Here are OffBeat’s picks during another exciting week in New Orleans with no shortage of live music and cultural events to keep you entertained! Check out our OffBeat Weekly Picks ( May 23 – May 29)
Acclaimed singer-songwriter and Louisiana native Mary Gauthier will perform a career retrospective show at Chickie Wah Wah in New Orleans on Friday, May 24. Touring in support of her new album Dark Enough to See The Stars. and her debut book Saved By a Song, Gauthier will showcase songs from her three-decade career. The show will also feature her partner, Jaimee Harris, as the opening act and guitarist. Known for her poignant songwriting, Gauthier’s latest album continues to receive critical acclaim. You can learn more or purchase tickets here.
Bob Dylan. Photo by Dena Flows
An all-star lineup of New Orleans artists will come together for a special Bob Dylan Tribute on May 24, 2024, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Broadside. The event, celebrating Dylan’s profound influence on music and marking his 83rd birthday, features performances by Brian Stoltz, Papa Mali, Susan Cowsill, Johnny Sansone, Billy Iuso, Marc Paradis, Jake Eckert, Alex McMurray, Aaron Wilkinson, Layla Musselwhite, Lo Faber, Mike Doussan, Rurik Nunan, Ken Swartz, Sam Price, John Fohl, Russ Broussard, Keiko Komaki and Ethan Shorter. Tickets are priced at $25.00 and can be purchased at broadsidenola.com.
If you haven’t had a chance to see this yet, this weekend is your last chance! Running Friday – Sunday. the New Marigny Theatre will host The Felt Menagerie: A Tennessee Williams Puppet Comedy. This zany puppet theatre performance reimagines Tennessee Williams’ characters in a comedic light, featuring the antics of Blanche Dubious among Southern ladies in a small town’s rec hall. The show promises an adult-themed twist on Williams’ iconic themes, suitable for audiences aged 16 and older. Tickets are priced between $30 and $35. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit their website here.
Bo Dollis Jr., Big Chief of the Wild Magnolias Black Masking Indians, photo by Noé Cugny
On Saturday, May 25, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., the New Orleans City Park Festival Grounds will host the Spirit of Louisiana Jazz Funeral and Second Line with performances by the Young Men Olympian Junior Benevolent Association, Big Chief Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias and the TBC Brass Band. This event honors those lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and celebrates frontline and disaster recovery workers. Participants are encouraged to bring photos or mementos of loved ones and wear custom tribute t-shirts. The procession, starting near the Reunion Shelter, is free and open to the public, with parking limited and ride shares recommended. Read more about it here.
Frankie Beverly & The Mighty O’Jays will perform at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday, May 25, at 7 p.m., marking their farewell tour. Joined by special guests The Whispers, the concert promises a night of classic hits. Beverly, known for songs like “Before I Let Go,” and The O’Jays, famed for “Love Train,” will deliver performances celebrating their decades-long careers. Doors open at 6 p.m., tickets are available here and you can read more about the event here.
Also on Saturday, May 25, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Marigny Opera House will feature a performance by Bon Bon Vivant, known for their genre-blending sound that combines singer-songwriter storytelling with elements of Americana, dark ballads and up-tempo indie dance music. with Handmade Moments and the artful projections from Monica Rose Kelly. This event promises a mix of Americana, indie dance pop and folk music. VIP tickets are available for $40, with general admission on a sliding scale from $10 to $20. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Celebrate Memorial Day weekend with an exciting lineup at the Toulouse Theatre on Sunday, May 26, at 7:30 p.m. The event features performances by the Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia, known for her high-energy Bounce music, and singer Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, renowned for her powerful and soulful vocals. Sweet Crude will bring their vibrant indie-pop sound, blending English and Louisiana French lyrics with infectious rhythms, while SaxKixAve will showcase their unique fusion of hip-hop and jazz. Tickets are available for $40, with doors opening at 7 p.m. Learn more or purchase tickets here.
Also on Sunday, May 26, at 8 p.m., the House of Blues will host Thievery Corporation. Known for their genre-defying electronic music, a dozen highly acclaimed full-length albums, remix LPs, concert recordings and over two decades of live performances that have thrilled audiences worldwide. This performance features tracks from their extensive discography. Tickets for the show are available for purchase online at the House Of Blues Website here.
