This is the third part of a four part series on where to go to eat and listen to music in New Orleans. Last week was food with Part 1: My Restaurant Picks and Part 2: Restaurant Picks from Harmony St. Charles. This week is music. I will provide a few places I have been to or heard about. Tomorrow I offer some selections from Harmony St. Charles who kindly sent me suggestions.
Tipitina's was created in the mid-1970's. The place gets a lot of headliners in blues, zydeco, funk, and other New Orlesn styles. It takes the name from a woman in one of Professor Longhair's songs. Tipitina's Sunday Cajun dance party is 17 years and running. It is hosted by the Bruce Daigrepont Band that plays Cajun music for four hours straight, as I recall. I have been there on numerous occasion and try to arrange trips so I am in town on Sunday but will miss it this time.
Maple Leaf Bar has great bands and I have been there a few times, including once where Clifton Chenier sat in with a local zydeco band right after he won a Grammy and shortly before he died. Tuesday nights are packed with The Rebirth Brass Band's regular set. New Orleans Bands.net says, “The Iguanas play every Sunday when they're in town. Regularly featured are Walter "Wolfman" Washington, ReBrith Brass Band, File' Cajun band, Sunpie Barnes' Blues & Zydeco Show, Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, J. Monque'd Blues band, and more. Shows change nightly.” It is located at 8316 Oak St near where I used to go to the movies in the 50s. You can get pictures at this New Orleans Photo Art Gallery site. 504-866-9359
The Mid City Bowling Lanes has live music and has exclusive rights to the term Rock n’ Bowl. Thursday is zydeco night. I remember it as bowling only in the 50s when I went there with my friends. It is located at 4133 S. Carrollton Ave. 504-482-3133
Preservation Hall is located at 726 St. Peter St. since 1961. I went there in the late sixties when it was fairly new and again in the early 70s. I still have two autographed records from Sweet Emma’s Band. She was there the first time and had passed away by the time I returned but some of her band members were still around. Open nightly from 8:00 pm until Midnight. Sets begin around 8. 504.522.2841
Cafe Brasil at 2100 Chartres St. in Faubourg Marigny with the city's best Latin Night. The AOL City Guide calls it the undisputed king of the impromptu block party. This one will be new to me but I hope to get there. 504-947-9386
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