It’s another exciting week of live music and cultural events to explore in New Orleans. Check out this week’s OffBeat Weekly Picks:
Loyola University New Orleans presents God Help Them if We Wake Up, a new play by Ann Mahoney starring Nadine Marissa, both of The Walking Dead. This powerful feminist drama from playwrights Ann Mahoney and Gillian Shelly, will run November 9-18 at Marquette Theatre at Loyola. Nadine Marissa, a film and television actress best known for her role as Nabila on AMC’s The Walking Dead and her work on Better Call Saul and Baskets, stars as Hannah Green, a woman going through a midlife crisis who leaves her whole life behind in search of a better world, who inadvertently awakens an army of women and sparks a revolution. All performances will take place at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of Nov. 12, which will be a 2 p.m. matinee. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and Loyola faculty and staff and $8 for students. For more information or to purchase tickets, go here.
Don’t miss your chance to see Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) and the New Orleans Opera’s production of Tesori’s contemporary opera Blue, the story of a loving black family navigating life and loss in modern times that was named the Best New Opera in 2020 by the Music Critics Association of North America. Blue is Broadway legend Jeanine Tesori’s third opera, as she is primarily known as a revered musical theater composer. Her major works include Kimberly Akimbo; Fun Home; Caroline, or Change; Shrek The Musical; Thoroughly Modern Millie; and Violet. Renowned playwright Tazewell Thompson, although a frequent director of opera, wrote his first-ever opera libretto for Blue. Thompson has over 150 directing credits, spanning 30 premieres worldwide in prominent venues across the USA, France, Spain, Italy, Africa, Japan, and Canada. His acclaimed play Constant Star achieved 16 national productions, earning 9 Barrymore Awards, 5 NAACP Awards, and 3 Carbonell Awards. Performances are on Friday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 12. 2:30 p.m. Learn more or purchase tickets at neworleansopera.org.
Yard Act plays Toulouse Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m. This much-buzzed UK band is performing a handful of US dates following the release of their new single, “The Trench Coat Museum,” which marks their first original music since the release of their Mercury Prize-shortlisted debut album, The Overload. “The Trench Coat Museum” was praised by The New York Times for “sound[ing] like a long-lost alternative rock radio novelty hit from the late 1990s, albeit with a killer groove and an extended outro that beckons to the dance floor.” It’s a wild return, but such is to be expected from a band whose live performance was celebrated by Rolling Stone UK as “brilliantly unpredictable.” For a taste of what to expect, check out this video of their new single. Don’t miss this energetic experience, deemed by Minneapolis Star Tribune as a “must-see… for record-store clerks and indie-rock musicheads”. Learn more or purchase tickets at toulousetheatre.com.Weekly Picks
Look at Ghalia Volt‘s feet; you won’t see any grass growing underneath them since she constantly evolves her musical landscape. Since the Belgian blues guitarist’s arrival in the Crescent City in 2016, she’s already cut several albums. Shout Sister Shout is her fifth stateside recording and fourth on Germany’s Ruf Records, a label known for progressive-minded artists. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard blues charts last week and is her greatest leap yet, a vibrant bluesy but even rockier sound atypical of her previous creative output. You can join Volt to celebrate this new release at Chickie Wah Wah on Nov. 11, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance or $27 at the door and can be purchased at chickiewahwah.com. For the full review of her latest album, visit our website.
If music, art, sideshow, burlesque and bbq are your thing, you may want to check out the 504 Rock Art Circus at The Broadside from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.. This all ages event will have live music from heavy-hitting local bands; HiGH, Suplecs, Tomb of Nick Cage, Night Medicine and Shidded; a 30 minute screening of local music videos; Burlesque with Roxie LaRouge; Side Show with Side Show Matt, Cassidy Coperhead and JuJu; and a presentation by NOLA Suspension. If that wasn’t enough, they will also have an art market and local vendors as well as delicious bbq provided by Cochon King BBQ. This is the 18th year of this underground arts and music event. Admission is free for those 14 and under, and $10 to $20 for all others. Learn more or purchase tickets here. Weekly Picks
Looking for laughs to help banish that Monday mood? Don’t miss the Hell Yes Fest 10th Anniversary opening night event at The Joy Theatre on Nov. 13, at 8 p.m.. Hell Yes Fest is the biggest time of year for New Orleans comedy. Every November for the past 10 years, over 50 comedians from all over the country perform at multiple venues downtown. The festival is all about diverse showcases, special events, and providing opportunities for comedians. While this year there’s plenty of visiting talent, the focus is on the local scene. Every single show at Hell Yes Fest in 2023 is hosted and headlined by a local comedian. This year’s opening night comics are Mark Caesar, Ashley Zoerner, Ryan Rogers, Riga Ruby, Troy Duchance, Shep Kelly, JQ Palms, and Tee-Ray Bergeron. Learn more or purchase your tickets here.
Weekly Picks (11/9 – 11/15)
