It’s another exciting week of live music and cultural events in New Orleans and as usual there is no shortage of experiences to keep you entertained. Check out this week’s OffBeat Weekly Picks (11/16 – 11/22):
ALT-J: 10TH Anniversary of An Awesome Wave tour comes to The Joy Theatre on Thursday November 16. This alternative band from the UK was formed in 2008 by four friends who met at Leeds University. Having forged their own unique sound combining elements of electronic, folk and guitar music, the band recorded and released their debut album An Awesome Wave in 2012 which contained numerous hits including “Breezeblocks” and “Tessilate”. Critically lauded, An Awesome Wave won the Mercury Music Prize, an Ivor Novello ‘Album Award’ for songwriting and three BRIT award nominations. The album has now gone platinum in the UK and sold over 1,000,000 albums worldwide. ALT-J last performed in New Orleans in 2017 and released a new album, The Dream, in 2022. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. for this all ages show. More information is available here.
The Jazz & Heritage Concert Series continues with Charlie Halloran & the Tropicales in concert on Friday, November 17, at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center. Charlie Halloran’s Tropicales bring a 1950’s Caribbean hotel party to life with torrid horns, tropical rhythms and infectious grooves. With a nod to New Orleans’ history as the northernmost port of the Caribbean, the Tropicales perform music from Trinidad and Venezuela, Martinique and Guadeloupe, and other destinations along the archipelago. Their album Shake The Rum was released in 2022 on Hi-Tide Recordings to rave reviews and their release The Alcoa Sessions was nominated for Traditional Jazz Album of the Year for our Best of The Beat Awards. The group is releasing a Christmas album through Sony Music in 2023, a has a new vinyl release scheduled for April 2024. Tickets are $10 and are available here. The concert will be live-streamed at jazzandheritage.org/live for those who can’t attend in person.Weekly Picks (11/16 – 11/22)
Join Bridge House / Grace House at The Sugar Mill on Saturday, November 18, for the 2nd Annual Sober Fest and enjoy a full day of live music with performances by George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, Ivan Neville & Friends, Camile Baudoin, and the Trombone Shorty Academy! This alcohol free festival is family friendly and even includes a kids area with games and activities. A variety of food options will be available for purchase from local vendors and food trucks. Non-alcoholic beverages will also be available for sale with proceeds benefiting Bridge House / Grace House. Tickets are free for kids under the age of 12 with a paid adult, are only $10 if purchased in advance, or $15 at the gate. View the music schedule, learn more, or purchase tickets here.
North Robertson Art Studios is hosting their free bi-annual open studios and art experience featuring their diverse community of artists, craftspeople, makers and creatives in a variety of disciplines on Saturday, November 18, from 6 – 9 p.m.. All studios will be open for attendees to meet the resident artists, including: Mitchell Long, Darrin Butler, Britta Vans, Alex Axon, Dexter, WTF Foto, Sara Aliger, Wilton Wall, Angel Pop Place, Epaul Julien, and Tony Hollums, and many others. The evening will also feature a courtyard party with food by Veggie Tamales NOLA, refreshments, and music by DJ Tom Hardy, Tasche de la Rocha, and Ukrainian musician Bogdan Mynka.Weekly Picks (11/16 – 11/22)
On Sunday, November 19, Billboard Top 10 Blues Artist, 2020 IBC Winner, and JUNO Nominee, Canadian singer/guitarist JW-Jones will play his first concert in New Orleans with a special appearance by Deacon John. Jones was awarded “Best Guitarist” at the 2020 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN and is a frequent Billboard Top 10 Blues Artist. He won Best Jazz/Blues Artist at The Ottawa Awards two years in a row. Click here for a sampling of his music. This special New Orleans concert culminates a North American tour of his new album, Everything Now and will feature a once-in-a-lifetime matchup with legendary Blues guitarist and vocalist, Deacon John! The performance will take place at Urban South Brewery. Tickets are $15 and are available here.
On Monday, November 20, Davell Crawford presents a special birthday tribute to the late, great, Dr. John at Snug Harbor. Known as The Piano Prince of New Orleans, Crawford is an all-around musical sensation as a pianist, singer, songwriter, and performer. Raised in the church, Davell is the grandson of the rhythm & blues star James “Sugar Boy” Crawford, who wrote the New Orleans hit song “Jockomo,” later known as “Iko Iko.” Davell has been playing piano since he was seven years old and although he didn’t know his grandfather was a musician at the time, the elder Crawford gave him a keyboard when he was 11, and he soon first toured Europe in his early teens. Like so many New Orleans musicians, Crawford brings a synthesis of styles to his playing, weaving together funk, gospel, and R&B to his piano playing, songwriting and singing. A Steinway endorsed pianist, Davell has released more than seven albums since 1995 on imprints such as Rounder Records, Basin Street Records, and more. There will be two shows that evening at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., tickets are $30 and are available on the Snug Harbor website.
Weekly Picks (11/16 – 11/22)
