Satchmo SummerFest, a.k.a Satchmofest, is an annual music festival to celebrate Louis Armstrong. It is a weekend-long festival held in early August to coincide with Louis Armstrong’s birthday on August 4.

On the evening of Thursday, August 2, Satchmo SummerFest kicks off with An Evening of Music with John Boutté and the Spirit of Satchmo Awards. The 2018 award winners are Bethany Bultman, Ellis Marsalis and Ashlin Parker. The event will be accompanied by hors d’oeuvres and a full open bar.

Bethany Bultman, an honoree at the Spirit of Satchmo Awards (for Advocacy), helps to literally keep New Orleans culture alive. As founder and director of the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic and Assistance Foundation, Bultman has enabled medical care for musicians and artists in New Orleans for over 20 years, regardless of insurance coverage or ability to pay.

Ellis Marsalis, father of Wynton and Branford Marsalis and winner of the Jazz Hero Award, will also be honored on Thursday evening. Like his sons, he is an incredibly talented musician who has tremendous pride for his city. He is also a gifted educator whose students include Harry Connick, Jr., Terrence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, Donald Harrison and more. Marsalis will also perform at Satchmo SummerFest on Friday, August 4.

Ashlin Parker is a Grammy award-winning jazz trumpeter who has played with Ellis Marsalis, Aretha Franklin, Anthony Hamilton and Dee Dee Bridgewater. His contribution to New Orleans music and culture will be honored at the Spirit of Satchmo Awards.

The full lineup of events for Satchmo SummerFest can be found here.

The Kickoff Party and Spirit of Satchmo Awards begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 2 at the historic Omni New Orleans Hotel. Tickets are $65 per person or $100 per couple and can be purchased here. Ticket sales benefit French Quarter Festivals, Inc.