Besides beignets, po boys and chicory coffee, there’s a lot of culture to be absorbed in The Big Easy, and live music is part of it. Give your ears a true taste of Crescent City at The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, Oct. 31-Nov. 2, with these New Orleans-based bands.
1. Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue– Coming off a recent tour Southern jam band Widespread Panic, Grammy-nominated Trombone Shorty (a.k.a. Troy Andrews) and his ensemble Orleans Avenue combine elements of hip-hop and funk grounded in alternative rock ‘n’ roll riffs that harmoniously complement Shorty’s trumpet and trombone.
2. Naughty Professor – This jazzy, funky, brass-heavy sextet has toured throughout the Texas and the South since the release of their 2013 album Until Next Time. Describing their aesthetic as “acid-jazz/heist funk”, the band harnesses their hometown sound of smooth, soul-infused rock, the young band plans has already received props from local legends like Galactic and The Revivalists , the latter of which is also performing at Voodoo Experience.
3. Rebirth Brass Band – One of New Orleans’ longest touring brass bands, this extensive ensemble is a must-see for those who have yet to experience it. Rebirth Brass Band consists of a tight-knit crew of marching band musicians hailing from New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood, including insipriingly talented trumpet player Kermit Ruffins and sousaphone/tuba player Philip Frazier. Their stage repertoire puts a high-energy, modern spin on the authentic brass band sound, bringing a little bit of Bourbon Street to every show. Catch them at their weekly gig on Tuesday nights at the Maple Leaf Bar if you can’t make their appearance at Voodoo.
4. The Revivalists – The Revivalists are a band that refuses to be pigeonholed by a single genre. Pulling from rock, jam, funk and electronica, songs by the septet are reminiscent of Particle or Perpetual Groove, emphasized by the band’s defining steel guitar sound.
5. Benjamin Booker – Singer-songwriter Benjamin Booker isn’t the typical New Orleans-based performer. The young guitarist’s bluesy, Gary Clark Jr.-esque sound (Booker cites Blues legend Blind Willie Johnson as an influence), backed by punk and classic rock percussion beats, is uniquely both raw and refined.
6. Flow Tribe – If there’s a jam band that truly encompasses the Crescent City sound, it might be Flow Tribe. Blending Umph-like guitar shredding and soulful, energetic vocals with classic New Orleans sounds like the trumpet and washboard, there’s a little bit of everything engrossed in the six-piece collective. Rumor has it, however, that Flow Tribe’s forte is in its live performance, which promises a street parade as well as a set guaranteed to keep the dance party going.
7. Big Freedia – Self-proclaimed “Queen Diva” and pioneer of Bounce music, NOLA native Big Freedia (born Freddie Ross) began his musical career as a kid in in church choir. Although the twerk-friendly, hip-hop vibe of the Bounce genre has been integral to the Crescent City club scene over 20 years, Big Freedia has toured extensively the last five years, and seems to provoke a booty-shaking frenzy wherever he lands. Even if Bounce music isn’t your thing, the people-watching might just be.
The Voodoo Experience is held at New Orleans City Park, from October 31st-November 2nd. The festival has a diverse lineup, with headliners Foo Fighters, Outkast, Skrillex, Arctic Monkeys, Zedd, Pretty Lights and Thirty Seconds to Mars. Tickets and more festival information can be found via the Voodoo Experience official website.
