The main music event this weekend is the Essence Festival of Culture in the Caesars Superdome. But there is much more music to be heard around town.
THURSDAY
The night before the Essence Fest kicks off in the Superdome, Tipitina’s and SiriusXM’s Heart & Soul channel host a “Night in N’awlins” featuring five contemporary R&B singers: Lalah Hathaway, Daley, Raheem DeVaughn, Keith Robinson and Coline Creuzot. Showtime is 7 p.m. Tickets start at $40.
Quiana Lynell is a classically trained vocalist from Texas who graduated from LSU and won the 2017 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. More recently, she toured with Jazz at Lincoln Center and continues to lead her own band, Lush Life, which draws on gospel, jazz, blues, funk and R&B. Lynell performs with Lush Life at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro on Frenchmen Street. Tickets are $35 plus fees.
Harmonica player and accordionist Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes and his Louisiana Sunspots are featured for the weekly Zydeco Night at Rock ‘N’ Bowl. Tickets are $17.
Stephanie Jordan performs “On a Clear Day” during a free concert presented by People United for Armstrong Park at Louis Armstrong Park on Thursday, October 4, 2012.
FRIDAY
Stephanie Jordan grew up in a household full of music thanks to her late father, avant-jazz saxophonist and educator Edward “Kidd” Jordan, and her musician siblings. She carved her own path as an especially refined jazz vocalist with a clear, strong voice and pinpoint control. Jordan sings at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Friday, backed by Max Bronstein on guitar, Darrell Lavigne on piano and Peter Varnado on drums. Tickets are $35 plus fees.
The Brass-A-Holics headline this week’s installment of the summer-long “Free Fridays” weekly concert series at Tipitina’s. Vegas Cola opens the show at 9 p.m. Admission is free.
At Rock ‘N’ Bowl, the Topcats perform a salute to the 1960s starting at 7:30 p.m. They’re followed later by rock band Meduzza. Tickets are $17.
Kevin Gates performs on the Power Plant Stage during the Buku Music + Art Project on Friday, March 22, 2019. (Photo by Michael DeMocker, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)
SATURDAY
Gruff-voiced Baton Rouge rapper Kevin Gates is at the Fillmore. Tickets start at $61.
The men of BRW sing Motown classics at Rock ‘N’ Bowl; tickets are $17.
Singer-songwriter Paul Faith arrived in New Orleans 14 years ago. Drawing on ‘90s grunge and classic folk rock, he released his first album, “The Smell When It Rains,” in early 2024. A year later, he released “Oh Well” with his band, the Barstool Prophets. His latest endeavor is an album of new protest songs written by New Orleans-based musicians, including Dusky Waters, Burris, Ever More Nest and Basch Jernigan. Faith and 15 other artists will celebrate the release of the protest album at Chickie Wah Wah on July Fourth, starting at 7 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are $20. Proceeds benefit Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy, which provides free legal services to people in immigration detention and their families.
New Orleans-based singer-songwriter Kelly “Love” Jones draws on Americana music and reggae to craft her songs. She’ll perform a free happy hour show at 4:30 p.m. at Snug Harbor. Later on Saturday at Snug Harbor, master New Orleans drummer Herlin Riley, who spent many years with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, powers his quartet for two sets, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 plus fees.
SUNDAY
Donald Harrison Jr. grew up in New Orleans surrounded by the Black Masking Indian tradition, but his approach to the saxophone is decidedly modern. He and his band present a “Soul and Smooth Jazz Lovers” show at the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard at 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $34.
From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Broadside’s indoor Pavilion hosts a celebration of Brazilian choro and samba music. Admission is free; Brazilian food and specialty drinks will be available for purchase. All ages are admitted.
Pianist Phil Melancon has held down long residences at the Columns Hotel and the Pontchartrain Hotel’s Bayou Bar, in addition to producing cabaret shows and writing jingles. He’ll play a free happy hour show at Snug Harbor at 4:30 p.m. Later on Sunday, Snug Harbor presents a pair of solo shows by New Orleans pianist Kyle Roussel at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; tickets are $30.
Gospel funk band Higher Ground hits the Maple Leaf Bar at 8 p.m.; tickets are $18.
MONDAY
Every Monday in July, reggae/ska band Firebrain plays a “Free Mellow Mood Mondays” show at the Broadside’s indoor Pavilion from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Firebrain is led by longtime south Louisiana music manager Rueben Williams and features members of 4 for Nothing, The Uppressors, the Jamaican Me Breakfast Club, the Creole String Beans, and Cha Wa. Admission is free.
Looking for a taste of real New Orleans before leaving town after Essence Fest? Catch singer Charmaine Neville and her band for their weekly Monday night residency at Snug Harbor, with shows at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30.
Or see Meters bassist George Porter Jr. and his trio, augmented by guitarist Chris Adkins, at the Maple Leaf Bar. Tickets are $18.
TUESDAY
Modern New Orleans jazz pianist and composer Michael Pellera is backed by an all-star band consisting of Grayson Brockamp on bass, Tony Dagradi on saxophone and Johnny Vidacovich on drums at Snug Harbor at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30.
WEDNESDAY
Pianist Tom McDermott and clarinetist Tim Laughlin team up for this week’s installment of the “Summer Music Series” in the lounge of the New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market in Central City. Tickets are $17.
Sullivan Dabney and the Muzik Jazz Band play a free happy hour show at Snug Harbor at 5 p.m. Later on Wednesday, Snug Harbor hosts the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, led by trombonist Wes Anderson IV, at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $45.
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