New Orleans Jazz Fest after-hours can get incredibly overwhelming. With upwards of 20-30 options every single night, countless superjams, unique tribute shows and all sorts of crazy collaborations left and right, it can be tough to pick and choose your late night move. Here are our top picks for Jazz Fest After Hours.
The Complete Guide To New Orleans Jazz Fest After-Hours
Thursday, April 23
Who: Earphunk & Naughty Professor
Where: Howlin’ Wolf
Why: What makes the New Orleans music scene so unique is its incredible local talent. These two bands are some of the hottest to emerge from NOLA and onto the jam/funk scene lately. Before the gentrified Fest rolls around, kick off the festivities with some proper local funk.
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Friday, April 24
Who: Lettuce
Where: Civic Theatre
Why: Our number one funk band of the moment, Lettuce is no stranger to New Orleans, and knows how to get the party started right.
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Saturday, April 25
Who: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Allen Toussaint & Ivan Neville
Where: Saenger Theatre
Why: NOLA staple Trombone Shorty brings an insane level of energy to the stage. Joined by legends Toussaint and Neville, this is going to be one memorable night at a historic theater.
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Sunday, April 26
Who: The Word (John Medeski, Robert Randolph, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Chris Chew)
Where: Joy Theater
Why: When legendary John Medeski (Medeski, Martin & Wood), Robert Randolph, and Luther & Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi All-Stars) team up, their musical talents are limitless.
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Who: Adam Deitch, Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff, Ryan Zoidis, Eric Benny Bloom, Donald Harrison, Kofi Burbridge & Calvin Turner
Where: One Eyed Jacks
Why: Finish off weekend one of Jazz Fest with a bang! It’s the birthday of one of the hardest working, most crushing drummers in the game, so you know a who’s who of musicians will be present along with this incredible lineup.
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Monday, April 27
Who: DRKWAV (John Medeski, Skerik & Adam Deitch)
Where: Maison
Why: DRKWAV’s strange, dark and psychedelic vibes are the perfect way to mix it up amidst a sea of nonstop upbeat NOLA funk.
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Tuesday, April 28
Who: Michael Jackson vs. Stevie Wonder Tribute Show ft. Members of Lettuce, The Motet & more, The Nth Power, Magic Beans, Sexual Thunder
Where: Howlin’ Wolf
Why: Our MJ vs. Stevie show with a similar cast of characters in NY was one of the coolest events we’ve thrown – check out the video below.
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Wednesday, April 29
Who: Oak Street Block Party ft. The Oak St. All-Stars (Oteil Burbride, Kofi Burbridge, Roosevelt Collier, Adam Deitch, Adam Smirnoff, Jesus Coomes, Ryan Zoidis, Maurice Brown, & Natalie Cressman), Leftover Salmon, The Nth Power, The Heard, Kung Fu, Eddie Roberts’ West Coast Sounds, Sonic Bloom & Hard Proof
Where: Oak Street
Why: A full day of FREE music with an incredibly stacked lineup of some of our favorite musicians. This might be better than the actual Fest!
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Who: The Suwanee Family Band: Adam Deitch, Eric Krasno, Oteil Burbridge, Nigel Hall, Kofi Burbridge & The Shady Horns with Hard Proof, Jennifer Hartswick Band
Where: One Eyed Jacks
Why: We love a good SuperJam, and this collaboration of some of our favorite musicians and Suwannee regulars is certain to be a recipe for one killer show.
Thursday, April 30
Who:Â Down on the Bayou VI: Dr. John, Jojo Hermann, Col. Bruce Hampton, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, John Bell, Al Schnier, Jimmy Herring, Ivan Neville, New Orleans Suspects, Dave Schools, Oteil Burbridge, Duane Trucks, Bonerama Horns & more
Where: Republic
Why: This insane lineup featuring the legendary Dr. John plus members of Widespread Panic, moe., Dumpstaphunk, the Allman Bros and more is the kind of thing you only find during Jazz Fest.
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Friday, May 1
Who:Â Diesel Fiya – Karl Denson, Lee Fields, Tony Hall, Doug Wimbish, Russell Batiste, Robert Walter, Big Sam, Farnell Newton; New Orleans Social Club – George Porter Jr., Leo Nocentelli, Ivan Neville, Henry Butler, Raymond Weber; Dragon Smoke – Ivan Neville, Stanton Moore, Robert Mercurio, Eric Lindell; Big Chief Bo Dollis Tribute – Big Chief Monx Boudreaux, Chief Bo Dollis Jr., Cyril Neville, Alfred “Uganda” Roberts, June Victory, June Yamagishi, Terence Higgins, Nick Daniels III, Billy Iuso; Revivalists Jam – The Revivalists with Pete Murano, Khris Royal and Carly Meyers; Ronnie – Roosevelt Collier, Oteil Burbridge, Nikki Glaspie, Nigel Hall, Ian Neville, Eric Bolivar; Mack Ten – Johnny Vidacovich, Skerik, Mike Dillon, Papa Mali, Wil Blades, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, Arleigh Kincheloe, Andrew Block, Eric Vogel; Monophonics, Kung Fu, Orgone, The Heard, DJ Logic, DJ Otto, Borahm Lee, Eric McFadden, Nick Cassarino, Nate Edgar, Weedie Braimah, Alvin Ford Jr., Terrence Houston, Jermal Watson & Will Bernard
Where: Mardi Gras World
Why: Holy crawfish! Is there anyone NOT on this lineup?! Well, besides the TBAÂ headliner, who promises to be a good one!
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Who: Soulive, Lee Fields, Karl Denson, Nigel Hall, DJ Logic and The Shady Horns
Where: The Steamboat Natchez
Why: It’s Bowlive on a boat! Our friends at Fiyawerx know how to throw a party. Plus, who doesn’t love to rage on a boat?
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Saturday, May 2
Who: Nevilles Forever: A Celebration of the Neville Brothers and their Music Farewell Concert w/ Aaron Neville, Art Neville, Charles Neville & Cyril Neville + Widespread Panic, Trombone Shorty, Galactic, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Terence Blanchard, George Porter, Jr., Ivan Neville, John Boutté, Anders Osborne, Ian Neville & more
Where: Saenger Theatre
Why: There is no name more synonymous with New Orleans musical culture and history than the Nevilles. This star-studded concert will bid a proper farewell to NOLA’s most beloved musical family.
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Who: Galactic
Where: Tipitina’s
Why: NOLA’s biggest funk band brings one of the wildest, most high-energy parties to Tipitina’s every Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest for an all-night rager beginning at 2 AM and ending well after the sun comes up. This isn’t an experience you’ll get anywhere else.
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Sunday, May 3
Who: The Motet’s “Mixtape 1975”
Where: Howlin’ Wolf
Why: The Motet’s cover sets set them apart from other funk outfits out there. This time they’ll be covering all the 1975 hits, so get ready to groove. But that’s not all — kick off the last night of Jazz Fest with The Meters’ Zigaboo Modeliste’s 17th annual Zigaboo’s Funk Revue.
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