Not surprisingly, the big weekend of the 2024 Mardi Gras season is jam-packed with live music — and Lundi Gras and Fat Tuesday are a bit livelier than a typical Monday and Tuesday.
THURSDAY
Big Freedia, the bounce queen of New Orleans, presides over “Freedia Gras” on Thursday at Tipitina’s. Freedia is joined by bounce rapper HaSizzle and Galactic vocalist Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph. Showtime is 10 p.m. Tickets are $30.
Big Freedia performs on the Festival Stage during the first day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Friday, April 28, 2023. (Staff Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
Matisyahu hits the House of Blues on Thursday as part of his 2024 “Hold the Fire Tour.” Cydeways opens the show. Tickets start at $31 plus fees.
Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band are featured for the weekly Zydeco Night at Rock ‘N’ Bowl ($15).
In the world of rudimental drumming, John Wooten is considered a master. The director of percussion studies at the University of Southern Mississippi, he’s also authored two books on drumming. He anchors his Latin Quarter Jazz Project for shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro ($25).
Pianist Josh Paxton covers the weekly “Booker Sessions” James Booker tribute at 6 p.m. at the Maple Leaf Bar ($10). New Orleans drum legend Johnny Vidacovich is up at 8 p.m. at the Leaf, playing with pianist Brian Haas and bassist James Singleton ($20).
New Orleans funk band Dumpstaphunk.
FRIDAY
Keyboardist and vocalist Ivan Neville leads his funk/soul band Dumpstaphunk at Tipitina’s, with blues-based guitarist Ghalia Volt opening. Showtime is 11 p.m. Tickets are $30.
Master New Orleans drummer Herlin Riley powers a quartet that includes saxophonist Derek Douget, bassist Max Moran and pianist Oscar Rossignoli at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor ($35).
Blackdog, featuring Radiators bassist Reggie Scanlan, saxophonist Jason Mingledorff, drummer Eddie Christmas and guitarist Jon Ridnell, hits d.b.a. on Frenchmen Street at 10 p.m. ($15).
Ryan Foret & Foret Tradition play swamp pop at Rock ‘N’ Bowl for the venue’s final show until after Mardi Gras ($10).
The New Orleans band Galactic.
SATURDAY
Chickie Wah Wah on Canal Street opens at 1 p.m. ahead of the massive Endymion parade, which passes outside in late afternoon. Tickets are $15 and include access to bathrooms and admission to Saturday night’s show featuring the New Orleans debut of the throwback jazz dance band the High Step Society. The show will kick off around 9:30 p.m., after the parade has passed.
The members of New Orleans funk-jazz band Galactic spent many a Mardi Gras night at Tipitina’s even before they bought the club. In a break with tradition, they won’t play Tip’s on Lundi Gras this year. But Galactic, featuring singer Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, will headline Tipitina’s on Saturday, with rock/funk/jazz hybrid Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes opening the show at 10 p.m. Tickets are $32.
Snug Harbor features a quartet of adventurous jazz musicians: bassist James Singleton, pianist Brain Haas, drummer Johnny Vidacovich and clarinetist, saxophonist and singer Aurora Nealand. They’ll play at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($30).
Throwback street jazz band Tuba Skinny plays a free 6 p.m. show at d.b.a. At 10 p.m., d.b.a. hosts the “Fat Saturday Brass Band Blowout” with the Panorama Brass Band, Magnetic Ear and Mission Delirium ($10).
Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen perform on the Shell Gentilly Stage during New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans earlier this year.
SUNDAY
If you’re waiting for Bacchus along Napoleon Avenue on Sunday afternoon and want to check in on the Super Bowl, Tipitina’s will be open starting at 3 p.m. with a big screen tuned to the game. Admission is free.
New Orleans keyboardist and singer John “Papa” Gros and legendary Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief Monk Boudreaux celebrate the 20th anniversary of their “Funk ‘n’ Chant” collaboration with a 9 p.m. Sunday show at the Maple Leaf Bar ($25).
Keyboardist Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen funk up Chickie Wah Wah starting at 10 p.m. Tickets are $30 advance, $40 at the door.
Bon Bon Vivant swings out with a retro blend of danceable jazz, Americana and dark ballads at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor ($25).
The Treme Brass Band holds down its usual Sunday night slot at d.b.a. at 9 p.m. ($10).
Indie rock band Portugal.The Man.
MONDAY
On Lundi Gras, Portland-based alternative rock band Portugal.The Man headlines the Civic Theatre. Tickets start at $49.50 plus fees.
Sonic experimenters Quintron & Miss Pussycat preside over a Lundi Gras event at the Toulouse Theater with Mongo and C’est Funk ($25).
Cowboy Mouth dispenses its brand of revival tent rock ‘n’ roll at the House of Blues ($20 and up).
Funk-rock band The Iceman Special headlines “Carnivoid at Tipitina’s,” taking over the Lundi Gras slot previously held down for years by Galactic. Showtime is 11 p.m.; tickets are $27.
Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and his trio play the early, 8 p.m. show at the Maple Leaf. At 11 p.m., the New Orleans Suspects plug in at the Leaf to usher in Fat Tuesday with a set of swamp blues ($25).
Keyboardist Joe Krown’s Quartet features guitarist Papa Mali, bassist Cassandra Faulconer and drummer Eric Bolivar at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($25).
It’s a big day at d.b.a., with Mia Borders playing a free show at 2:30 p.m., followed by the Iguanas at 6 p.m. ($10) and Mardi Gras Indian funk band Cha Wa at 10 p.m. ($20).
Golden Comanches Big Chief Juan Pardo
TUESDAY
Start your Mardi Gras morning off early with the free, 5:15 a.m. “sunrise set” at Tipitina’s featuring Big Chief Juan Pardo & the Golden Comanches Mardi Gras Indians with special guest guitarist Billy Iuso.
The Paradise Brass Band plays for free at d.b.a. at 12:30 p.m. The New Orleans Klezmer Allstars hit d.b.a. at 4 p.m. for their traditional Fat Tuesday show ($20). DJ Otto spins at 7 p.m., before trumpeter Kid Chocolate & P.O.C. fire up at 9 p.m. (no cover).
Conclude Mardi Gras with the To Be Continued Brass Band’s regular Tuesday night throwdown at the Maple Leaf ($15).
Tin Men perform on the Lagniappe Stage during the sixth day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune)
WEDNESDAY
Carnival is over, but the music plays on.
Jazz trumpeter Ashlin Parker, of Trumpet Mafia, shares the stage at Snug Harbor with the Saturn Quartet saxophonist Ricardo Pascal, pianist Brendan Polk and drummer Gerald Watkins Jr. Showtimes are 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. ($25).
Up-and-coming blues guitarist Carter Wilkinson, a student at Loyola University’s music business program, plugs in with his band at the Maple Leaf ($20).
The Tin Men hold court at d.b.a. at 6 p.m., followed by the Lagniappe Brass Band at 9 p.m. (no cover).
