Crescent City piano powerhouse John “Papa” Gros will honor a local legend during New Orleans Jazz Fest 2024 with a special tribute to the late Dr. John. The Papa Plays the Nite Tripper performance is set to take place at Toulouse Theatre on Wednesday, May 1st [get tickets].
John “Papa” Gros (pronounced like “grow”) is among the most revered artists in the modern Big Easy music scene. From his decades of sideman work with a who’s who of New Orleans superstars to his own lively band, Papa Grows Funk, the pianist has made a career out of spreading the gospel of NOLA music and culture far and wide. As Gros himself has said, “Sharing New Orleans with the world is my calling.”
The special performance at Toulouse Theatre will see Gros highlight one particularly celebrated New Orleans export, six-time Grammy-winner Malcolm “Mac” John Rebennack Jr., a.k.a. Dr. John. Heavily influenced by the theatrics and aesthetic of his early mentor, Professor Longhair, Rebennack adopted a flamboyant style on stage that stuck with him for the entirety of his career. Following a stint in Los Angeles as a member of the famed studio band known as the “Wrecking Crew,” Rebennack returned to New Orleans where he took on the “Dr. John The Night Tripper” persona and launched a legendary solo career centered around the combination of New Orleans funk, psychedelic rock, and jazz.
Tickets for John “Papa” Gros’ Papa Plays the Nite Tripper performance at Toulouse Theatre on Wednesday, May 1st during the “Daze Between” Jazz Fest weekends are now on sale here. Scroll down for complete show details.
Papa Plays the Nite Tripper is one of two unique tributes to the music of Dr. John on the 2024 Live For Live Music Fest by Nite series during New Orleans Jazz Fest. While Gros will bring his authentic local know-how to bear for his Dr. John tribute show, a Sunday, April 28th tribute performance by Montana-native “galaxy grass” outfit Kitchen Dwellers at Toulouse Theatre will explore Mac’s music through the lens of progressive bluegrass.
Related: Daze Between New Orleans Reveals 2024 Lineup: Gov’t Mule, Lettuce, John Scofield, More
***SHOW INFO***
Show: Papa Plays The Nite Tripper: John “Papa” Gros Tribute to Dr. John presented by Live For Live Music & GMP Live
Band: Papa Grows Funk
Date: Wednesday, May 1st, 2024
Time: Doors: 8:00 p.m. CT / Show 9:00 p.m. CT
Venue: Toulouse Theatre – 615 Toulouse Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130
Tickets: General Admission Advance: $30 / General Admission Day of Show: $35
This show is part of Live For Live Music and GMP Live’s 2024 Fest by Nite series in New Orleans during Jazz Fest. Upcoming Fest by Nite 2024 events include:
- Daze Between New Orleans Festival ft. Gov’t Mule, Lettuce, John Scofield, & more – Faubourg Brewery – Tuesday, 4/30; Wednesday, 5/1 [tickets]
- Frequinauts ft. Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr., Stanton Moore, & more – Toulouse Theatre – Monday, 4/29 [tickets]
- Andy Frasco & The U.N. w/ Special Guests – House of Blues New Orleans – Tuesday, 4/30 [tickets]
- The Daze Between Band ft. Chuck Leavell, John Scofield, George Porter Jr., & more – Tipitina’s – Wednesday, 5/1 [SOLD OUT]
- John “Papa” Gros’ Papa Plays The Nite Tripper – Toulouse Theatre – Wednesday, 5/1 [tickets]
- Tank and the Bangas – A Special Three-Day Event / Jam Cruise 21 Lineup Announcement Party – Toulouse Theatre – Thursday, 5/2 [tickets]
- Stanton Moore & Friends ft. Robert Walter, Big Sam, Skerik, & more / Jam Cruise 21 Lineup Announcement Party – Thursday, 5/2 (technically early-a.m. 5/3) [tickets]
- Lettuce: Rage Fest – The Joy Theater – Friday, 5/3 [tickets]
- Tank and the Bangas – A Special Three-Day Event – Toulouse Theatre – Friday, 5/3 [tickets]
- Joe Russo’s Selcouth Quartet – Toulouse Theatre – Friday, 5/3 (technically early-a.m. 5/4) [tickets]
- Tank and the Bangas – A Special Three-Day Event – Toulouse Theatre – Saturday, 5/4 [tickets]
- Crescent City Classics: A Celebration of New Orleans Funk ft. members of The Meters, Lettuce, Dumpstaphunk, & more – The Joy Theater – Saturday, 5/4 [tickets]
- Break Science – Toulouse Theatre – Saturday, 5/4 (technically early-a.m. 5/5) [tickets]
- Purple Party: A Tribute to the Music of Prince ft. members of Cool Cool Cool, The Nth Power, Doom Flamingo, Magic Beans, & more – Toulouse Theatre – Sunday, 5/5 [tickets]
