Happy Weekend with Awards, Stompers, Pee-Rades and Loads of Music!!

It's time to start you're Mardi Gras kick-off weekend - what's going on?!

Friday Fun!

Celebrate OffBeat Magazine's 25th anniversary at the 2012 Best of the Beat Awards! Tonight at 6:00 pm at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.)
Featuring performances by:
• Mannie Fresh & Dee-1
• The Revivalists
• Big History
• Ingrid Lucia & special guests
• Debauche
• Helen Gillet's Accordion-off
Plus...A once in a lifetime tribute to the legends of New Orleans R&B led by Ernie Vincent featuring the music of Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Frankie Ford, Jean Knight, Robert Parker, the Dixie Cups and Al "Carnival Time" Johnson.

The 3rd Annual Sweet 610 Debutante Ball is upon us! Tonight you're gonna dance until your golden shoes fall off. This year’s theme is “Headbangers Ball” and will once again be held at the Sugar Mill located at 1021 Convention Center Blvd. from 8pm to Midnight. This year’s theme is sure to bring some incredible costumes, but rest assured, you’ll still hear your favorite 80’s dance music! You will dance the night away to the radical sounds of Band Camp and DJ Hammer. We’ll have food from your favorite local restaurants, an Open Bar and Draft Beer from Budweiser. Most importantly, you’ll get to see the 610 Stompers’ 2013 dance moves for the very first time. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door.

The Bywater neighborhood remembers musicians tonight with a block party between Vaughn's (4229 Dauphine) and BJ's Lounge (4301 Burgundy) at 6:00 pm with Little Freddie King, Meschiya Lake, King James and the Special Men, R. Scully’s Rough 7, the Lonely Lonely Knights, the Dana Abbott Band, the Chinese Drywall Band, Krewe de Guza and the New Orleans Hellhounds, the permutation of the Morning 40 Federation that backed dirty bluesman Andre Williams on his 2008 New Orleans-recorded album "Can You Deal With It?" Please check out Alison Fensterstock's article - here.

Saturday Fun and Music!

Beer and Music!

Of course, there's more pre-parade partying to be done!!

It's a Party with NOLA Brewing Company for the Release of Flambeau Red Ale. The day has finally arrived to enjoy "Louisiana's Best Beer" (as rated by Beer Advocate)! Come on out to Maison on 508 Frenchmen to enjoy a pint with us and pregame for Krewe du Vieux. There will be live music (Stooges Brass Band from 2-3:30pm and Shotgun Jazz Band 4-7pm!), giveaways and Flambeau will be on special from 2-4pm for $3/pint. Yea for beer!!

Parades!

After all the beer and music it's time for the pee-rades!!  Krewe du Vieux gets kickin' in the Marigny at 6:30 pm with the theme "Krewe de Vieux Comes Early"...This satirical group has some of the best costumes, floats and kooky throws you'll ever see in all of Carnival!  There's a new route this year so click on the link so you don't miss out on the craziness!!  http://www.kreweduvieux.org/parade.html

A newer Krewe - Krewe DeLusion follows immediately after Krewe du Vieux, and joins in on the satirical fun.  This group also starts down Royal Street, but turns a block  earlier and in the opposite direction on St. Peter St., then two more  rights on Bourbon and St. Philip streets, then back towards the Marigny  on Decatur before ending just across Esplanade Avenue.

More Music!


Frenchmen Street is kickin' with music after the big peerades!  d.b.a. (618 Frenchmen) has Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns at 7:00 pm and then come on back for the late show with George Porter Jr. & His Runnin' Pardnersat 11:00 pm - they're sure to please (there's a small cover for the Chief - but you don't want to miss the show

The Spotted Cat (623 Frenchmen) has a triple header starting early  with Russell Welch Band at 3:00 pm, Panorama Jazz Band at 6:00 pm and top off the night with Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns again at 10:00 pm!!

And curb your parade hunger for food and music over at Three Muses (536 Frenchmen)...Get some  yummy food and listen to the sounds of the Hot Club of New Orleans at 6:00 pm and stay on for the Gal Holiday at 10:00 pm.

Vince Vance, the legendary singer with the Mount Everest hair, will have his annual 39th birthday Celebration and roast Saturday night, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Rock 'n' Bowl (3000 S. Carrollton Ave.)  Starring the birthday boy himself Vince Vance and also starring… New Orleans treasures Meschiya Lake, Irma Thomas, Ingrid Lucia, Debbie Krantz, Amanda Shaw, Faith Becnel and Aaron Foret!!

Sunday Fun and Music!

It's Super Bowl Sunday, but let's have some fun before the game too!!

Brunch and Music!

Grab some delicious brunch and some great music over on Esplanade Avenue at the Backroom at Buffa's (1001 Esplanade) with Some Like it Hot stirrin' up the pot at about 11:00 am...And don't forget about The Columns Hotel (3811 St. Charles) on the other Avenue with some more yummy brunch and Chip Wilson!  Nothing like some Bloody Marys and some great music!

After brunch take a "free ride" over the might Mississippi to the Old Point Bar (545 Patterson) in Algiers...they've got the Brent Walsh & Romy Kaye at 3:30 pm!  Stay on for the big game too!

Alrighty, well that should keep you busy this today and tomorrow...If you're looking for more fun stuff to do...check out the WWOZ Livewire -  http://www.wwoz.org/new-orleans-community/music-calendar!!



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