Ken Burns’ Jazz 2020 documentary series at the time. Tourism officials wanted to create a New Orleans summer festival that would appeal to jazz enthusiasts worldwide, festival lovers and families alike. The festival has always taken place at the Old U.S Mint, which now contains the New Orleans Jazz Museum, and the lineup features live music, a speaker series and an array of culinary vendors.
“We are thrilled to welcome our new presenting sponsor, the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund, to Satchmo SummerFest,” said Emily Madero, President and CEO of French Quarter Festivals, Inc.
Satchmo Summerfest Parade. Photo by Kim Welsh
“Satchmo SummerFest is a celebration of the deep roots and legacy of New Orleans’ native and world-renowned jazz musician Louis Armstrong,” said Lisa Alexis, President and CEO of NOTCF. “His talent and tenacity have contributed to our city’s cultural footprint on a global scale. By partnering with Satchmo SummerFest, NOTCF is proud to uplift our cultural artists that drive our economy while preserving Armstrong’s legacy to inspire future generations.”
In a commitment to ensuring all of their produced events are accessible to the community, FQFI has announced that Satchmo SummerFest admission will again return to free admission (FQFI had charged a nominal admission fee since COVID to help to sustain the festival). Walt Leger III, President and CEO of New Orleans & Company, expressed his pleasure at increasing accessibility to Satchmo SummerFest, stating, “An important part of our mission is our commitment to celebrating the richness of our culture. We are so pleased to have the opportunity to increase the accessibility to Satchmo SummerFest for both our local community and visitors, making it free for all those who attend this important festival on our annual cultural calendar.”
This year’s lineup is as follows:
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5
Shotgun Jazz Band
Kid Merv and All That Jazz
Troy Sawyer and the Elementz featuring Girls Play Trumpet Too
79rs Gang
Rebirth Brass Band
Preservation Brass
Yusa
King Oliver Creole Jazz Band Centennial led by Don Vappie
Sporty’s Brass Band
Mari Watanabe & Kevin Louis
+ more
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6
Doyle Cooper Jazz Band
Jeremy Davenport
Leroy Jones & New Orleans’ Finest
Joe Lastie’s New Orleans Sound
The Original Pinettes Brass Band
John Boutté
Tuba Skinny
Charmaine Neville
TBC Brass Band featuring Hasizzle
Kermit Ruffins Tribute to Louis Armstrong
Linda Aubert
+ more
Satchmo SummerFest Official 2023 poster.
There are even more events at this year’s festival:
• Satchmo Soundoff: Music fans of all ages can attend a special performance by some of the city’s youngest and most talented musicians. The Roots of Music presented by Fidelity Bank will kick off this year’s festival Saturday at 11:30am on Esplanade Ave., right outside of the Museum gates.
● Satchmo SummerFest Jazz Mass: The Jazz Mass at St. Augustine Church will begin at 10am where attendees can also enjoy a spirited performance by Treme Brass Band. Due to ongoing renovations at St. Augustine Church, mass will be held in the Parish Hall. Please note that space and seating is limited. The mass will be livestreamed on Facebook.com/saintaugchurch.
● Satchmo SummerFest Second-Line Parade: The Treme Brass Band will lead attendees out of Sunday mass at St. Augustine Church at 11:15am in the Treme neighborhood and through the French Quarter in a Second-Line parade to the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
Each year, Satchmo SummerFest also publishes an official poster, seen above. Posters will be available from FQFI in mid-July and also at merchandise booths at the Festival itself.
For more information, see the Satchmo SummerFest 2023 website.
