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Music

'Let's Talk' with Samantha Fish: stage fright, Eric Clapton's invite, not naming her guitars

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 22, 2023

Samantha Fish routinely tears up stages with her blues-based style of electric guitar, including the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s main stage just ahead of Ed Sheeran.

Harpsichord recital is Saturday with works by Bach, Scarlatti, others

Staff report
Sep 21, 2023

A NOCCA and LSU graduate, keyboardist Paul Mauffray will present a baroque harpsichord recital?Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Chapel of the Holy Comforter Episcopal Church at UNO, 2220 Lakeshore Drive.

7 things to know before you go to Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' concert in New Orleans

By KASEY BUBNASH | Staff writer
Sep 21, 2023

Beyoncé's highly anticipated stop in New Orleans on her "Renaissance" world tour is just around the corner, a massive production that is expected to run nearly three hours and leave fans in awe.?

Beyoncé, Corinne Bailey Rae and more music in New Orleans for Sept. 21-27

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 21, 2023

One of the biggest shows of the year comes to the Caesars Superdome this week, while music clubs are busy as well.

Watch Jon Batiste cover Taylor Swift's 'Sweet Nothing' while promoting new album

BY CHELSEA SHANNON | Staff writer
Sep 20, 2023

The end is not coming for Jon Batiste. Last week, the Louisiana native picked up an MTV Video Music Award for his work with Lana Del Rey and is also promoting his new album "World Music Radio."

It takes a village to bring Beyoncé's Renaissance World Tour home to New Orleans

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 20, 2023

To understand what is required to stage a production as immense as Beyoncé’s 2023 Renaissance World Tour, go to her website’s home page. Click on the “tour” tab, then click “credits.”

Bachtoberfest celebrates music of composer al fresco

BY VICTOR ANDREWS | Staff writer
Sep 19, 2023

Get a taste of the season and a bit of musical merriment when the Musical Arts Society of New Orleans holds the fourth annual Bachtoberfest.

Photos: Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra opens season with new Conductor Matthew Kraemer

By CHRIS GRANGER | Staff photographer
Sep 15, 2023

Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra's new music director and conductor, Matthew Kraemer, made his debut at the Orpheum Theatre on Thursday (Sept. 14) night in New Orleans.

Now that New Orleans rapper B.G. is out of prison, will a Hot Boys reunion tour happen?

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 14, 2023

Cash Money Records rapper Christopher “B.G.” Dorsey has been released from federal prison after 13 years. Is a reunion tour by the New Orleans rap all-star collective the Hot Boys a possibility?

Jason Isbell, Odesza, Lil Baby, Dave Chappelle: concerts in New Orleans for Sept. 14-20

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 14, 2023

It’s a busy week for live entertainment, with three events at the Smoothie King Center and a bustling schedule at the clubs.

2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival to add Thursday to its first weekend

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 13, 2023

Music fans will need to make a little more room in their wallets and waistbands next spring: the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival plans to expand to eight days.?

Jazz concert series at Loyola salutes cornet player Connie Jones

BY VICTOR ANDREWS | Staff writer
Updated Sep 15, 2023

Traditional jazz will be the cornerstone of a new concert series at Loyola University honoring cornet player Connie Jones and his wife, Elaine.

Pop star Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS Tour scheduled to stop in New Orleans in 2024

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 13, 2023

Pop star and actress Olivia Rodrigo, fresh off her appearance on the cover of the latest issue of Rolling Stone, plans to bring her "GUTS Tour" to New Orleans in 2024.?

Jim Croce's son A.J., townsfolk remember the life of singer killed 50 years ago in Louisiana crash

BY TED LEWIS | Contributing writer
Updated Sep 14, 2023

To A.J. Croce, Sept. 20 isn't about lamenting the 50th anniversary of the death of his father, singer-songwriter Jim Croce, and five others in a 1973 plane crash following his concert at North…

New Orleans music festival shuts down, citing 'structural, financial' challenges

Staff report
Updated Sep 12, 2023

Citing "significant structural and financial challenges it currently faces," the annual Birdfoot Festival of chamber music will cease operations.

New Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra conductor Matthew Kraemer takes podium for season openers

BY VICTOR ANDREWS | Staff writer
Sep 12, 2023

When the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra opens its 2023-24 season at the Orpheum Theatre on Thursday, the baton will be held by Matthew Kraemer, the new music director for the symphony and on…

Quint Davis on longtime pal and Jazz Fest favorite Jimmy Buffett: 'He's one of our people'

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Updated Sep 12, 2023

Jimmy Buffett and Quint Davis first met as fellow fun-seekers in the bohemian French Quarter of the late 1960s.

Rapper and singer Rod Wave to return to the Smoothie King Center on his 'Nostalgia' tour

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 11, 2023

Rapper, singer and songwriter Rod Wave plans to return to New Orleans' Smoothie King Center a year after he filled it to capacity.?

Drake's New Orleans concert postponed again: it's 'logistically impossible,' promoter says

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 7, 2023

Will Drake’s It’s All a Blur Tour with 21 Savage ever make it to New Orleans?

Shamarr Allen's album release and more music in New Orleans for Sept. 7-13, 2023

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 7, 2023

New Orleans won’t host any major concerts this week, but the clubs are starting to shake off the summer doldrums.

'Let's Talk' with DJ Soul Sister: crate-digging, not taking requests, why vinyl rules

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 7, 2023

For more than 25 years, DJ Soul Sister has hosted the Saturday night “Soul Power” show on community radio station WWOZ 90.7 FM, spinning rare groove funk, R&B, soul and disco culled from h…

Lucky fans from Baton Rouge scored Garth Brooks' guitar during Superdome concert

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 6, 2023

Colby Villar and Austin Crowson left Saturday’s Garth Brooks concert in New Orleans with a far more impressive souvenir than a T-shirt.

New Orleans rap duo $uicideboy$ mixed darkness with some hope at the Smoothie King Center

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 4, 2023

The New Orleans underground rap duo $uicideboy$ is underground no more.

Garth Brooks worked hard in the Superdome, but where was the Jimmy Buffett tribute?

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 3, 2023

In the year since his Stadium Tour concluded, Garth Brooks has focused on his acoustic residency in Las Vegas, myriad podcast, broadcast and recording endeavors, and whatever else is necessary…

Jimmy Buffett loved New Orleans deeply, from Jazz Fest to the Saints to Allen Toussaint

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 2, 2023

Singer-songwriter launched his career in the city and never stopped having a good time here

Photos: Jimmy Buffett loved New Orleans; we loved him back

BY DAVID GRUNFELD | DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Sep 2, 2023

Jimmy Buffett loved New Orleans, and New Orleans loved him back. Buffett died at 76.

'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett, who turned beach-bum life into an empire, dies at 76

BY MARK KENNEDY | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sep 2, 2023

NEW YORK — Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who popularized beach bum soft rock with the escapist Caribbean-flavored song “Margaritaville” and turned that celebration of loafing into an empire…

Garth Brooks was his personable self at Sugar Bowl Country Kickoff news conference

BY KEITH SPERA | Staff writer
Sep 1, 2023

Thirty-two hours before Garth Brooks faces more than 50,000 fans at the Caesars Superdome, he stood before a much smaller audience.