CRESCENT CITY BLUES FEST

Celebrating New Orleans Bluesy Heritage

New Orleans, LA – As one of a handful of festivals presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the Crescent City Blues Fest brings music legends to Lafayette Square for a weekend of live entertainment. First held in November 2006, the festival attracts more than 5,000 people and pays tribute to some of New Orleans’ blues hometown heroes. “New Orleans is where the blues was born or that’s at least what they say in ‘Mardi Gras Mambo.’ We think it’s about time we had a major festival that pays tribute to this important part of our culture,” said Don Marshall, executive director of the Jazz & Heritage Foundation. Some of the blues legends from New Orleans’ own backyard have included Houma-based, Grammy-nominated guitarist Tab Benoit and Baton Rouge blues man Tabby Thomas. Walter “Wolfman” Washington, who has been on the local music scene since the ‘70s, mixes blues with funk and howls on the stage while the harmonica-driven beats of the Rockin’ Jake Band always gets the crowd shaking. Other local performers that have graced the stage here include John Gros, Little Freddie King, Washboard Chaz, Henry Gray and Marva Wright. The festival also features a “Juke Joint Stage” that showcases rarely-heard artists in a more intimate setting. Here, an onstage interviewer provides some background to the interesting personalities. Past performances at the Juke Joint have included the foot-stompin’ boogie of Robert Belfour and the bluesy licks of Rockie Charles and Rodney “Guitar Slim, Jr.” Armstrong. Offering performances like this in a stripped-down setting lets music fans experience the blues as it was meant to be. As with any event in New Orleans, there will be plenty to eat and drink along with good times, dancing and fun for all. The Crescent City Blues Fest is one of a number of festivals presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and encouraging the music, arts, culture and heritage of communities in Louisiana. For more information on the event, call (504) 558-6100 or visit www.jazzandheritage.org. The New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation promotes the city as a leisure tourism destination throughout the year. Annually, NOTMC’s marketing campaigns include strategic print, broadcast, and Internet advertising and public relations. Web sites: www.NewOrleansOnline.com; www.NewOrleansMuseums.com; www.HearNewOrleansMusic.com.

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