French Quarter Festival takes over much of downtown this weekend, but there is plenty of music to be heard in venues across town.
J AND THE CAUSEWAYS ALBUM RELEASE
FRIDAY, TIPITINA’S
The members of J and the Causeways first came together at the Maple Leaf Bar over a shared affection for horn-heavy soul and R&B music. Vocalist/keyboardist Jordan Anderson and his bandmates work the same sonic terrain as St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and the Marcus King Band, heavy on backbeats, surging horns and soulful, gritty vocals. J and the Causeways celebrate the release of the band’s full-length album “Motions” at Tipitina’s on Friday. The Causeways will be joined by special guests Anjelika "Jelly" Joseph, Rob Mercurio and Ben Ellman, of Galactic, plus Josh Kagler, Andriu Yanovski, Brad Walker and Aurelien Barnes. Juno Dunes opens the show at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20.
Alternative rock guitarist and singer St. Vincent, whose real name is Annie Clark.
ST. VINCENT
THURSDAY, ORPHEUM THEATER
Guitarist, singer and songwriter Annie Clark, better known by her stage name St. Vincent, has carved out her own niche in alternative rock. For her 2024 album “All Born Screaming,” her seventh overall but the first that she fully self-produced, she drew on sonic references that ranged from Nine Inch Nails to David Bowie. During the Grammy Awards earlier this year, she participated in the all-star “I Love L.A.” opening number and won Grammys for best rock song, alternative music performance and alternative music album. In 2025, she also joined the surviving members of Nirvana — Dave Grohl contributed drums to “All Born Screaming” — to sing “Breed” at the Fire Aid benefit for Los Angeles and performed during the star-studded SNL50 Homecoming Concert. On March 28, St. Vincent released a new song, “DOA,” as part of the soundtrack of “Death of a Unicorn,” the horror-comedy starring Paul Rudd and Jenna Ortega. After kicking off the 2025 leg of her "All Born Screaming" tour in Brazil last month, St. Vincent headlines the Orpheum Theater on Thursday. Wallace opens the show. Tickets start at $45 plus fees.
Cyril Neville performs during Jon Batiste's Love Riot Festival, a 'day of hope and celebration' on the campus of George Washington Carver High School in New Orleans' Ninth Ward on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, in advance of Super Bowl LIX.(Staff photo by Scott Threlkeld, The Times-Picayune)
BLACK & LOUD FEST
THURSDAY AND SATURDAY, THE PARISH OF THE HOUSE OF BLUES
The inaugural Black & Loud Fest takes over The Parish of the House of Blues for two nonconsecutive nights as part of the French Quarter Festival’s “FQF After Dark” concert series. The local edition of the national Black & Loud brand, which launched four years ago in Seattle, is curated by the legendary Cyril Neville, whose 60-year career in New Orleans music includes both the Meters and the Neville Brothers. “My nephew Cameron Lavi-Jones and his band King Youngblood represent the future of alternative Black music and obviously since I am Black and Loud I fit the bill too!” Neville said in a news release. “Very proud to be on the board of this national movement and roll out with these young people across the country starting with my hometown New Orleans.”
On both nights, the Black and Loud Brass Band, which is curated by Neville’s daughter Liryca Neville, will lead a second-line from the French Quarter Fest’s Jack Daniel’s VIP tent to the House of Blues. WWOZ DJ Cole Williams will emcee both nights at the Parish. The Thursday roster includes Omari Neville and the Fuel, King Youngblood, Cyril Neville with Shamarr Allen on trumpet, and Jason Parfait featuring Down North. Saturday’s roster includes Ersel Garfield Bogan featuring Nikki D & the Sisters of Thunder, Irvin Mayfield, King Youngblood, Omari Neville & the Fuel and Cyril Neville. Tickets each night start at $17.50.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY SHOWS
THURSDAY
Trombone-powered rock band Bonerama is augmented by harmonica player Johnny Sansone at Chickie Wah Wah ($20).
Jazz guitarist Gray Sargent and his trio are joined by New Orleans modern jazz guitarist Steve Masakowski for shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. Tickets are $30.
FRIDAY
Zydeco accordionist Keith Frank fronts his band at Chickie Wah Wah ($25).
Trumpeter Kevin Louis leads the traditional Palm Court Jazz Band for shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor. Tickets are $35.
The New Orleans Klezmer Allstars and Chère Élise featuring Steve Riley pair up at the Broadside ($20).
New Orleans singer, songwriter and guitarist Joy Clark in a publicity photo released with her 2024 Righteous Babe Records album "Tell It To the Wind."
SATURDAY
Two homegrown singer-songwriters — Joy Clark, touring this spring in support of her Righteous Babe Records debut “Tell It To the Wind,” and Mia Borders — team up for a double bill at the Dew Drop Hotel & Lounge (2836 LaSalle St.). Tickets start at $20.
Tipitina’s features a great double bill of contemporary south Louisiana bands, the Lost Bayou Ramblers and Sweet Crude. Tickets are $22.50.
Traditional jazz clarinetist and composer Dr. Michael White leads the Original Liberty Jazz Band for shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor ($35).
SUNDAY
At Chickie Wah Wah, longtime Dirty Dozen Brass Band sousaphonist Kirk Joseph leads an all-star band for what is also a release party for the new book “Donna’s Bar & Grill” by Donna Poniatowski Sims, the brass band bar’s fondly remembered former proprietor. Tickets are $20.
Spend an evening at Tipitina’s with keyboardist and singer Jon Cleary and his airtight funk and R&B band, the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, as they prepare to release a new album, “The Bywater Sessions.” Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.
San Francisco Bay area-based jazz trumpeter Erik Jekabson swings through New Orleans for shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Sunday at Snug Harbor ($25).
MONDAY
Pianist, singer and songwriter Lilli Lewis celebrates her birthday with a 7:30 p.m. show at the Broadside’s indoor Pavilion ($10).
TUESDAY
The alternative band Soul Coughing scored a couple of off-kilter hits in the 1990s with “Super Bon Bon” and “Circles” before imploding. After a break of nearly a quarter century, frontman Mike Doughty and his bandmates are on the road again for a tour cheekily titled “Soul Coughing Plays the Songs of Soul Coughing Again.” It stops at Tipitina’s on Tuesday. Tickets start at $35.
Born in Belgium and based for many years in New Orleans, cellist, singer and composer Helen Gillet draws on classical, jazz, avant-garde and world music to create her unique sound. At Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, she’ll showcase material from her latest album, “ReBelle,” in a show that will include Belgian poetry, French chansons and jazz and world music ($30).
WEDNESDAY
The Tin Men play a free show at Snug Harbor at 5 p.m. Later, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra swing out at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. ($45).
Jon Cleary does a solo piano show at Chickie Wah Wah ($20).