The Joy Theater has unveiled the full lineup of late-night shows set to keep New Orleans going after each day of Jazz Fest. This year’s Joy’s Fest After Dark lineup highlights the stylistic diversity that draws tens of thousands to Jazz Fest each year, with tributes to funk and jam luminaries, boundary-pushing jazz, and much more.
Joy’s Fest After Dark will run concurrently with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival from Friday, April 25th through Sunday, May 4th. Kicking off the series on April 25th, instrumental organ trio Soulive will play its first show at The Joy Theater in ten years. The long-running trifecta of Eric Krasno (guitar), Neal Evans (organ), and Alan Evans (drums) will set the mood for a long Fest season with their intoxicating grooves, featuring support from Lyrics Born.
The first weekend of Jazz Fest will conclude on Sunday, April 27th, when The Joy Theater convenes the Take Me To The River All-Stars. This celebration of the music of New Orleans will assemble a who’s who of local legends, including Cyril Neville, Taj Mahal, Ivan Neville, Omari Neville, Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Jontavius Willis, Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr., Mississippi Macdonald, and Lina Beach. They will perform alongside the house band, comprised of Ian Neville, Deven Trusclair, Joe Ashlar, Brad Walker, Aurelien Barnes, and Galactic’s Robert Mercurio, who will also serve as musical director.
Following the days between, Joy’s Fest After Dark will continue on Thursday, May 1st with A Dream We Dreamed: A New Orleans Tribute To Phil Lesh. This Crescent City celebration of the late Grateful Dead bassist will assemble a cross-generational cast of musicians who collaborated with him over the years. Led by guitarist, vocalist, and music director Ross James, the roster includes Jay Lane (Dead & Company), Aron Magner (The Disco Biscuits), Eric Krasno (Soulive), George Porter Jr. (The Meters), Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk), Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Duane Betts (Allman Betts Band), Karina Rykman, Nicki Bluhm, and Al Schnier, Rob Derhak, and Vinnie Amico of moe.
On Friday, May 2nd, Phish bassist Mike Gordon will take to The Joy Theater for his first headlining show in New Orleans since 2019. This concert will see Gordon paired with budding bassist Karina Rykman and introduce a new band featuring guitarists Bob Wagner and Xavier Lynn (Ghost-Note) plus his usual compatriots Robert Walter (keys, Greyboy All-Stars) and John Morgan Kimock (drums). The concert is currently the only date on Gordon’s solo calendar for 2025.
The Joy’s Fest After Dark tributes will continue on Saturday, May 3rd with Crescent City Classics. This all-star amalgamation of New Orleans favorites will honor the city’s singular musical lineage, with appearances by George Porter Jr., Cyril Neville, Ivan Neville, Adam Deitch, Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff, Ryan Zoidis, Eric “Benny” Bloom, Deven Trusclair, Alex Wasily, Angelika “Jelly” Joseph, Brad Walker, Andriu Yanovski, and River Eckert.
The series will come to a close in grand style on Sunday, May 4th with Robert Glasper: The Last Night. The show by the genre-defying pianist will encapsulate the aromatic blend of styles that makes Jazz Fest a must for any music lover, melding jazz, hip-hop, R&B, and more to cap off the 2025 season.
“The Joy Theater is thrilled to bring another incredible edition of Joy’s Fest After Dark to life,” The Joy Theater’s general manager Brian Bourgeois said in a statement. “Fest season isn’t complete without the late-night shows, and The Joy is the place to be. This year, we’re bringing a stacked lineup of performances that capture the energy, soul, and spirit of New Orleans. From a legendary tribute to star studded all-star jams, our stage will keep the party going all night long during both weekends of Jazz Fest.”
See below for the full list of Joy’s Fest After Dark concerts and find tickets on the venue’s website.
