Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews will raise money to help secure the future of New Orleans music while honoring Big Chief Monk Boudreaux at Shorty Fest 2015.

The annual event, now in its third year, will take place Thursday, April 30, at Generations Hall, with the first band taking the stage at 7:15 p.m.

While Shorty Fest is designed to look forward to the day when the young musicians the Trombone Shorty Foundation is currently mentoring take the reins of the city’s iconic musical heritage, this year will feature a special look back at a major figure in Shorty’s own development.

The all-star “Hail to the Chief” section of Shorty Fest will celebrate the legacy of Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and will feature performances by Boudreaux and his Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians joined by Davell Crawford, June Yamagishi, Kirk Joseph, Nick Daniels, Raymond Weber, Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, and Billy Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead.

“Big Chief Monk Boudreaux IS New Orleans culture,” Andrews said in an email. “When I was coming up in the New Orleans music scene, he always kept an eye out for me, and over the years we’ve recorded and performed together many times. For everything he’s contributed to our music culture, it’s our time to say thanks to him.”

Sweet Crude, New Breed Brass Band, MainLine, John Boutte, Tank and the Bangas, TYSSON, Corey Henry and the Treme Funktet, Ivan Neville, and the Trombone Shorty Academy Students will also perform.

“All proceeds from this event go directly into supporting our music programs,” Andrews said. “We focus on teaching our students not only the fundamentals of music, but also the importance of understanding the business side of making music. In today’s world, you need both.”

The music will take place on three stages spread across Generations Hall. General admission tickets are $55, VIP level tickets are $250, and Patron tickets are $500.

“Shorty Fest is one of my favorite nights of the year. It’s a time to focus on giving back to the community that has given me so much. Watching the young musicians come into their own as performers and as individuals means the world to me. It’s an honor to be a part of this.”

For more information on the event and to purchase tickets, visit the Trombone Shorty Foundation website.