It's about to start happening! This time lapse video shows the Fair Grounds being transformed from a humble horse racing venue into the home of our favorite festival. It's shot from the grandstand, with the Economy Hall Tent location in the foreground, and shows about half ... Read more

Doesn’t it seem that every year the gap between Mardi Gras and St Patrick’s Day just keeps getting shorter and shorter? However this year, New Orleans will have some help transitioning from the purple, gold and green of carnival to the emerald green of Ireland, thanks to th... Read more

It's kind of hard to describe Brass Bed, an indie rock band from Lafayette. They describe themselves as "psych-pop auteurs" on their YouTube channel, and their Facebook page, lists the following influences: "Busted amps, analog synths, The Kinks, pretty, noisy, The Band, Te... Read more

Among the many fine performances in the 'OZ studio during last fall's Pledge Party, Tarriona “Tank” Ball and her band the Bangas stood out. Last summer OffBeat cited Etta James, Leela James, and Jill Scott among likely influences; the result is a heady mix-and-match of soul... Read more

Don't worry, that title's ironic! Just thought y'all might like to spend a little bit of your post-Fat Tuesday lethargy with this short video introduction to the Louisiana crawfish harvest... 'Tis the season, afterall.     If you've got time and interest, here's a longer pi... Read more

Here's a singular take on a Carnival classic: a special 2009 arrangement of "Go to the Mardi Gras", by Wendell Brunious, accompanied by French jazz pianist Thierry Ollé's trio. Recorded in Périgueux (SW France), Brunious sings, whistles, and plays cowbell.     Read more

One of the things that's great about Mardi Gras is how it travels across space and time. So let's set the WABAC Machine for July 7, 1989 at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. During their last show ever at that venue, the Grateful Dead jam on "Iko Iko". Feel that Mardi Gras!     Read more

This week’s program brings you the blues, inflections of West Africa, as well as a moment of Gospel, accompanied with music from Marcia Ball, Toubab Krewe, the Johnny Vidacovich Trio, the late Tommy Ridgely and many more. We hear from a diplomat for the well-known spirit, B... Read more

Luke Winslow-King will perform tomorrow (March 2) during a jazz worship service at the Norwegian Seamen's Church at 1772 Prytania Street in the Lower Garden District. If you can't make it, here's a video substitute, courtesy of the Pacific Northwest's most awesome radio sta... Read more