The Ponderosa Stomp surprised fans when it chose to move away from its traditional dates during the Jazz Fest fortnight and into the fall. The move, though, allows it to be on a weekend when hotel rooms aren’t at a premium. This year, the Stomp takes place September 24 and 25. The talent lineup has yet to be announced, but should start filtering out in late March.

In other Stomp activity, the Louisiana State Museum Foundation is celebrating the Ponderosa Stomp Foundation Friday, March 5 with “It All Started with the Fat Man.” This gala at The Arsenal (601 S. Peters St.) will honor Dave Bartholomew and Cosimo Matassa with music by the Ponderosa Stomp Revue. Tickets are available now starting at $50.

The Stomp is also instituting “Ponderosa Stomp Fridays at the Louisiana State Museum: Conversations & Cocktails with the Unsung Heroes of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” a series of conversations, films and presentations at the Cabildo on the second Friday of each month from 5:30-8 p.m. There will be cocktails, DJs spining vintage 45s, and on Friday, March 12, a conversation between OffBeat contributor David Kunian and musician/producer/businessman/educator Harold Battiste.