Two of New Orleans largest music clubs—Tipitina’s and The Howlin’ Wolf—will reopen for with live indoor music starting Friday, March 19, for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic shuttered the businesses a year ago. The City of New Orleans eased restrictions on March 12, allowing for singing and wind-blown instruments in concert venues, capacity limits that cannot exceed 75 seated patrons, and other rules intended to protect musicians and audiences.
“We can show the world we can do this safely,” said Howie Kaplan, owner of the Howlin’ Wolf, whose club will host the Rebirth Brass Band for a reopening. “It’s one of the reasons we’ve been involved in getting musicians and culture bearers vaccinated. No other city has been doing that.” Throughout the pandemic, The Howlin’ Wolf has served as a hub for the charitable Meals for Musicians program.
The Howlin’ Wolf’s website lists acts through Sunday, May 30, which include the Rebirth at 9 p.m. on Fridays and the Hot 8 Brass Band at 6:30 p.m. on Sundays. Big Sam’s Funky Nation will take the stage on Saturday, April 3, for two shows at 6:30 and 9 p.m.
Limited socially distanced pods of two and four seats are available for advance reservation in a general admission format. Masks must be worn at all times when entering/leaving the venue and when not seated. Dancing and congregating at the bar are not allowed. Servers will take orders at tables and shows must end at 11 p.m. Ticket prices, ranging from $50-$60 for a pod of two or $100-$120 for a pod of four, are higher than normal cover charges to make up for the limited tickets.
“This isn’t going to make us any money, but it’s a good first step,” said Kaplan.
Howlin’ Wolf last had live music on March 15, 2020, with the Hot 8 Brass Band’s Sunday night gig.
“This is something we’ve been working on for almost a year,” said Kaplan, “We’ve been working with the city and state to see this day happen.”
Keyboardist and singer Ivan Neville will appear at Tipitina’s for two piano sets on March 19 at 7 and 9:30. Both are now sold out.
“We’ve had a lot of musicians reaching out to us, but we need to do this one show before confirming anything else,” said Brian Greenberg, general manager of Tipitina’s. “We’ll continue to grow as comfortably as we can.”
He notes that returning customers will encounter “a different environment than the last time they were at Tipitina’s, but our fans are willing to follow the rules so that we can all hang out here again.”
Similar social distancing and masking rules will apply at Tipitina’s and the venue will be cleared and sanitized between shows. Normally the venue can host upwards of 700 people, but capacity will max out at 75. Tickets were listed at $35 and $50, plus fees, and sold in pods of two or four at ground-floor tables or barstools in the balcony.
Tipitina’s last hosted live music on March 13, 2020, with a concert by the Stooges Brass Band.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit websites for the Howlin’ Wolf and Tipitina’s.
