After the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo introduced a tent for stand-up comedy last year, it’s expanding the offerings again this year, bringing more kinds of local entertainment to the annual festival on Bayou St. John.
The festival’s main attraction is still live music, and the line-up includes Wu-Tang Clan’s GZA, Nik West, Afroman, Lez Zeppelin, George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr., Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Morning 40 Federation, SaxKixAve and more. There also is a large art market, boating on Bayou St. John and more from Friday, May 17, through Sunday, May 19.
Bayou Boogaloo’s lineup for the comedy tent last year included Sean Patton, Laura Sanders, Geneva Joy and other comics. It went well, so festival founder Jared Zeller decided to expand the offerings this year. And there’s a larger tent, which is called the Ruby Slipper Comedy & Cabaret Stage. Zeller notes that the shade also enhanced the tent’s appeal.
This year’s line-up includes stand-ups Ryan Rogers and Shep Kelly of LGBTLOL and Matt Owens, plus a roast battle on Saturday. Friday night features Isaac Kozell hosting an edition of the local show Stoned vs. Drunk vs. Sober, in which comedians in various states of inebriation compete to deliver the best jokes. Sunday brings comedians Andrew Polk, Taj Washington, Lafayette’s Jason Leonard and Tyler Arceneaux and an edition of Comedy Beast hosted by Amanda G and Allison Hotard.
The tent will also host burlesque from Minx Burlesque and Lefty Lucy’s Burlesque Bingo. On Sunday, there’s a drag brunch show with Eureeka Starfish, and it will feature tent sponsor Ruby Slipper’s bloody marys.
The festival’s Saturday headlining slot is occupied by Wu-Tang Clan cofounder GZA, who has had a successful solo career starting with “Liquid Swords,” released in 1995. He’s currently on tour with the Phunky Nomads, and they’re performing both Wu-Tang and GZA classics, but to live music.
Preceding GZA is another rapper and band collaboration. Los Angeles rapper Chali 2na was a member of the rap collective Jurassic 5. He used to perform regularly in New Orleans, especially with local funk bands around Jazz Fest time. At Bayou Boogaloo, he’s performing with local funk band Naughty Professor.
Saturday also features a couple of powerhouse vocalists in Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph singing with Raw Deal and Sierra Green and the Giants.
Headlining Friday night is vocalist and bassist Nik West. She blends rock, funk and soul, and is known for her work with Prince, as well as Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics and John Mayer. Friday night’s funky lineup also features George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, SaxKixAve and Quintron & Miss Pussycat.
California rapper Afroman performs on Sunday. He made a big splash in the early 2000s with the release of his studio album “Because I Got High,” and he was later nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance for the title track.
Also headlining Sunday is New York’s Lez Zeppelin. The all-women tribute band founded by guitarist Steph Paynes has released albums of Led Zeppelin covers, as well as amusing rewrites, like a holiday version of “Stairway to Heaven.”
Sunday also brings Big Sam’s Funky Nation, local electronic artist IFE, New Orleans cumbia band Los Guiros and Joshua Starkman hosting an edition of his Variety Hour.
The art market extends from Orleans Avenue to Dumaine Street, and there are more than 60 vendors offering paintings, jewelry, ceramics, fiber works, clothes, leather goods, accessories, perfumes, body products, plants, cigars, some packaged foods and more.
Many festivalgoers like to enjoy the bayou in what the festival calls the Moss Street Marina. People can use inflatables, canoes, kayaks, some types of boats and homemade rafts. Designated entry points are the end of the bayou at Lafitte Street and at the Dumaine Street bridge. Attendees who want to put homemade rafts in the bayou for the festival are asked to leave credit card information, but would only be charged if festival staff have to remove abandoned rafts. Visit the festival website for rules about water access.
Several environmental and conservation groups will have information booths at the festival.
The festival has more than 15 food vendors spread around the grounds, and there’s everything from burgers from Bub’s NOLA to Ajun Cajun, Empanola, Southerns food truck, Xanh’s Vietnamese-inspired food and Haitian dishes from Fritai. Festival beer sponsor Urban South Brewery is bringing back Boogaloo Blonde ale for the event. The festival also has a crawfish-eating contest.
The festival is cashless. VIP tickets are available for the Canopy Club, and they include private restrooms, shaded viewing areas, food and beverages and more.
The festival encourages attendees to use bicycles to get to and from the fest. It’s accessible via the Lafitte Greenway, and there’s bike parking on the Greenway side of the fest.
For tickets and information, visit thebayouboogaloo.com.
