Kickoff to Festival Season in New Orleans
Largest Showcase of Louisiana Music in the World
NEW ORLEANS, La. (March 21, 2017) - The 34th Annual French Quarter Festival
presented by Chevron is April 6-9, 2017. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI)
proudly announces final details about the annual event. Attendees will experience:
music from over 1,700 world-class, local musicians; food from the City's favorite
restaurants at the 'The World's Largest Jazz Brunch'; and four days of fascinating
special events like Let Them Talk: Conversations on Louisiana Music, Whitney
Bank Film Fest at French Quarter Fest with Cinema on the Bayou, Pirates Alley
Juried Art Show, Free Dance Lessons, Opera at Dusk,and the Chevron
Children's Headquarters and STEAM Zone.
What started as a small neighborhood event has grown into the largest showcase of
Louisiana music in the world. French Quarter Festival is one of the biggest events in
the state and generates an average economic impact of nearly $190 million. In 2017,
it was voted "Best Local Festival" by New Orleans Magazine readers and has also
been listed as the "one thing to do in Louisiana" by the Huffington Post.
Live, Local Music on 23 Stages
Festival Debuts include Aaron Neville and over 40 Artists
The 2017 French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron brings nearly four dozen
new acts. On Locals' Lagniappe Day, Thursday, April 6, Aaron Neville will make his
debut on the riverfront Abita Beer Stage. The performance is presented by musician
sponsor, AOS Interior Environments. Aaron Neville is synonymous with New Orleans,
celebrated throughout the world as part of the legendary Neville Brothers and as a
Grammy-winning solo artist. Funk artist Papa Mali, best known as front man for 7
Walkers (a band that includes Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann and The
Meters' founding bassist, George Porter Jr.) also makes his debut on the Abita Beer
Stage in 2017.
Other new artists include: 504Ever All Stars, Airpark, Ashlin Parker Quartet, Big
Frank & Lil Frank and the Dirty Old Men, Boyanna Trayanova and Divak, Cary
Hudson & Piney Woods Players, Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole, Cedryl Ballou
& the Zydeco Trendsetters, Cole Williams Band, Crescent City Hot Six Jazz
band, Dick Deluxe, Eric "Benny" Bloom, Fortifiers, Fred LeBlanc, G and The
Swinging Three, Gregory Agid Quartet, Jake Landry and the Right Lane
Bandits, Jonathan 'Boogie' Long (Trio), Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band, Kenneth
Terry Jazz Band, KIPP Central City Academy Band, KIPP McDonogh 15 Middle
School Band, Louisiana LeRoux, Love Evolution, Luxley, Messy Cookers Jazz
Band, Mo'Fess, Mollie Pate and the LPO Horn Sound, Perdido Jazz Band,
Remedy, Roland Guerin, Soul Brass Band, T'Monde, Ted Hefko and The
Thousandaires, The Mid-City Aces, The Nayo Jones Experience, The Pentones,
The Porter Trio, The Versipel Collective, Tonya Boyd-Cannon, Valerie
Sassyfrass, Washboard Rodeo, Water Seed Music, and Wayne and Same Ol' 2Step.
French Quarter Festival consistently remains popular with locals while attracting a
tremendous out-of-town audience. A huge part of the appeal is that attendees get a
true, authentic New Orleans experience - a broad range of Louisiana artists and a
diverse variety of musical styles and genres. Since 1984, French Quarter Festival has
been committed to featuring New Orleans' finest artists on stages all over the French
Quarter. The tradition continues in 2017 with the expansion of the Jack Daniel's
Stage, which moves from Bourbon Street to JAX Brewery. The stage will have
entertainment all four days of festival. Artists include: Corey Henry's Treme Funktet,
Ingrid Lucia, King James & The Special Men, Lynn Drury Band, Meschiya Lake
and the Little Big Horns, Otra, Panorama Jazz Band, Shamarr Allen and the
Underdawgs, and The Soul Rebels.
French Quarter Festival 2017 will also bring a stage to KIPP McDonogh 15 School
for the Creative Artslocated at 721 St Philip Street. Artists on the Schoolhouse
Stage include Paulin Brothers Jazz Band, Carl LeBlanc, Rhodes Spedale & Live
Jazz Group, and more. The complete music schedule is now online. Click here to
see the more than 200 scheduled acts.
The World's Largest Jazz Brunch
More than 60 of New Orleans' Favorite Restaurants
New Orleans is the culinary capital of the country. French Quarter Festival celebrates
this distinction, giving attendees a wealth of delicious choices at 'The World's Largest
Jazz Brunch'. More than 60 vendors feature classic New Orleans dishes as well as
cuisine from the finest chefs in the region. In 2017, French Quarter Festival welcomes
three new vendors, 14 Parishes Jamaican Restaurant, Bratz Y'all Bistro &
Biergarten, and Gattuso's Neighborhood Bar & Restaurant with menu items that
range from European specialties, such as the "Nuernberger" pork bratwurst, to
Jamaican fare like Jerk Chicken with plantains. The diverse new vendors will all be
located at the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint. In order to maintain the
authenticity and quality of the cuisine, the Jazz Brunch Committee evaluated each
vendor to ensure specific criteria for participating were met.
Festival favorites returning for 2017 include Galatoire's, Muriel's, Praline
Connection, Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, Restaurant R'evolution,
Broussard's, Love at First Bite, Royal House, GW Fins, House of Blues,
Jacques-Imo's, K-Paul's, Lasyone's Meat Pies, Ruth's Chris Steak House, Three
Muses,and more. Fans can look forward to many new menu items,
including: Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails' Cochon Sliders, Restaurant
R'evolution's Sugarcane Glazed Pork Belly Po-Boy, Mrs. Wheat's Broccoli &
Cheese Pie, Haydel's Bakery Strawberry Gourmet Hand Pie, Koz's Vegan
Smoked Eggplant and Okra Gumbo, Quintin's Ice Cream's Homemade Vanilla
Bean Ice Cream Sandwiches, Café Reconcile's Vegetarian Collard Greens,
Andrea's Restaurant's Eggplant Parmigiana, and Westin Canal Place's Cajun
Cuban Sandwich. FQFI is also thrilled to announce the return of Tujague's Brisket
of Beef with Horseradish Sauce.
The official festival app, developed by GE Digital, is integrated with Google maps,
allowing attendees to easily pinpoint vendor locations and travel times. The app,
which will be released late March, includes functionality to search for favorite foods by
name in addition to name and location. The menus are also available online. Click
here to view.
Cinema on the Bayou Curates Whitney Bank Film Fest
at French Quarter Festival
FQFI and Whitney Bank continue their partnership and welcome new
partner, Cinema on the Bayou, to offer Whitney Bank Film Festival at French
Quarter Festival. Cinema on the Bayou Film Society was founded by filmmaker Pat
Mire, a prize-winning filmmaker based in Lafayette, Louisiana. Mire's cultural
documentaries have been aired nationally on PBS, Discovery Channel, and other
networks and have won awards in national and international competitions. Cinema on
the Bayou presents acclaimed documentary and narrative fiction films and filmmakers
and produces one of Louisiana's oldest film festivals.
Whitney Bank Film Fest at French Quarter Festival takes place at Le Petit Théâtre
du Vieux Carré- one of the oldest community theatres in the country. Lineup
includes: Dew Drop; I am the Blues; Coals to Newcastle: The New Mastersounds
from Leed to New Orleans; Brother David; The River of Babylon: An Elegy for
South Louisiana; Sushi and Sauce Piquante: The Life and Music of Gerry
McGee; The Abita Mystery House; Songs of Souls; and By and By: New Orleans
Gospel at the Crossroads. Click here for full schedule, film descriptions, and trailers.
Let Them Talk: Conversations on Louisiana Music
Lecture series features Andre and Louis Michot, Dr. Michael
White, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Pete Fountain Tribute,
Irma Thomas, and more
Let Them Talk, the annual lecture series curated by Fred Kasten and Dr. Connie
Atkinson featuring Louisiana musicians, will return to the Louisiana State Museum's
Old U.S. Mint for the 2017 French Quarter Festival. The series provides a rare chance
to hear artists speak about their life in music, such as the Saturday, April 8
session, The Continuing Reign of the Soul Queen of New Orleans: A
Conversation with Irma Thomas. This year's schedule also includes: The Latin
Soul and Crescent Funk of Los Po-Boy-Citos, Aloha Golden Meadow: Andre
and Louis Michot on Their Musical Roots, There Is A Doctor In The House: The
Life And Music Of Dr. Michael White; On The Howl With Walter "Wolfman"
Washington; and A Tribute To Pete Fountain. Let Them Talk is free and open to
the public. Partners include the UNO Midlo Center and the Louisiana State Museum,
as well as the generous sponsorship of Friend of Fest. Click here for complete Let
Them Talk schedule.
Family Fun at French Quarter Festival 2017
Chevron Children's Headquarters at the Natchez Wharf and
Hermann-Grima House Add New Partners
FQFI is thrilled to announce the return of two children's areas to the 2017 French
Quarter Festival presented by Chevron. Both areas have expanded to feature new
partners and activities. The Chevron Children's Headquarters, featuring the Chevron
STEAM Zone, will return to the Natchez Wharf at the foot of Toulouse Street and the
Hermann-Grima House will host two full days of family-fun on Saturday, April 8 and
Sunday, April 9. "Chevron values education and collaboration. At French Quarter
Festival we're working with our community partners to teach children about science,
technology, engineering, art and math," said Chevron Gulf of Mexico Public Affairs
Manager Leah Brown. "The Chevron STEAM Zone has fun, interactive learning
stations that show kids how these subjects play a vital role in their future
success. We're proud to once again bring The Chevron STEAM Zone to French
Quarter Festival 2017."
Chevron supports many organizations in the community, and at French Quarter
Festival they collaborate with several of them to create educational STEAM Zone
experiences. Community partners include: The George Rodrigue Foundation of the
Arts, The Nature Conservancy, Project Lead the Way, Audubon Nature Institute,
Chevron, Fab Lab NOLA, New Orleans Pelicans, Notes for Notes, and the New
Orleans Jazz National Historic Park. Visitors will take part in hermit crab racing, test
robots, build a motorized boat, and many more interactive, educational experiences.
The children's area will also feature performances for kids and families on the New
Orleans Jazz National Historic Park Stage. A special appearance by child life
advocate Jarrius "Little JJ" Robertson is scheduled for Saturday, April 8.
A second children's area at the Hermann-Grima House will feature archaeology,
crafts, giveaways, and educational projects. Community partners include Young
Audiences of Louisiana, The Green Project, New Orleans Public Library, New
Orleans Museum of Arts, Italian Cultural Arts Center, The Louisiana Children's
Museum, and the Girl Scouts Louisiana East. The beautiful courtyard gardens of
the Hermann-Grima House are located at 820 St. Louis Street.
Opening Night Gala returns to Antoine's
Thursday April 6, the French Quarter Festival Opening Night Gala at Antoine's
Restaurant will benefit the Roots of Music and The New Orleans Jazz Museum at the
Mint. Honorary Co-Chairs include: Governor John Bel Edwards, Lt. Governor Billy
Nungesser, Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu, and Chevron Gulf of Mexico Vice
President Mark Hatfield.
Established in 1840, Antoine's, the country's oldest family-run restaurant, celebrated
its 175th anniversary in 2015. During the Gala, guests will enjoy the original Main
Dining Room, the Mardi Gras-themed Rex, Proteus, and 12th Night Revelers rooms,
the Mystery Room, 1840 Room, the Last Room (or Tabasco Room) and the Wine
Cellar, which holds approximately 25,000 bottles when fully stocked. French Quarter
Festival is the only time of the year when Antoine's allows a non-profit community
organization to 'take over' - celebrating the opening of French Quarter Festival at this
grand Gala event.
Guests will enjoy Antoine's signature dishes, an open bar courtesy of Abita Brewing
Company and Brown-Forman/Republic Beverages, and mingling with the Merry
Antoinettes. The Patron Party takes place from 7-8:00 pm with entertainment
from Tony Green and Gypsy Jazz. The Gala is 8-10:30 pm with entertainment
provided by Players Ella and Louis Tribute Band and Sarah Quintana. Patron
tickets are $250 and Gala tickets are $155 ($175 beginning April 1). In addition to
single tickets, a limited number of VIP packages are available; packages include
private gala seating with dedicated waiter and wristbands for front-of-stage access
during festival weekend.Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online
at www.fqfi.org or by calling 504-227-3124.
Sponsors help to keep this a true community event Chevron returns as Title Sponsor of French Quarter Festival
and Satchmo SummerFest
FQFI is proud of its history of providing high-quality community events at no cost and
being accessible to all. In order to keep the Festival free and open to the public, the
organization relies heavily on the contributions of sponsors and partners, beverage
and merchandise sales, and vendor fees. Festival organizers welcome the return
of Chevron as Title Sponsor of both French Quarter Festival and Satchmo
SummerFest. "Chevron is thrilled to return as presenting sponsor of the 34th annual
French Quarter Festival," said Leah Brown Public Affairs Manager, Chevron Gulf of
Mexico. "Chevron values local arts and culture. Our partnership with French Quarter
Festivals, Inc. is one way we fuel the social and economic vitality of New Orleans and
Louisiana."
Abita Brewing Company, Brown-Forman, New Orleans Tourism Marketing
Corporation, NOLA.com/Times-Picayune, OffBeat Magazine, Omni Royal
Orleans Hotel, Tropical Isle, Rouses, and WWL-TV also return as major sponsors
of French Quarter Festival.
GE Digital has signed a three year agreement to return as a major sponsor
supporting a riverfront stage as well as the Festival's official apps. The FREE French
Quarter Festival iPhone and Android App lets fans download music schedules,
complete menus, special events, merchandise updates, and unique offers to enhance
their festival experience.
Additional sponsors include: Acadian Ambulance, Amtrak, Antoine's
Restaurant, Bayou Rum, The Berger Company, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Cajun
Corner, Cinema on the Bayou, Chevrolet, Creole Cuisine Restaurant
Concepts, Crescent Crown Distributing, Crimestoppers, Cumulus New Orleans, Data
News Weekly, DownBeat Magazine, ESPN New Orleans, French Market
Corporation, Hermann-Grima House, House of Blues, IntheNola.com, I.T.S. Fire
Alarm Security, LLC, Jimmy John's, KKAY, Kingfish Kitchen and Cocktails, KREWE
du optic, Laurel Communications, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, Live Free
Magazine,Louisiana Cookin', Louisiana Division of the Arts, Louisiana Lottery, Mardi
Gras World, Mark Wasserman, Morris Bart Attorneys, Musician's Performance
Fund, NCIS: New Orleans, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, New Orleans
Original Daiquiris, NOLA Jitterbugs, Palm Court Jazz Cafe, Pan American Life
Insurance Group, Paris Parker/Aveda, Pat O'Brien's, Patricia Pamulo, Pepsi, The
Plant Gallery, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Preservation Hall, Renaissance
Publishing, Rentech Solutions, Republic National Distributing, Royal House, Royal
Sonesta, State Farm, Steinway and Sons, Taste of the South, Tour
Louisiana, Touro, The Vinyl District, Uptown Messenger, WBOK, Westin New Orleans
Canal Place, WHERE Magazine, Where Y'at Magazine, Windsor Court
Hotel, Whitney Bank, WHIV, WWL-AM, WWOZ, WWNO 89.9 FM, WRNO
99.5, WYLD, Zapp's Potato Chips, and Zatarain's.
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