The annual Wednesday at the Square concert series in Lafayette Square kicks off this week with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and Moon Hooch.

The 12 week series is put on by the Young Leadership Council and features a wide range of musical acts, food from New Orleans restaurants, and an arts and crafts section. Each show starts at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m.

Theresa Andersson performs at Wednesday at the Square. (Photo by: Kim Welsh)

The YLC began the free concert series as a fundraiser for the organization, a 1,300 member nonprofit civic group dedicated to recruiting and retaining young professionals in the New Orleans area.

With the New Orleans Saints as a presenting sponsor, the YLC Wednesday at the Square series has grown over the years to incorporate bigger and bigger names, both on stage and in the food and beverage booths.

This year’s lineup includes:

March 19: Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe + Moon Hooch

March 26: The Dirty Dozen Brass Band + Louisiana Spice

April 2: Marcia Ball + Robin Barnes

April 9: The New Orleans Suspects + Funk Monkey

April 16: Honey Island Swamp Band + Billy Iuso & the Restless Natives

April 23: Theresa Andersson + Paul Sanchez & The Rolling Road Show

April 30: All-Star Line-up featuring Eric McFadden, Jerry Joseph, Norwood Fisher, Eric Bolivar & Special Guests + Gravy

May 7: The Iguanas + OTRA

May 14: Gravity A + King Rey

May 21: Dave Jordan & the NIA + Jacob Landry & The Right Lane Bandits

May 28: Flow Tribe + Colossal Heads

June 4: Anders Osborne + Seth Stainback & Roosterfoot

All shows are free and open to the public and will occur rain or shine. For more information, to order food and drink tickets ahead of time, or to volunteer, go to http://wednesdayatthesquare.com/.