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Dear Listener,
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Folks around here say there are only two seasons in New Orleans. The less informed maintain that winter and summer are all you get in these latitudes. But the more observant know that our year is not so easily defined by thermodynamics. No, our most dedicated environmentalists will tell you that the local calendar is divided into the Great Season, starting around Labor Day with the Zydeco Fest in Plaisance or the Blues Festival in Baton Rouge, and ending, of course, the first week of May, with Jazz Fest. The other season remains unacknowledged as the Off-Season, celebrated by either leaving town or anticipating, beer-by-beer, gig-by-gig, the next Great Season.
Well, this Great Season is still young and we’ve already had so-o-o many peak experiences: a magnificent Membership Drive punctuated by the likes of Irma Thomas, Dr John, Kermit Ruffins and 45 other great musicians and bands, stunning live broadcasts from Carnegie Hall (New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Irvin Mayfield, Aaron Neville, Branford Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater and so many more) and the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival.
But most interesting of all, perhaps, was the $100,000 check we received the other day from the RosaMary Foundation, a very generous grant to help us make the first payment on a bunch of new equipment for WWOZ. “And what kind of equipment costs that much dough?” you might ask. Well, remember, you heard it here first! By the end of the year, WWOZ expects to take delivery on a new transmitter and a new antenna—both of which will boost our signal strength from our current 4,000 watts to a full-blown 100,000 watts, making li’l ol’ WWOZ the most powerful public radio station in Louisiana. Take heart fringe ‘OZilians on the North Shore, along the Mississippi Coast and all points East. Tune your radios in to 90.7 FM right now and be the first to report the major upgrade to your radio. It’ll be a few months, but you won’t want to miss the very first song. So, tune in now and stay tuned!
Yours in rim shots and kilowatts,
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David Freedman
General Manager
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Young Men Olympian second line.
Photo by Christy Grimes
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As part of our weekly Takin' It to the Streets coverage of second line parades and Mardi Gras Indian events, you can now listen to members of Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs, Benevolent Societies and Mardi Gras Indian tribes talk about why they keep up these traditions that make New Orleans so unique. WWOZ celebrates the spirit of our New Orleans tradition bearer communities by bringing their voices and experiences directly to you.
» Listen now and get this week's route sheets.
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Michiel Huisman of HBO's Treme makes a pledge, just after playing a few songs on air.
Photo by rhrphoto.com
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Here's to everyone who made our recent Membership Drive a big success, starting with all of WWOZ's listeners. We need your support in order to keep on as Guardians of the Groove! We had over 300 new members pledge their support, and over 1200 folks renewed. Thanks to all the volunteers, musicians, show hosts, food donors, photographers, and everyone else who made this fall's pledge party one long happy groove. Click to check out a photo recap of all this fine entertainment, including staff, volunteers, food and studio appearances by Dr. John, Irma, Kermit, and John Boutte.
» Membership Love
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A well-attended stage at a recent Voodoo Fest.
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It's nearly Halloween, which means it's time for Voodoo Fest 2012. The Experience happens October 26 – 28, with a lineup including Metallica, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, Jack White, the Avett Brothers, Skrillex, and dozens more. Local favorites preforming this year include the Soul Rebels, Anders Osborne, and Marcia Ball. This year, Voodoo offers camping in City Park for the first time.
The Voodoo Music Experience
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Pinettes Brass Band plays Sunday, Nov 11 at Treme Creole Gumbo Fest
Photo by Melanie Merz
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The Treme Creole Gumbo Festival comes to Louis Armstrong Park with soul food and smokin' music November 10-11. The 2012 edition sports an All-Brass-Band music lineup that includes The Dirty Dozen, The Soul Rebels, The Hot 8 and The Stooges. Want to participate in the Art Market? You can apply here. The deadline is Oct. 29.
Treme Creole Gumbo Festival
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Get your long sleeve 'OZ gear!
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Keep 'OZ in mind for your holiday season shopping needs. Get 15% off hoodies, long-sleeve shirts, and other "Cool Weather" attire in the Swamp Shop. And whose New Year wouldn't be brightened up with a Brass Pass for Jazz Fest 2013?
» Swamp Shop Holidays
» Brass Pass
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Baby Boyz Brass Band
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Here's an agenda we can get behind: promote music education in the schools while keeping alive the flame of New Orleans' brass band tradition. That's the goal of the Jazz and Heritage Foundation's “Class Got Brass” program. Louisiana middle and high school bands compete to create the best New Orleans-style brass bands. The winners will receive $30,000 in instruments.
» Class Got Brass
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Creole Gumbo served with rice
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The aforementioned Treme Creole Gumbo Festival, November 10-11 in Armstrong Park, is a terrific opportunity to sample creole gumbo. Get your palate primed with this recipe, which demonstrates in epic detail what goes into making great gumbo. It's a labor of love that's worth celebrating. Thanks to Stephanie Jane Carter, editor of Southern Food & Beverage's OKRA magazine.
» Creole Gumbo Recipe
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