The First Week of NOLAxNOLA

big Freedia photo — Big Freedia, by Hunter Holder

NOLAxNOLA started on Thursday and will run until October 5. It started in 2021 as a way of drawing attention to shows booked to coincide with the Jazz Fest that COVID delayed until October. When the festival canceled outright, the clubs had some big ticket shows that needed all the promotion they could get.

Since then, NOLAxNOLA has become 11 days when New Orleans’ clubs show themselves at their best. This is its fifth year, and it has used its marketing muscle to get sponsors to make it possible to add guests to shows and designate many shows as NOLAxNo Cover. They’re trying to make it easy to experience the magic that happens in New Orleans’ live music venues, involving all genres and all parts of town.

Earlier this week, we posted a story on many of the NOLAxNo Cover shows which are also benefits for New Orleans non-profits including MaCCNO, the Roots of Music and ISLA Immigration. For these shows, they hope that attendees will spend some of the money that they would have spent at the door to help these non-profits.

Here are my highlights from the week ahead. There’s far more going on than I can possibly cover, so go to NOLAxNOLA for complete listings of shows and special events.

photo of zigaboo modiste — Zigaboo Modeliste

Friday starts with a lot of cool shows, but since I contribute to Antigravity, a voice for indie culture in New Orleans, I’m glad to see one of them is a benefit for Antigravity at the Okay Bar. The show will feature TV Poleshine, Wits End Brass Band, Sari Jordan and DJ Kerem. These are tough times for all media and indie media in particular. Since no one is better served by less media, help out and see a cool show if you can.

It has been a long time since Zigaboo Modeliste has headlined a show at Tipitina’s, but that changes on Friday when his Funk Revue (with Chris Severin, Kurt Brunus, Kyle Roussel and more) will perform. Toyesauce will open. (tickets)

The two-day Black Americana Fest starts at Broadside on Friday with Dom Flemons, Leyla McCalla, AJ Haynes and more performing on two stages. (tickets)

Last year, we wrote about Big Freedia’s collaboration with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and once again bounce meets the bassoon when they run that show back again at the Orpheum. (tickets)

Singer Judith Owen has never fit neatly in one genre, but her embrace of jazz traditions in the last decade has suited her well. On Friday, she’ll play two shows at Snug Harbor with the Judith Owen Quintet. (tickets)

On Saturday, the Black Americana Fest continues at The Broadside with music on three stages and performances by The Suffers, Sunny War, Nikki Hill and more. (tickets)

Comedian Punkie Johnson left Saturday Night Live after the 2024 season, and she’ll play what is being booked as a homecoming show at The Howlin’ Wolf because she grew up in New Orleans and attended McDonogh #35 High School. (tickets)

Musically, Nicholas Payton can go a lot of directions, but his birthday show at Sweet Lorraine’s will present him as part of a more conventional quartet with Riccardo Pascal (sax), Peter Harris (bass) and Peter Varnado (drums). Still, Payton rarely does anything the conventional way. (tickets)

The Toulouse Theatre will host “We Save Us,” a benefit for abortion access with proceeds going to The Louisiana Abortion Fund. Performers include Pell, Ani DiFranco, Seratones’ A.J. Haynes, Wendell Brunious and the Women of Preservation Hall, Bo Dollis Jr., Saya Meads, and Nidia Morales. (tickets)

On what should be a lovely night, Lost Bayou Ramblers will play an outdoor show at The Rabbit Hole (tickets), and James Singleton’s Malabar will perform at Cafe Istanbul with Johnny Vidacovich, Rex Gregory, Joe Ashlar, James Evans and Dr Sick.

Dayna Kurtz photo — Dayna Kurtz, by Zack Smith

Sunday will start early with Dayna Kurtz (pictured) at Bywater Bakery. That night, Pell and Friends with Alfred Banks will play a NOLAxNo Cover show benefitting MaCCNO at The Chloe on St. Charles.

Monday’s highlights are familiar ones: Jazz vocalist Meryl Zimmerman’s Biscuits & Jam jam session at Carrollton Station, and Alex McMurray and Joe Cabral at BJ’s Lounge.

The Blue Nile will also feature the kind of show we’re used to seeing during Jazz Fest nights with Stanton Moore, Eddie Roberts, and Robert Walter playing a set at 9 p.m. and Wil Blades, Ari Teitel, and Robert “Sput” Searight performing at 11. It’s a NOLAxNo Cover night of jazz/jam/funk benefiting The Roots of Music.

On Tuesday, Gasa Gasa will present Lasgrimas, who describe themselves as “melodic crust from Southern California.” Portia and Spiritiste will open. (tickets)

Also that night, the Bywater will have a block party that starts at BJ’s Lounge with C’est Funk at 7 p.m. and ends at Vaughan’s Lounge with LSD Clownsystem at 10 p.m. It’s a NOLAxNo Cover night benefiting NOLA to Angola.

On Wednesday, The Bill Frisell Trio is scheduled to open the renovated New Orleans Jazz Market, now known as The Jazz and Blues Market, with two shows. Tickets are on sale now, but I’d monitor this one because shows that were scheduled to take place last week had to be canceled because construction wasn’t finished.

If that gets shaky, the Maple Leaf will host the Happy Organ Hour with Stanton Moore, Joe Ashlar and guests. (tickets). Also that night, “Musicians for Helena” will be a fundraiser at Tipitina’s for Helena Moreno’s mayoral campaign with performances by Partners-N-Crime, Cha Wa, Brassaholics, Dawn Richard, Denisia and more. (tickets)

The Rabbit Hole has an ongoing jam session, “Uncovered,” where musicians play anything but covers, and on Wednesday it will be an R&B/hip-hop night with talent from Loyola including MCs Ja Fearce, Azure Skyz and Vaish, and vocalists Zipporah Israel, Noah Israel, and Laura Walls. It’s a NOLAxNo Cover show that will benefit New Orleans Women and Children’s Shelter.

On Thursday, DJ T-Roy will present “Bayou International Dancehall Showcase” with Ragin Rebelz, R-Tadax, Keva Holiday, Ado Soul, Sham Izi, and King of Fiya. It takes place in the Blue Nile’s Balcony Room, and it’s a NOLAxNo Cover show.

Also that night, Hispanic Satanic 666 presents a night of heavy metal with Visitant (pictured), Skulldozer, and Konstricted at Holy Diver (tickets). Irvin Mayfield also returns with “Back That Brass Up” at the Blue Nile with Trumpet Mafia and Ashlin Parker, Kermit Ruffins, Big Sam Williams and Brassaholics. (tickets)

NOLAxNOLA will continue through Sunday, October 4, but we’ll deal with the remaining nights next week.