Looking for more to do this week? Check out the latest Gambit calendar information at calendar.gambitweekly.com.
donut party
Donut Fest returns with over 15 vendors offering sweet and savory donuts, a live music stage, kids’ stage and more on the festival grounds in City Park. The musical lineup includes Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Shamarr Allen, Water Seed and more. The Beignet Fest Foundation uses proceeds from the event to support area programs for children with developmental delays. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 24. Admission is $20. Children under 13 enter free with an adult entry. Visit beignetfest.com for more information.
Red Bulls Street Kings
The Battle of the Brass Bands features Big 6, Young PinStripe, Kings of Brass and Sporty’s Brass Band in a traditional second line round and paired with MCs like Alfred Banks, $leazy EZ and more. Rappers Curren$y and Mia X are part of the jury. The contest begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 24 at the Music Box Village. Find tickets via musicboxvillage.com.
thundercat
Thundercat’s fourth album, “It Is What It Is,” won the 2021 Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album — but it’s a mismatched label for a style that simply can’t be easily described. There are deep, funky bass grooves, relaxing electronic vibes, clean bass virtuosity and plenty of humor. Whatever his name, Thundercat is a fun performer and often travels strange. It plays at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20 at the Orpheum Theater. Tickets start at $30 via orpehumnola.com.
New Orleans Burlesque Festival
The festival features a Queen of Burlesque competition and various styles – from classic styles with live music to bolder modern visions – of burlesque from local and guest performers. Performances are at the House of Blues from Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25, with select events available online. Visit neworleansburlesque.com for tickets and information.
Dr. John drew inspiration from country and western influences for his latest studio album.
Old Farka Touré
Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré follows in the footsteps of his father, Ali Farka Touré, one of the first leaders of the desert blues. He has recorded his more modern blend of blues, world music, Malian folk and more in the United States in recent years. It performs at 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 22 at the Broadside. Tickets $25 through broadsidenola.com.
Cultural collision
More than 60 local performing arts organizations, community radio stations, museums, parade groups and more showcase their upcoming seasons, memberships, volunteer opportunities and more during a happy hour at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center. Participating bands include Le Petit Theatre, Dancing Grounds, Disco Amigos, WWNO, The NOLA Project and New Orleans Film Society, and there are a few short preview performances. From 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Visit culturenola.com for more details.
Earth, Air and Fire
The legendary soul, funk and R&B band have sold over 100 million albums in their more than five decades together. It’s always a big crowd pleaser at Jazz Fest. Earth, Wind & Fire performs at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20 at the Saenger Theater. Find tickets via saengernola.com.
Oktoberfest at the Faubourg
Brasserie Faubourg is kicking off two weekends of Oktoberfest celebrations with Oktoberfest beers, music from the Bayou Bavarians and The Brats, a beer contest, games, festival food from local vendors and more. Events run from noon to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, Sunday, September 25, and October 1 and 2. Visit faubourgbrewery.com for more information.
Collective Soul and Switchfoot
For much of the 90s, you couldn’t avoid a Collective Soul song. And the same could be said for Switchfoot in the early 2000s, with hits like “Meant to Live” and “Dare You to Move.” The two groups have recently released new records – Switchfoot’s “Interrobang” released in August 2021 and Collective Soul’s “Vibrating” released last month – and are touring together. They play at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. Tickets are $49.50 through mahaliajacksontheater.com.
The exhibit covers 150 years of photography by black American artists and includes more than 250 objects.
Jack White
Earlier this year, Jack White released his fourth and fifth solo albums, shifting from the blues and garage rock he became known for on ‘Fear of the Dawn’ to a softer folk rock style on ‘Entering Heaven Alive’. The idiosyncratic rocker is now on the “Supply Chain Issues” tour, with an 8 p.m. show (doors 7 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 23 at the Fillmore. Tickets start at $65 at fillmorenola.com.
Eric Vloeimans and Will Holshouser
Earlier this month, Dutch trumpeter Eric Vloeimans and American accordionist Will Holshouser released their second duo album, “Two for the Road”, recorded live while touring the Netherlands in 2021. The duo – both virtuosos in their own right – have a unique sound influenced by a range of styles, from jazz to folk music traditions and chamber music. Now touring North America, they perform at 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 24 at the Happyland Theater with Will Thompson and Chris Alford, and at 7 p.m. on Sunday, September 25 at the Broadside with Brad Walker and Mahmoud Chouki. Find tickets and more information at scatterjazz.com.
Diana Krall
Grammy-winning pianist and singer Diana Krall returns to New Orleans for an 8 p.m. performance on Friday, September 23 at the Saenger Theater. Tickets start at $55 via saengernola.com.
Buffalo King
Rochester, New York, desert rockers King Buffalo released their spaced fifth album, “Regenerator” earlier this month. The trio is now touring the country with a 9 p.m. show on Sunday, September 25 at Gasa Gasa. Tickets are $15 through ticketweb.com.
“United States of Amnesia”
Artist José Torres-Tama will present a new one-man show, “United States of Amnesia: Dare to Remember,” at 8 p.m. Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24 at the Ashe Powerhouse Theater. Torres-Tama’s magical realist approach leaps through history to explore how a capitalist empire seduces its people into forgetting about inequality, corruption, and white supremacy. The show was co-commissioned by GALA Hispanic Theater with the Ashe Cultural Arts Center. Tickets are $10 through ashenola.org.
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
For their Friday, September 23 show at Tipitina’s, Big Sam’s Funky Nation will be joined by singer Erica Falls, emcee Alfred Banks and DJ Black Pearl. The Roccadile group will also make their debut at Tip. The show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $22 through tipitinas.com.
Lilli Lewis
American singer-songwriter Lilli Lewis along with Jeremy Joyce and Ever More Nest recently hosted NOLAxNashville, a Nashville showcase of American artists from New Orleans that also included Lynn Drury, Shawn Williams, Loose Cattle and Mia Borders. Now you can catch Lewis at home at 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, during the next Piano Hour at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Admission is free and the show will be streamed on facebook.com/nolajazzmuseum/live.
Michot’s Melody Makers with Quintron
The electrified Michot Cajuns Melody Makers will be joined by mad New Orleans Quintron for an 8 p.m. show on Saturday, Sept. 24 at The Broadside. Tickets are $20 through broadsidenola.com.
Foodie events fill the fall calendar in New Orleans.
