It’s a slow summer week for touring artists passing through New Orleans. But the clubs are nonetheless full with top-tier local talent.
THURSDAY
The NOLA Resistance Quintet, aka NRQ, consists of five veteran New Orleans musicians — Darrell Lavigne, Chris Severin, Herman LeBeaux, Roderick Paulin and Andrew Baham — who blend jazz, funk and improvisation with “an ear to the past with eyes to the future.” NRQ performs at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro on Frenchmen Street. Tickets start at $30.
Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco Roadrunners are featured for this week’s Zydeco Night at Rock ‘N’ Bowl. Admission is $17.
Since 2014, the western New York-based Dead Letter Office has staged a tribute to R.E.M., showcasing both hits and deep cuts. How legit is Dead Letter Office? Both R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck and bassist Mike Mills have sat in with the band. Hear Dead Letter Office at Chickie Wah Wah at 9 p.m. Thursday. Tickets start at $25.
At the Maple Leaf Bar, “Booker & Beyond: The Professor Tim Piano Series” presents Mikayla Braun at 6 p.m.; tickets are $13. Then at 8 p.m., the Maple Leaf hosts drum legend Johnny Vidacovich with saxophonist Tony Dagradi and bassist Grayson Brockcamp; tickets are $18.
Jazz guitarist Steve Masakowski.
FRIDAY
Radiators keyboardist, singer and songwriter Ed Volker fronts his Zeko Perdido project at Chickie Wah Wah. It features four members of the Iguanas — guitarist Rod Hodges, bassist Rene Coman, drummer Doug Garrison and saxophonist Joe Cabral — backing Volker on a deep dive into his vast catalog of hundreds of songs. Showtime is 9 p.m. Tickets start at $25 plus fees.
Circa 1980, modern jazz guitarist Steve Masakowski launched his Mars project to explore a fusion of jazz and electronic music. His collaborators included keyboardist Lawrence Sieberth and drummer Ricky Sebastian. They both appeared on the 1983 album “Masakowski-Mars,” which also featured saxophonist Dave Liebman, drummers Johnny Vidacovich and James Black, keyboardist Dave Torkanowsky and flutist Kent Jordan. In a city better known for more traditional jazz, “Masakowski-Mars” was something else entirely. Four-plus decades after Mars’ founding, Masakowski, Sieberth and Sebastian will reunite as Return to Mars for a night at Snug Harbor. With Pat Casey on bass, they’ll perform at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $40 plus fees.
Singer, trombonist, guitarist and songwriter Michael Mullins grew up around New Orleans music as the son of Bonerama’s Mark Mullins. Michael Mullins typically performs with his rock band, Zita. But he’ll debut under his own name at the Maple Leaf Bar on Friday, fronting a band that includes Dan Souvigny on keyboards, Eric Bolivar on drums, Bradford Lewis on lead guitar and Willie Martin on bass. Showtime is 9 p.m.; tickets are $18.
It’s White Linen Latin Night/Noche de San Juan at Rock ‘N’ Bowl with Javier Olondo & AsheSon celebrating their 20th anniversary. Tickets are $15.
The Stooges Brass Band headlines this week’s installment of the summer-long Free Fridays series at Tipitina’s. Very Cherry opens the show at 9 p.m. Admission is free.
Mahmoud Chouki performs on the Lagniappe Stage during the third day of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Saturday, April 25, 2026.
SATURDAY
Horace Trahan & the Ossun Express bring zydeco music and dancing to the outdoor Broadside, starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.
DJ RQ Away hosts one of his periodic Lagniappe parties at Tipitina’s. Doors open at 10 p.m.; the show starts at 11. Tickets are $25 plus fees.
Jazz pianist Keiko Komaki’s duo plays a free happy hour set at Snug Harbor at 4:30 p.m. Later on Saturday, Snug Harbor presents Moroccan-born stringed instrument master Mahmoud “Mood” Chouki and his New World Ensemble at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $40.
Catch Megan Martinez and the Love Muscles at the Maple Leaf Bar. Tickets are $18.
Joe Krown performs on keyboard at the Crescent City Blues and BBQ Fest in Lafayette Square in New Orleans, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.
SUNDAY
Keyboardist Lawrence Sieberth and saxophonist Christian Winther team up for a free happy hour show at 4:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor. Later on Sunday, Snug Harbor presents trombonist and composer Charlie Halloran & the Tropicales’ mix of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, classic Latin jazz, and modern New Orleans grooves. Tickets for the Tropicales’ 7:30 p.m. set are $30; tickets for the 9:30 p.m. show are $15.
The 4th Annual Swamp Pop show at Rock ‘n’ Bowl features Ryan Foret & Foret Tradition, the Bourg Bros, Tet Dur, Gary T, Don Rich, Steve Adams, Al “Lil Fats” Jackson and Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. Doors open at 3 p.m.; the show starts at 4. Tickets are $20.
Organist/keyboardist Joe Krown, best known for his long tenures with Gatemouth Brown and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, anchors a group at the Maple Leaf Bar that includes guitarist Papi Mali, drummer Eric Bolivar and bassist Cass Faulconer. Tickets are $18.
MONDAY
New Orleans entertainer Charmaine Neville and her band are at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; tickets are $30.
The Cuban-born musician Yusa.
TUESDAY
Havana-born guitarist, bassist, vocalist, tres player and composer Yusa moved to New Orleans in 2020. She’ll lead her World of Rhythms ensemble at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30.
WEDNESDAY
New Orleans-based Americana singer-songwriter Lynn Drury does a free happy hour set at 5 p.m. at Snug Harbor. Later on Wednesday, saxophonist Scott Johnson leads the Uptown Jazz Orchestra at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $45.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nola.com ’
