A loaded krewe of luminaries from the Big Easy and beyond will come together at The Joy Theater on Saturday, May 3rd, 2025 for Crescent City Classics, a celebration of the vibrant, varied lineage of funk music that remains alive and well in New Orleans. The one-night-only performance, which corresponds with the second Saturday of New Orleans Jazz Fest, will showcase an intergenerational roster of 16 musicians including members of The Meters, Dumpstaphunk, Lettuce, and many more [get tickets].
Crescent City Classics debuted to a sold-out Joy Theater during Jazz Fest 2024 and later exported the festivities to Colorado in early 2025 to headline Denver Comes Alive. Now, the to-heroes, by heroes New Orleans funk retrospective will return for its second Big Easy edition as part of Live For Live Music’s 2025 Fest by Nite series during Jazz Fest. Revisit our coverage of the debut of Crescent City Classics at The Joy Theater in 2024 here.
Crescent City Classics expands upon Live For Live Music’s Fest by Nite tradition of all-star New Orleans love letters like Poppa Funk & The Night Tripper, NOLA 50, and Lett Us In The Dumpsta. This year’s edition of the NOLA funk celebration will feature local music royalty like The Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and The Meters/Neville Brothers mainstay Cyril Neville (vocals, percussion); Dumpstaphunk torch-bearers Ivan Neville (keys, vocals), Ian Neville (guitar, music director), Tony Hall (bass, guitar, vocals), Deven Trusclair (drums), Alex Wasily (trombone), and Brad Walker (saxophone); Lettuce bandmates Adam Deitch (drums), Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff (guitar), Eric “Benny” Bloom (trumpet), and Ryan Zoidis (saxophones); contemporary New Orleans go-getters like Galactic’s Jelly Joseph (vocals), The Rumble’s Andriu Yanovski (keys), and teenage prodigy River Eckert (keys); and decorated guitarist Eric Krasno.
Related: Tracing The Genetic Code Of New Orleans Funk Music
Much like the music being honored by Crescent City Classics, The Joy Theater itself is a “Crescent City classic”—a monument to the rich heritage and resilient spirit of New Orleans. Originally built on Canal Street in 1947 as a three-screen movie theater, The Joy Theater was hailed at the time as “New Orleans’ newest and most modern film temple.” In 2003, after steadily losing ground to larger multiplex theaters, The Joy closed its doors. The hard times got harder in August 2005 when The Joy was inundated by floodwater during Hurricane Katrina. Still, its massive “Joy” marquee continued to tower over Downtown New Orleans, a hopeful reminder during a time of unprecedented struggle for the city. In 2011, the historic theater underwent a $5 million internal renovation to convert it into a music venue. Since then, it has become a beloved destination for nationally touring acts, special showcases, and other memorable performances.
Tickets for Crescent City Classics: A Celebration of New Orleans Funk at The Joy Theater are now on sale here. Don’t delay—this show sold out in 2024. Scroll down for full show details.
Related: Daze Between New Orleans Issues Save The Date For 2025 Festival
Crescent City Classics is part of Live For Live Music and GMP Live’s 2025 Fest by Nite series in New Orleans during Jazz Fest. Confirmed Fest by Nite 2025 events include:
- Cool Cool Cool Presents: A Tribute to Madonna – Express Yourself – Toulouse Theatre – Friday, April 25th [tickets]
- Soulive – The Joy Theater – Friday, April 25th [tickets]
- Worship My Organ ft. Ivan Neville, Robert Walter, Skerik, Adam Deitch – Toulouse Theatre – Saturday, April 26th [tickets]
- Nate Smith ft. Kiefer & CARRTOONS w/s/g Eric Gales – Toulouse Theatre – Sunday, April 27th [tickets]
- Daze Between New Orleans – Tuesday, April 29th & Wednesday, April 30th [lineup & tickets coming soon]
- Boyfriend ft. members of The Revivalists – Toulouse Theatre – Saturday, May 3rd [tickets]
- Crescent City Classics ft. members of The Meters, Dumpstaphunk, Lettuce, & more – The Joy Theater – Saturday, May 3rd [tickets]
***SHOW INFO***
Show: Crescent City Classics: A Celebration of New Orleans Funk
Band Lineup: George Porter Jr. (bass), Cyril Neville (vocals, percussion), Ivan Neville (keys, vocals), Ian Neville (guitar), Eric Krasno (guitar), Tony Hall (bass, guitar, vocals), Deven Trusclair (drums), Alex Wasily (trombone), Brad Walker (saxophone), Adam Deitch (drums), Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff (guitar), Eric “Benny” Bloom (trumpet), Ryan Zoidis (saxophones), Jelly Joseph (vocals), Andriu Yanovski (keys), River Eckert (keys)
Presented by: Live For Live Music, GMP Live, & The Joy Theater
Date: Saturday, May 3rd, 2025
Venue: The Joy Theater | 1200 Canal St, New Orleans, LA
Time: Doors: 8:00 p.m. / Show: 9:00 p.m.
Tickets: Now on sale here.
