Guide to after-dark live music shows during 2026 New Orleans Jazz Fest’s first week | Louisiana Festivals

In any given week, New Orleans boasts more live music than just about anywhere. During the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, music venues kick into overdrive.

Here is a sampling of this coming week’s highlights.

THURSDAY

Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro and CubaNOLA Arts Collective present New Orleans-based Cuban trumpeter David “Davisito” Navarro and veteran Cuban drummer Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez, who has worked with McCoy Tyner, Carlos Santana, Steve Winwood, Tito Puente and New Orleans’ own Charles Neville and Los Hombres Calientes. At Snug Harbor, Navarro and Hernandez will be joined by percussionist Alexey Marti, bassist Max Moran, pianist Oscar Rossignoli and saxophonist Brent Rose. Showtimes are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., 30 minutes later than usual at Snug Harbor. Tickets are $45.

“Bayou By Bus” is hybrid of Jamaican/Marley music with a New Orleans/Nevilles spin as performed by the Nth Power Cyril Neville, Ivan Neville, Ian Neville, Papa Mali’s Shantytown, trombonist Mark Mullins & the Levee Horns and more at the Civic Theatre. Tickets start at $55.

Modern jazz saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr. presents a “Hornucopia” of three separate shows, with three different bands and styles, at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. First up is “Acoustic Jazz Lovers” at 7 p.m., followed by “Soul and Smooth Jazz Lovers” at 9 p.m. and finally the “Roots to Infinity Jam Band” at 11 p.m. Tickets are available for the individual shows; a pass to all three is $113.

It’s a double Zydeco Night at Rock ‘N’ Bowl with Chubby Carrier and Rosie Ledet; tickets are $20.

The 8 p.m. show at the Maple Leaf Bar is 007, the rocksteady-inspired band featuring drummer Jeffrey “Houseman” Clemens, guitarists Alex McMurray and Jonathan Freilich, and bassist Joe Cabral of the Iguanas; tickets are $24. The Leaf’s 10 p.m. show with George Porter Jr., Johnny Vidacovich and Luther Dickinson is sold out. Even later, at 1 a.m., funk and soul band Pocket Chocolate grooves at the Leaf; tickets are $24.

Americana duo Gillian Welch & David Rawlings put an acoustic spin on the Grateful Dead’s live “Reckoning” and more at the Saenger Theatre; tickets start at $30.

The 16th annual Threadhead Thursday at the outdoor Broadside features J and The Causeways and Dave Jordan’s Almost Acoustic. Showtime is 7 p.m.; admission is free.

STS9 is at the Joy Theater for the first of two consecutive nights on the “Human Dream Tour”; two-night passes are $95.

Singer-songwriter Kevn Kinney, of Atlanta rock band Drivin N Cryin, performs a solo show of his folkier compositions at Chickie Wah Wah at 8 p.m. He’ll be joined by Rurik Nunan on fiddle, singer-songwriter Kristin Diable and other guests. Tickets are $25.

At 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Chickie Wah Wah presents The Wild Tchoupitoulas 50th Anniversary featuring Cyril Neville, aka The Uptown Ruler. Tickets are $30.

FRIDAY

At the Fillmore, New Orleans funk legends The Meters reunite for the first time since founding keyboardist Art Neville died in 2019. Drummer Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste, bassist George Porter Jr., guitarist Leo Nocentelli and percussionist/singer Cyril Neville will be joined by Ivan Neville on keys. Ivan’s Dumpstaphunk opens the show. Tickets start at $149.

Kansas City-born, New Orleans-based blues-rock guitarist Samantha Fish, touring in support of her “Paper Doll” album, hits the House of Blues; tickets are $42.

Keyboardist Jon Cleary teams up with percussionist Pedro Segundo at Snug Harbor at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; tickets are $50.

Singer Cimafunk and his nine-piece band La Tribu traffic hardcore Cuban funk at the outdoor Broadside. Tickets start at $35 (an add-on for an after-party is available). Meanwhile, the Broadside’s indoor Pavilion presents “Songs and Stories From The Crescent City” with acoustic performances by John “Papa” Gros, Dayna Kurtz, Lilli Lewis and Gregg Hill; tickets are $20.

Country singer Charley Crockett is at the Saenger; tickets start at $60.

The Maple Leaf’s trio of shows opens with Skerik, Stanton Moore and Brian Haas at 8 p.m. ($24). The New Orleans Suspects are at 10 p.m. ($29). Naughty Professor caps off the night at 1 a.m. ($24).

Chickie Wah Wah hosts three shows for its “Fest-o-Matic” series. First up at 8 p.m. are southwest Louisiana slide guitar ace Sonny Landreth and The Iguanas ($45). Contemporary Cajun band the Lost Bayou Ramblers take over at 11 p.m. ($35). Finally, southwest Louisiana swamp rock ‘n’ roll guitar slinger CC Adcock & the Lafayette Marquis hit Chickie Wah Wah at 1:30 a.m. ($35).

Genre-defying trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Payton teams with Virginia collective Butcher Brown and saxophonist Karl Denson to celebrate the legacies of John Coltrane and Miles Davis at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market. Shows are at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; tickets start at $50.

Cowboy Mouth rocks Rock ‘N’ Bowl with blues-rock guitarist Jonathon “Boogie” Long; tickets are $30.

The Dip does a sold-out show at Tipitina’s.

SATURDAY

Pianist, singer and songwriter Judith Owen celebrates her new “Suit Yourself” album at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market with various configurations used on the album: the J.O. Big Band, her small jazz ensemble The Callers and the Tonya Boyd-Cannon Singers. Show time is 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $44.

Keyboardist Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen funk up The Broadside with special guest John Boutte and opening act Charlie & the Tropicales at 8 p.m.; tickets start at $35.

Trombone-powered funk-rock band Bonerama is at Rock ‘n’ Bowl with 16-year-old New Orleans piano prodigy River Eckert, who has just released his self-titled debut album. Tickets are $25.

Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews celebrates turning 40 with a sold-out, star-studded show at the Saenger Theatre.

Mac McAnally, the acclaimed Nashville, Tennessee, songwriter who was a longtime member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band, is at the House of Blues; tickets start at $71.

Better Than Ezra rocks the Fillmore; tickets start at $59.

The Washboard Chaz Trio plays a free show at Snug Harbor at 4:30 p.m. At 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. at Snug Harbor, keyboardist Kyle Roussel, whose credits range from the Preservation Hall Jazz Band to modern jazz ensemble the Headhunters, showcases his Grammy-nominated “Church of New Orleans” album with help from singer Erica Falls; tickets are $50.

The Desert Nudes do Western music at the Maple Leaf at 8 p.m. ($24), followed by the Honey Island Swamp Band at 10 p.m. ($29) and Zita at 1 a.m. ($24).

Nashville-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott is up first at Chickie Wah Wah at 8 p.m.; tickets start at $30. Soul and R&B singer Durand Jones is next at 10:30 p.m.; tickets are $47.50. At 1 a.m., Subatomic Sound System and Screechy Dan pay tribute to Lee “Scratch” Perry with help from Fishbone bassist Norwood Fisher at 1 a.m. Tickets are $30.

After a sold-out Galactic show early on Saturday at Tipitina’s, the Greyboy Allstars headline a late, late show at 2 a.m. Tickets are $49.50 plus fees.

SUNDAY

The Take Me To The River All-Stars present a funk/soul “journey through the heart of the Mississippi River’s greatest musical legacies” at the Joy Theater. With Galactic’s Rob Mercurio serving as musical director, the show features appearances by Irma Thomas, Cyril Neville, Carla Thomas, Ian Neville, Jelly Joseph, Omari Neville, Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr, Brian Richburg Jr., Joe Ashlar, Nick Etwell, Brad Walker, Lina Beach and Martin Shore. Tickets start at $30.

South Louisiana blues guitar hero Tab Benoit plugs in at Tipitina’s, with Dustin Dale Gaspard opening. Tickets are $40 plus fees.

Zachary Richard, the southwest Louisiana singer and songwriter with a French-speaking following all over the world, returns to Chickie Wah Wah at 8 p.m.; tickets are $50. At 10:30 p.m., Chickie Wah Wah presents British retro rock band The Heavy Heavy plus Lou Hazel; tickets are $25.

Keyboardist Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen funk up the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market; tickets start at $39.

Guitarist Steve Masakowski and pianist Lawrence Siebirth do a free, 4:30 p.m. show at Snug Harbor. At 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., keyboardist and singer Davell Crawford intermingles R&B, gospel and more at Snug; tickets are $45.

The Petty Krewe stages a tribute to Tom Petty at Rock ‘N’ Bowl; tickets are $22.

MONDAY

Jazz Fest takes Monday off, but the music clubs certainly don’t.

The House of Blues hosts the annual “Piano Night” fundraiser for community radio station WWOZ 90.7 FM. More than two dozen players will tickle the ivories, including Bill Payne of Little Feat, Jojo Hermann of Widespread Panic, Jon Cleary, Judith Owen, Joe Krown, River Eckert, Tom McDermott, Oscar Rossignoli, John “Papa” Gros, Larry Sieberth, Kyle Roussel, Al “Lil Fats” Jackson and Lilli Lewis. Tickets start at $120; the show generally sells out.

Shorty Fest presented by Acura, the annual fundraiser for Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews’ educational foundation, takes over Tipitina’s and the Napoleon Avenue neutral ground. Performers for the indoor, ticketed portion of the event, which starts at 8 p.m., include Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Cimafunk & La Tribu. Tarriona “Tank” Ball of Tank & The Bangas, Big Freedia, Jelly Joseph and Widespread Panic keyboardist JoJo Hermann are slated to sit in, along with students from the Trombone Shorty Foundation and Primera Linea. The outdoor Cultural Block Party starts at 5 p.m., is free and open to all ages and includes brass bands, high school marching bands and Mardi Gras Indians, plus food trucks and a kids’ area. Tickets for the indoor show are $100; a VIP option is also available.

New Orleans neo-soul singer Erica Falls is at the Maple Leaf Bar at 8 p.m. ($24). Meters bassist George Porter Jr.’s trio, augmented by guitarist Chris Adkins, is on at 10 p.m. ($29). Drummer Adam Deitch, organist Will Blades and saxophonist Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr. intermingle funk, jazz and Afro-New Orleans grooves at 1 a.m. ($29).

New York indie rock band Melt is at Chickie Wah Wah at 8 p.m.; tickets are $20. At 10:30, trumpeter Eric “Benny” Bloom & the Late Bloomers pay tribute to jazz-funk band the Crusaders; tickets are $25.

TUESDAY

Looking to get an early start on live music on Tuesday? At 4 p.m., the fourth annual “Zildjian Jam” at Tipitina’s gathers an all-star roster of drummers, presumably all of them using Zildjian cymbals. They include Adam Deitch, Nikki Glaspie, Terrence Houston with special guest George Porter Jr., Jason Marsalis, Stanton Moore, Herlin Riley, Deven Trusclair, Raymond Weber and more, plus percussionists Taku Hirano and Pedro Segundo. The top-tier house band backing them features John Michael Bradford, Tony Hall, Ivan Neville, Ian Neville, Ari Teitel, Brad Walker and Andriu Yanovski. Tickets are $25 plus fees.

Later Tuesday, Dragon Smoke, the all-star quartet of keyboardist/vocalist Ivan Neville, guitarist/vocalist Eric Lindell and Galactic drummer Stanton Moore and bassist Robert Mercurio, takes over Tipitina’s. Dat Mighty 9 featuring Big Chief Romeo opens at 9 p.m. Tickets are $35.

Singers and musicians brought together by Dr. Courtney Bryan’s Jazz Generations Initiative as “The Bamboula Jazz Cohort” perform at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor. The collective includes singer Tonya Boyd-Cannon, trumpeter Steve Lands, saxophonist Aurora Nealand, pianist Victor Campbell, bassist Max Moran and drummer Alfred Jordan Jr. Tickets are $45.

Grahame Lesh, son of the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh, starts a two-night stand at the Joy Theater. On Tuesday, he’s joined by Oteil Burbridge, Daniel Donato, the Preservation Hall Horns and Little Feat’s Bill Payne. Tickets start at $62.

Johnny Sansone, John Fohl and Anders Osborne team up for a sold-out collaboration at Chickie Wah Wah at 8 p.m. Then at 10:30 p.m., former Neville Brothers and Funky Meters guitarist Brian Stoltz stages a tribute to Jimi Hendrix with Samantha Fish and Human Drama’s Johnny Indovina; tickets are $30.

Javier Olondo & Asheson showcase Latin music at Rock ‘n’ Bowl; tickets are $10 cash at the door.

Alt-rock band Cake launches the first of two consecutive nights at the Saenger Theatre; Tuesday is nearly sold out, but discount tickets for Wednesday start at $30.

WEDNESDAY

Twenty years after “ChazFest” originated as a mid-week showcase of local bands not on the Jazz Fest schedule, the event is reborn as “ChazFest Goes Abroad” at the Broadside. The lineup features the Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, Greg Schatz & the Friggin’ Geniuses, the Happy Talk Band, the TBC Brass Band, The Remaining Geraniums, the Valparaiso Men’s Chorus, Louis Michot & Leyla McCalla, the Rough Seven, Helen Gillet and Rory Danger & the Danger Dangers. Tickets are $60.

The Radiators reunite at the Civic Theatre; tickets start at $73.

Pianist Mitch Woods & His Rocket 88s play a free 5 p.m. show at Snug Harbor. At 7:30 and 9:30 p.m., legendary James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic trombonist Fred Wesley teams up with trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra; tickets are $55.

New Orleans singer-songwriter Andrew Duhon holds court at Chickie Wah Wah at 8 p.m.; tickets are $30. At 10:30 p.m., Chickie Wah Wah has Sgt. Splendor featuring Eric McFadden & Kate Vargas; tickets are $30.

The all-star Daze Between Band holds court at a sold-out Tipitina’s.

As part of “Nightfest” at Café Istanbul inside the New Orleans Healing Center, Nolatet features James Singleton, Brian Haas, Johnny Vidacovich and Mike Dillon.