<\/p>\n
Coming out of the pandemic shutdown, New Orleans music venues and musicians obviously needed assistance.<\/p>\n
That need inspired 2021\u2019s inaugural NOLAxNOLA, an initiative to boost the local live music community by promoting a two-week series of branded shows at dozens of venues.<\/p>\n
Four years later, live music is still in a precarious position. The nightlife trend seems to be that patrons don\u2019t stay out as late or drink as much, which is detrimental to the bottom line of music venues. And if music venues don\u2019t stay in business, musicians can\u2019t make a living.<\/p>\n
So NOLAxNOLA has evolved into an annual two-week celebration of live music in New Orleans, showcasing the richness and diversity of the local music scene while also reminding fans not to take the existence of music clubs for granted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
As noted on prominent billboard advertisements around town, the 2025 edition of NOLAxNOLA kicks off this weekend and continues through Oct. 5.<\/p>\n
Produced via a partnership between New Orleans & Company, the official destination sales and marketing organization for New Orleans\u2019 tourism industry, and NOLAxNOLA founder Sig Greenebaum\u2019s SigFest Events, this year\u2019s series spans more than 50 participating venues and 300 shows.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2021, we understood how essential it was that we all banded together to support our vibrant artistic community in a time of need,\u201d Greenebaum said in a news release.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn true New Orleans fashion, we transformed a challenging moment into a historic one, showcasing just how resilient, adaptable, and innovative our city truly is. We\u2019ve continued to build on our successes over the past four years, developing NOLAxNOLA into an annual series. Each year, we partner with more venues and musicians to present every genre, every night, in every neighborhood \u2014 an homage to the breadth of New Orleans\u2019 diverse music community.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The 2025 NOLAxNOLA kicks off on Thursday at Tipitina\u2019s with a roast of Anjelika \u201cJelly\u201d Joseph. Joseph was a backing vocalist in an early incarnation of Tank and the Bangas before moving on to her own projects, including a long-running collaboration with rapper HaSizzle. For the past few years, she\u2019s been featured as the lead vocalist in Galactic, fronting the band on stages around the world.<\/span><\/p>\n Thursday\u2019s roast at Tipitina\u2019s is co-produced by Laugh Life Comedy. The host is Brett Siddell, a stand-up comic and host of SiriusXM\u2019s \u201cThe Busted Halo Show.\u201d Admission is free. Show time is 8 p.m.<\/span><\/p>\n Following her roast at Tipitina\u2019s, Joseph will head over to Le Bon Temps Roule on Magazine Street to perform at an after-party with the Soul Rebels. Show time is 10:30 p.m.; the cover charge is $20.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n NOLAxNOLA highlights in the coming days cut across varied genres and venues.<\/p>\n Mardi Gras Indian funk band Cha Wa celebrates the release of its new album, \u201cRise Up,\u201d with a show Friday at the Toulouse Theatre. Special guests slated to sit in with the band include the legendary Irma Thomas, Cajun-pop fiddle player and singer Amanda Shaw, harmonica player Jason Ricci and Wild Magnolias frontman Gerard \u201cBo Jr.\u201d Dollis. Show time is 9 p.m. Tickets are $25.<\/p>\n At first glance, New Orleans bounce queen Big Freedia is a seemingly unlikely collaborator for the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. But after two sold-out, well-received shows and a live recording with the LPO, Freedia is back for an encore at the Orpheum Theater on Friday. Evan Roider will serve as guest conductor for the show. Tickets are $50.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Legendary Meters drummer Zigaboo Modeliste plays a rare hometown show at Tipitina\u2019s on Friday. Zigaboo\u2019s Funk Revue for the night includes Chris Severin, Kurt Brunus, Kyle Roussel, Dr. Chris Rossbach, Lance Ellis, Tracy Griffin, Kathleen Moore, Earl Smith Jr., and Dave Easley. The band Toyesauce opens the show at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25.<\/p>\n On Oct. 2-3, NOLAxNOLA Talks, a collaboration with Relix Magazine, presents a series of free panel discussions about New Orleans music and the music industry at the New Orleans Jazz Museum from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.<\/p>\n