For the avid music fan, New Orleans Jazz Fest is a rite of passage, something that needs to be experienced at least once in a lifetime. In truth, though, once you make the trip, you probably will do everything in your power to never miss it again. The two weekend festival extravaganza that is the festival proper will certainly help fill your musical gas tank to some degree, but if you really plan on doing it right, you’ll wan to take in the multitude of late-night and mid-week events and performances. This is where those extra special moments, that you aren’t going to get anywhere else happen. And the 6th Annual Nolafunk Series During Jazz Fest has a bountiful supply of that funky fuel for you to choose from.

WIN 2 TICKETS TO EVERY NOLAFUNK SERIES SHOW DURING JAZZ FEST (ENTER HERE)

New Orleans IS music. New Orleans IS culture. And the marathon that is Jazz Fest is the perfect culmination of both. With a smorgasbord of shows to choose from, whether it is an intimate affair with moe. at Le Petit Theatre, or the ridiculous lineup of shows at Republic NOLA with North Mississippi Allstars & Anders Osborne w/ The Record Company, Twiddle w/ special guests, Dead Feat w/ Anders Osborne, Jackie Greene, John Kadlecik and more, the stellar lineup that is Voodoo Dead, or Big Freedia w/ The Soul Rebels and Tank & The Bangas, there is plenty of variety to truly fulfill that sophisticated musical palate. Here is a full list of shows from CEG Presents’ NOLAFUNK Series:

Thursday – April 27th

An Intimate Evening with moe. @ Le Petit Theatre – 8pm Doors / 9pm Show
The epic jam band moe. is making a very special appearance at this intimate 300-cap venue! This is a can’t miss moe.ment in Jazz Fest history! $90 For 3-Show Tickets – Price includes tickets to moe.’s April 28 & 29 performances at The Civic. Must purchase tickets for all three to get into Le Petit Theatre on April 27. (Ticket Link)

Friday – April 28th

North Mississippi Allstars & Anders Osborne present N.M.O. w/ The Record Company @ Republic NOLA – 9pm Doors / 10pm Show – $48.50
Talk about a monster triple bill! Red-hot rock n’ blues act The Record Company is sharing the same bill with the North Mississippi Allstars and Anders Osborne, joining forces as N.M.O (North Mississippi Osborne), in a true one-of-a-kind musical experience. When North Mississippi and Osborne toured together as N.M.O. a couple of years back, some legendary sets were witnessed. Talk about a night to remember. (Ticket Link)

Saturday – April 29th

Cowboy Mouth @ Le Petit Theatre – 9pm Doors / 10pm Show – $36
New Orleans’s very own Cowboy Mouth will be cranking up their unique style of rock & roll gumbo in this intimate venue next to Jackson Square. Don’t miss this Louisiana Music Hall of Fame inductees perform a special hometown show! (Ticket Link)

Dead Feat w/ Midnight North ft. Grahame Lesh @ Republic NOLA – 8pm Doors / 9pm Show – $49.50
The renowned Jazz Fest late-night only band Dead Feat will be welcoming another all-star to its lineup: Furthur’s John Kadlecik will join up with Anders Osborne, Jackie Greene, Little Feat’s Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett, Brady Blade, and Carl Dufrene. Formed in 2011, Dead Feat performs Grateful Dead, Little Feat, Anders Osborne, and other classic tunes. Midnight North featuring Grahame Lesh will kick off the evening. Dead Feat is a band that many people look forward to all year long, as the only place they can be seen is during Jazz Fest. (Ticket Link)

Twiddle w/ Special Guests @ Republic NOLA – 1:30am Show after Dead Feat – $25
One of the hottest jambands on the scene Twiddle, who play improvised rock, jazz, bluegrass, reggae and funk jams have many surprises in store for their very first Jazz Fest late night. This 2am Saturday evening late-night is a must-see show for jamband fans. (Ticket Link)

Sunday – April 30th

Dead Feat w/ Vince Herman & Friends ft. Leftover Salmon’s Herman, Alwyn Robinson and Erik Deutsch @ Republic NOLA – 8pm Doors / 9pm Show – $49.50
Dead Feat will return on Sunday, and for this performance will be welcoming another all-star to its lineup: Furthur’s John Kadlecik will join up with Anders Osborne, Jackie Greene, Little Feat’s Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett, Brady Blade, and Carl Dufrene. On this night, Vince Herman & Friends feat. Leftover Salmon’s Herman, Alwyn Robinson and Erik Deutsch will kick off the night! (Ticket Link)

Morgan James w/ special guest Andy Allo @ Le Petit Theatre – 8pm Doors/9pm Show – $25
Songwriter, soul singer and Broadway chanteuse Morgan James has had quite a year selling out clubs and theaters across the U.S. and touring the globe with Postmodern Jukebox. Morgan can be seen fronting multiple Postmodern Jukebox YouTube video with tens of millions of views. Morgan will be joined by funk/soul singer Andy Allo. This could not be a more perfect Jazz Fest show to see at the intimate Le Petit Theatre on an early Sunday evening after the final day of weekend one at the Fairgrounds. (Ticket Link)

Thursday – May 4th

Foundation of Funk featuring George Porter Jr. & Zigaboo Modeliste with Jimmy Herring & Jojo Hermann w/ Too Many Zooz @ Republic NOLA – 8pm Doors / 9pm Show – SOLD OUT! 
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out why this one is sold out in advance.

Friday – May 5th

Tab Benoit / Samantha Fish w/ special guests @ Republic NOLA – 8pm Doors / 9pm Show – $37.50
Known for her mind-blowing guitar solos and killer blues rock, and hot off the release of her “Chills and Fever” album, the heartbreaker Samantha Fish will reunite with legendary rocker Tab Benoit and his swamp-rock ballads, gritty blues, and rootsy jams. (Ticket Link) 

Saturday – May 6th

Big Freedia (Live Set) / The Soul Rebels  / Tank & the Bangas @ Republic NOLA – 8pm Doors/9pm Show – $29.50   
This is a triple bill with some of the hottest bands from New Orleans right now, who are all quite different from one another, yet complimentary. NPR’s 2017 Tiny Desk competition winner Tank & the Bangas will not only open the show but will also be backing Big Freedia – “the Queen of Bounce” — and on the same bill with The Soul Rebels. Hip-hop… rock… soul…jazz…who said you can’t have it all? (Ticket Link)

Voodoo Dead featuring Steve Kimock, Jackie Greene, George Porter Jr. (of The Meters), Jeff Chimenti (of Dead & Co.), and JM Kimock @ Republic NOLA – 1:30am after Big Freedia – $49.50
The tradition of Voodoo Dead began in 2015 with 3 sold out shows at Republic NOLA followed up by two more sellouts in 2016. The 2017 shows are shaping up to follow suit with legendary George Porter Jr. of the Meters on bass as part of the core band as opposed to being a special guest like in year’s past. He will be joined by Steve and JM Kimock, Jackie Greene, and Dead & Company’s Jeff Chimenti on keyboards. The Saturday late-night will start at 2am (technically early morning Sunday May 7).  (Ticket Link) 

Sunday – May 7th

40th Anniversary of Barton Hall, 5/8/77
A New Orleans Recreation of the Legendary Grateful Dead Show ft. Voodoo Dead w/Steve Kimock, Jackie Greene, George Porter Jr., Jeff Chimenti, and JM Kimock plus special guests Oteil Burbridge & Papa Mali @ Republic NOLA – 8pm Doors/9pm Show – $49.50
The Sunday May 7 10pm Voodoo Dead show will kick off with Lebo & Friends featuring Dan Lebowitz & Steve Adams of ALO, Jay Lane of RatDog & more. Then, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s legendary 5/8/77 Barton Hall performance, Voodoo Dead will perform a very special New Orleans Tribute to the legendary show with special guests Oteil Burbridge and Papa Mali! (Ticket Link) 

[cover photo courtesy of Jeremy Scott Photography]