People United for Armstrong Park (PUfAP) announces Season 3 of its Jazz in the Park series. PUfAP will partner with the 2012 Social Aid and Pleasure Club of the Year to provide weekly second line parades throughout their spring series. The Undefeated Divas and Gents Social Aid & Pleasure Club, along with the New Skool Brass Band, will kick off the weekly Thursday evening shows with a second line parade starting at Armstrong Park’s St. Ann St. and Rampart St. entrance. Joining the parade each week will be the Baby Dolls, Mardi Gras Indians and skeleton krewes.
Jazz in the Park's 3rd Season Starts April 18
“We been second lining for over 25 years; that’s what we do, we got the best fits, the best second liners and we are undefeated,” says Divas & Gents President and founder, Antoinette Watkins. According to Action Jackson of Channel 38, WWOZ and Q-93 FM, “when the people in the park see Undefeated they won’t be able to control themselves from joining the parade.”
In addition to the second line parade, People United for Armstrong Park is also proud to be hosting an after-party every Thursday this season called “Treme Night.” The inaugural event takes place after each show, with a second line leading out of Armstrong Park to the Candlelight Lounge, home of the Treme Brass Band. Treme Night at the Candlelight runs the duration of the concert series, from April 18 – June 6. A $5 suggested donation at the door goes toward funding the Jazz in the Park concert series, specifically for the cost of the live music.
“We’re excited to extend the Jazz in the Park festivities to the heart of Treme,” says PUfAP Founder and President, Emanuel Lain, Jr. “Our friends and fans don’t always want to go straight home after their good time at the park, and Treme Night at the Candlelight gives us a chance to spend a little more time together after a hard day at work and listen to even more amazing music.”
ABOUT JAZZ IN THE PARK:
Jazz in the Park is a free, family-oriented concert series featuring music artists such as James Andrews, Meschiya Lake, Joe Krown Trio featuring Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Hot 8 Brass Band, Flow Tribe, Mike Soulman Baptiste, and more. Armstrong Park comes alive as over 3,000 locals and tourists gather each week to celebrate the vibrant life, and distinctive backstreet culture, of the historical Treme neighborhood. Jazz in the Park highlights the finest creole foods of the Treme, and promotes the craftsmanship of local artisans throughout the city of New Orleans in its weekly arts marketplace.
The first show of the Spring 2013 season is Thursday, April 18. Rising local band, Flow Tribe warms up opening day and will undoubtedly bring their indefatigable exuberance to the Jazz in the Park stage at 5:00pm. The inimitable James Andrews headlines at 6:30pm. During intermission, the second line parade resumes through Armstrong Park. The second line parade starts at 3:00pm and goes all the way to 5:00pm.
Jazz in the Park started in the spring of 2012, with seven free concerts that featured the likes of Kermit Ruffins, James Andrews, Glen David Andrews, Leo Nocentelli and the Meters Experience, Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias. The fall 2012 series continued this tradition of incredible music and entertainment in a family-friendly, neighborhood-oriented setting with Big Sam’s Funky Nation, The Renard Poche Band, The Stooges Brass Band, Stephanie Jordan, The Treme Brass Band, Rockin’ Dopsie, Los Hombres Calientes, Irma Thomas, The Soul Rebels Brass Band, John Boutte, Charmaine Neville and Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet.
A children’s craft and play area is available near the fountain to offer enrichment activities and fun like a spacewalk bounce house and brain development games. A fresh, local farmers market is also hosted on-site at Armstrong Park every Thursday by the Institute for Community Development right in front of the grand entrance. The Marketplace at Armstrong Park offers produce, herbs, seafood and baked goods from local growers and fisheries from 3pm – 7pm and even provides a grocery valet service that will keep your bags while you enjoy the concert after making groceries!
All concerts are FREE, all ages and open to the public.
More Info: www.armstrongpark.org
