Dear Listener,

WWOZ marks yet another milestone! We’ve just published our fortieth CD of live music, a series that began more than 20 years ago as a gleam in the mind’s eye of WWOZ’s wildly under-resourced and overly-ambitious engineering and programming staff.

The first volume, released for our Spring 1993 fundraiser, included such artists as The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Guardians of the Flames Mardi Gras Indians (Donald Harrison, Sr.), John Mooney, Fred Kemp, Red Tyler, Beau Jocque, and Robert Lowery. Our latest CD features many recordings from the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival and the Bogalusa Blues Festival: Mighty Sam McClain, Gregory Porter, Shemika Copeland, Vasti Jackson, and Dumpstaphunk to name a few of the great artists heard on Lawdy, Lawdy It’s CD # 40! Each CD in the Sounds of New Orleans collection is a limited pressing, never sold commercially, and once the pressing has been depleted we have never issued a second printing.

In many ways, our staff are culturists—laborers working in the fields—cultivating, gathering, sifting, sorting, and processing the the world's bounty. Only in this case, we deliver food for the ear and the soul. It starts with our programming department, searching the universe for choicest roots music for electronic transport to our (growing) audience of over 100,000 listeners. Then the gatherers—our engineers—clamber up slippery roofs to hang temporary antennae, freeze in sub-arctic temperatures, swelter in super-tropical sun, and put in thousands of miles and tens of thousands of hours to make these CDs possible. Finally, the musicians, like so many oysters, transform stories about the gritty reality of life into pearls: lustrous and enduring performances for our listeners’ pleasure and wonder.

If you were prescient enough to become a WWOZ member at the Ooo-poo-pah-doo level (that’s what we called it in 1994) and renewed every pledge drive, you’d now own a nonpareil collection of gems, including Johnny Adams, Snooks Eaglin, Deacon John, Al Belletto, Clarence "Gatemouth Brown, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Jimmy McGriff, Earl King, Ernie K-Doe, Trombone Shorty, Nicholas Payton, Doc Cheatham, Alvin Batiste, Ruthie Foster and Aaron Neville, to name just a few of the who-do’s who have graced the Sounds of New Orleans collection.

By the way, if you tune into the station right now—we are in the midst of another of our famous On Air Pledge Parties—lots of live music, unexpected guests, spontaneous moments—and, yes, you can hear our just-released CD compilation of unique live music recordings. We celebrate life in a way few know how, and in today’s world, that’s no small thing. I hope you enjoy Lawdy, Lawdy, It’s CD # 40! We thank you, 'Ozilians, who have supported us throughout the years, and whose passion for this music fires up our own

Yours in lucky beans and beers that are green,

David Freedman
General Manager

Returning to Armstrong Park this weekend, March 22 & 23: the 7th Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival, presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. In addition to tons of fantastic music (Hot-8, Red Baraat, Mannie Fresh & lots more) on stage, this festival also features the Class Got Brass student brass band competition.

 » Check out Congo Square this weekend

Thanks to everyone who's working hard to make our Spring Membership Party a huge success. It's a long list, including all our wonderful musicians, show hosts, volunteers, food donors, photographers and the entire roll call of our Louisiana music family. If you haven't done so already, pledge now and become and become a member.

» Drive highlights so far

Tickets are on sale for Piano Night 2014, which happens April 28 at the House of Blues. It'll be another epic night of music, food, and 'OZ love! Confirmed so far:  Ellis Marsalis, Jon Cleary, Davell Crawford, John Gros, Nigel Hall, David Todd Paquette, the Terrance Simien Trio featuring Danny Williams, and Yoshitaka "Z2" Tsuji. Piano Night is 'OZ's flagship benefit event and has become a tradition among lovers of New Orleans music.

» All about Piano Night 2014

Things are booming on Freret Street these days, and that growth and energy is reflected in Freret Street Festival, which now extends from Napoleon all the way to Jefferson. This year's fest has longer hours, a fifth music stage, and anticipated crowds some 30,000 strong.  WWOZ will live broadcast from the Cadiz Street stage.

» Freret Street Festival

French Quarter Festival (April 10-13), kicks off the 2014 festival season with the largest free festival in the south, a feast with great food and hundreds of local musicians on over 20-some stages throughout the Quarter. Dr John will make his first FQF appearance since 1987. As in years past, WWOZ will be broadcasting live, times and acts TBA.

» Get the details on French Quarter Fest

We mean that two ways. If you've already bought a Brass Pass (thanks much!), you can pick it up according to the instructions here.

» Brass Pass pick up times and locations

On the other hand, if you haven't bought this year's Brass Pass, you can still purchase one.

» Buy your Brass Pass before they're gone

On March 29-30, the French Market hosts the ultimate Roadfood smorgasbord. Visitors to FoodFest: America's Hometown Eats can choose from a wide array of legendary American dishes, some impossible to find outside their region.

 » FoodFest: America's Hometown Eats

Weekly free programs at the French Market:

 » Piano concerts on Mondays and Yoga on Thursdays

The cold winter has made for expensive mudbugs this year. Get the most out of yours with this creamy and delicious bisque. It's easy: saute veggies, make a white roux, apply a food processor, and you're practically done.  Thanks to our friends at Louisiana Cookin' magazine.

» Recipe: Crawfish, Spinach, and Zucchini Bisque