Carnival of Soul

If you’ve been to New Orleans either for the Jazz Festival, French Quarter Fest, Sachmo Fest, Crescent City Blues and BBQ Fest or have gotten your groove on at any of NoLa’s famous music clubs, you’ve most likely seen Dr. John, Fats Domino, The Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint, Aaron Neville, Trombone Shorty, Professor Longhair, Marcia Ball, Jimmy Buffett, the Treme Brass Band, Jon Batiste, Mavis Staples and so many other Jazz, Blues, Cajun and Zydeco artists.

But this year, Covid-19 has taken away the opportunity to experience live music events. Not to worry. You can now celebrate the best of Nola music from your air-conditioned living room or front porch anywhere in the world. Festing in Place – The Next Fest Thing (created by New Orleans’ favorite radio station, WWOZ in cooperation with the Archive of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation) will begin Labor Day weekend.

The event, like the Jazz Fest itself, will take place for seven days from 11am -7pm September 4^th – 7th and September 11^th -13th. The schedule will feature some of the great performances in the history of New Orleans music as well as interview segments highlighting the music, food, and the heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana. They’ll also share recipes for mouth-watering Louisiana cuisine.

But don’t wait until September 4^th. WWOZ will host the annual Groove Gala 2020 on Thursday September 3^rd for two full hours of live recorded music. You’ll be festing in your home, but go ahead and wear your favorite festival attire to celebrate WWOZ’s 40 years of broadcasting and Guarding the Groove. The amazing talent line-up includes Irma Thomas, Tank and the Bangas, John Boutte, Samantha Fish, Kermit Ruffins, Amanda Shaw with Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and Tuba Skinny. 

In past years, WWOZ’s sold-out gala was held in the heart of the French Quarter at the historic Le Petit Theatre and Tableau Restaurant, with room for only 350 Guardians of the Groove. This year, there’s no seating limit. The doors will be streaming to a worldwide virtual audience via WWOZ’s facebook page, the station’s You Tube, wwoz.org and broadcasting on local 90.7 FM. 

From the late 18th century on, women would wave white handkerchiefs (men would wave their hats) to demonstrate approval at public events such as processions or political rallies. Today, everyone at a Second Line parade waves their handkerchief in the air. So go ahead, get ready to wave your hankie, get your dancin’ shoes on, and Fest in Place with WWOZ. And if you’re itching for some live NoLa music on video right now, check out this.