Yes, we realize that there are two different flavors of “and” symbols in the billing for Cory Henry + MonoNeon & Friends Fest by Nite show at Toulouse Theatre during New Orleans Jazz Fest 2026, but they both serve important roles.
First, the new team-up at the core of the concert, set to take place after midnight on Thursday, April 30th (technically early-a.m. 5/1) at beloved French Quarter venue: Cory Henry and MonoNeon, two living funk legends, will come together as co-leaders for this first-of-its-kind performance.
Cory Henry is the multiple Grammy-winning organist and bandleader who earned acclaim early in life as a child prodigy, logged time in Snarky Puppy, branched out with his own Funk Apostles, and last year played arenas with Stevie Wonder. In 2025, he won the Grammy Award for Best Roots Gospel Album for his soul-cleansing 2024 gospel project, Church. Among his other ongoing projects, Henry recently launched a new organ trio supergroup, The Heavyweights, with Eric Krasno and Robert “Sput” Searight. They’ll play a Fest by Nite show of their own at New Orleans’ The Joy Theater on Friday, May 1st.
MonoNeon, the colorful bassist and former Prince sideman, was once famously described by Eddie Murphy in The New York Times as “Jimi Hendrix and Basquiat and Skittles, all combined.” Using a deft mix of childlike imagination (watch him turn a Charlie Day rant from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia into a jazz odyssey here) and principled artistry (check out his “art manifesto” here), he has crafted a multi-sensory universe surrounding his singular style.
MonoNeon professed his Cory Henry fandom more than a decade ago when he posted one of his signature bass overdub videos in which he accompanies a live Cory Henry gospel organ solo. Although such videos from MonoNeon are often brief and humorous, this one shows the bassist grooving through the solo’s full, five-minute run time without any of his signature sonic bells and whistles—a “game recognize game” gesture from one luminary to another.
MonoNeon x Cory Henry (MonoNeon Overdub) – “Wonderful Is Your Name” (from the tribute to Melvin Crispell)
Since then, Cory Henry and MonoNeon’s paths have crossed on multiple occasions: They have traded live sit-ins with their various projects (as recently as last year), participated in all-star one-offs (like this heater at Brooklyn Comes Alive 2018), and collaborated on notable studio recordings (like Ghost-Note‘s acclaimed Swagism and MonoNeon’s 2021 album, Supermane). But while their chemistry already speaks for itself, the after-midnight session at Toulouse Theatre during Jazz Fest 2026 will provide unprecedented space for the still-blossoming connection between these two masters to flourish.
Then, there’s the other “and” in the billing: “& Friends.” While the show is built around Cory Henry and MonoNeon, the band will be filled out by a to-be-announced cast of their world-class collaborators. Considering their combined resumes, the wealth of talent set to flood the Big Easy that week, and the spontaneous, collaborative spirit that defines the Jazz Fest year after year, the “& Friends” portion of Cory Henry + MonoNeon & Friends lineup promises to be just as thrilling as the top-billed names.
It’s Cory Henry… and MonoNeon… and friends… and, this should go without saying, but it’s not to be missed.
Tickets for the Cory Henry + MonoNeon & Friends Fest by Nite show at Toulouse Theatre in New Orleans, LA on Thursday, April 30th (technically early-a.m. 5/1) are now on sale here. Scroll down for complete show details.
Cory Henry + MonoNeon & Friends at Toulouse Theatre is part of Live For Live Music, GMP Live, and Dayglo Presents‘ Fest by Nite concert series in New Orleans during Jazz Fest 2026. Other Fest by Nite 2026 concerts include:
- Thu, Apr 23 – STS9 – The Joy Theater – Tickets | Details
- Thu, Apr 23 – GIVERS – Toulouse Theatre – Tickets | Details
- Fri, Apr 24 – The Meters w/ Dumpstaphunk – The Fillmore New Orleans – Tickets (SOLD OUT) | Details
- Fri, Apr 24 – STS9 – The Joy Theater – Tickets | Details
- Sun, Apr 26 – Adam Deitch’s 50th Birthday Celebration ft. Oteil Burbridge, Ivan Neville, Marcus Machado, More – The Broadside – Tickets | Details
- Tue, Apr 28 – Grahame Lesh & Friends ft. Oteil Burbridge, Bill Payne, Daniel Donato, More – The Joy Theater – Tickets | Details
- Tue, Apr 28 – Dogs In A Pile – Toulouse Theatre – Tickets | Details
- Wed, Apr 29 – Grahame Lesh & Friends ft. Ivan Neville, Jake Brownstein, Cory Henry, More – The Joy Theater – Tickets | Details
- Wed, Apr 29 – The Daze Between Band ft. Eric Krasno, George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Oteil Burbridge, More – Tipitina’s – Tickets (SOLD OUT) | Details
- Thu, Apr 30 – Stanton Moore & Friends ft. Robert Walter, Skerik, Big Sam, Will Bernard – Toulouse Theatre – Tickets | Details
- Thu, Apr 30 – Lettuce: RAGE!FEST – The Joy Theater – Tickets | Details
- Thu, Apr 30 – Help on the Way ft. Eric Krasno, Ross James, Oteil Burbridge, Grahame Lesh, Ivan Neville, Nikki Glaspie, Steve Watkins – The Howlin’ Wolf – Tickets | Details
- Thu, Apr 30 (early-a.m. 5/1) – Cory Henry + MonoNeon & Friends – Toulouse Theatre – Tickets | Details (see below)
- Thu, Apr 30 (early-a.m. 5/1) – The Motet Plays Jamiroquai – The Howlin’ Wolf – Tickets | Details
- Fri, May 1 – The Heavyweights ft. Cory Henry, Eric Krasno, Robert “Sput” Searight w/s/g Oteil Burbridge – Tickets | Details
- Sat, May 2 – The Meters – Saenger Theatre – Tickets (SOLD OUT) | Details
- Sat, May 2 (early-a.m. 5/3) – Karina Rykman – Toulouse Theatre – Tickets | Details
***SHOW INFO***
Show: Cory Henry + MonoNeon & Friends
Date: Thursday, April 30th, 2026 (technically early a.m. 5/1)
Time: Doors: 1:00 a.m. | Show: 2:00 a.m.
Venue: Toulouse Theatre – 615 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Ticket Pricing Tiers: GA Advance $33 | GA Day of Show $35 | VIP $75
Tickets: Now on sale here.
