The Bayou Boogaloo is more than just a free music festival held by and for the residents of New Orleans, it’s a loving testament to the resiliency and passion for music of the city itself. While the stages were filled with a rich cross section of local all stars, who just so happen to be national institutions, the grounds and waterways were filled with music lovers of all ages who survived floods and massive rebuilding efforts with a spirit and attitude that stand as a shining example of the power of people to come together and survive even the most harrowing of times.
Festival founder Jared Zeller wanted to give his neighbors in the Mid City neighborhood a way to celebrate the city’s rebirth, to come together and share the music, art and family ties that kept them going through the most trying times imaginable. Zeller wanted to be sure that everything about his home was properly represented, and that most importantly, it be free for everyone in his neighborhood to come together, reconnect and revitalize their energy and strengthen the ties to the culture and heritage that make New Orleans one of the most idiosyncratic and beloved cities in the nation.
Choosing the Bayou St.John Park area, he started with one stage and a dream. In the ten years that have followed, the seeds he planted have grown into a three stage, three day event that has been named “Local Festival Of the Year” by Off Beat Magazine, given the largest grants ever awarded by the City Of New Orleans (for its efforts to provide a environmentally sustainable event) and, most importantly, brought a much needed excuse for his neighbors to come together in fellowship and get down to some truly epic sounds. Working with local sponsors like The Abita Brewing Company and the Positive Vibrations Foundation, Zeller managed to not only make his dream come true, he made something that grew beyond anything he could have imagined.
The Wild Magnolia Indians brought their world famous blend of music and pageantry to the Positive Vibration Stage, Tony Hall of Dumpstaphunk invited many of his most talented friends including Ivan Neville and Andrew Block to get funky, The New Orleans Suspects got down and dirty on Saturday. Meanwhile, on the Mothership Foundation stage, Davis Rogan tickled the ivories, members of Toubab Krewe, Antibalas and more created a world-music-tinged one of a kind set under the moniker Pirates Choice, the Funky Dawg Brass Band added an element of youth and energy and the mighty Yojimbo and their leader Carly Meyers mixed a cooing feminine presence with a full out audio assault to mesmerize and mystify.
Out on the Abita Stage, Kevin Stylez showed what happens when funk and rap merge to delightful effect, songstress Erica Falls showed that her voice and range was equal to any R & B artist in the world, and Woodenhead provided a crunchy progressive rock blast that had everyone in the crowd rocking harder than they had all day.
Unique to any festival I have ever attended, the stream that runs alongside the festival site provided a opportunity for folks to boat and kayak literally through the festival itself, and hundreds of folks were able to lazily drift and enjoy the tunes from a floating vantage point. There were even goats on multiple boats! Over forty booths of arts and crafts were on display, with disparate mediums from paper mache, stone work, metal sculpting, painting, found object and some of the coolest knitting I’ve ever seen. The famous foods of the city were also on hand, with Po Boy vendors, gator sausages and creole delights on sale next to traditional festival fair and a rich assortment of sponsor Abita Brewing’s many specialty flavors and concoctions. As the festival is truly a family affair, a massive Kid’s Tent was located dead center of the strip, with puppet shows, clowns, face painting and workshops and fun tutorials were available, much to the delight of the little smiling faces.
The main stage saw Papa Mali joined by the rhythm section of Nawlins legends Galactic, madman Mike Dillon created a assemblage of drummers unlike any other with his Punk Rock Percussion Consortium, 101 Runners brought another tribe of Mardi Gras Indians out in full rgalia, delighting attendees of all ages, while Dumpstaphunk closed out the proceedings in style with a special guest horn section made up of the Bonerama boys.
The Chicago Children’s Choir brought an element of faith to the Mothership stage, while the Christian Serpas & Ghost Town and N’Wlains Johnny’s kept the local flavor going til Rotary Downs finally closed out the back stage with sweet sounds and massive ovations. Shakti Caravan had early festivalgoers spellbound with their mix of mysticism and spiritual awakening, while Kim Carson’s country flavor cleansed the musical palettes with some pedal steel tinged sounds. Colin Lake and the To Be Continued Brass Band finished the Abita Stage off right with blasts of funk and horns that seemed to get everyone within earshot up and moving.
It was a moving experience, to see the idea of one man inspired to try and bring his city together in the face of devastation be taken up by so many and made into reality. It’s the true spirit of community, and their efforts to keep this celebration free to all through such generous donations of the residents, local corporations and the city itself is a shining example of what we can all do when we work together towards a common goal, especially when the destination is one as joyous as the Bayou Boogaloo. Founder Jared Zeller has much to be proud of, but, like any true visionary, he’s not resting on his laurels. During an interview, he promised next year would be bigger, better and even more diverse! Given the passion shown by both himself and all the production team and volunteers, I have no doubt they will succeed, and I can’t wait to come back and see it for myself!
Check out Rex’s full gallery below:
