Satchmo SummerFest moves to Jackson Square in New Orleans' historic French Quarter; NEW 'Back o' Town Stage' with swing dance lessons inside Louisiana State Museum's Arsenal; Satchmo Symposium and other special events move to Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré;
'Pops' Playhouse for Kids' at Louisiana State Museum's Arsenal (next to the Cabildo), and more!
Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron is moving to the heart of the French Quarter! Join us in Jackson Square for 16th annual event on August 5-7, 2016 where two music stages, shaded areas, and authentic Creole cuisine from the area's finest restaurants will await. Click here for menus, music schedule, special events, and more!
Introducing the New 'Back o' Town' Stage
This year Satchmo SummerFest grows with the addition of a third stage; the new 'Back o' Town' stage is located inside the air-conditioned Louisiana State Museum's Arsenal (600 St. Peter Street, 2nd floor). The 'Back o' Town' will feature a dance floor, NOLA Jitterbugs, and live dance music on Saturday and Sunday.
Pops' Playhouse for Kids Moves to Louisiana State Museum's Arsenal
Pops' Playhouse crowd-funding campaign is now on Kickstarter! Pops' Playhouse for Kids brings two full days of New Orleans-themed educational and entertaining activities, including umbrella and coconut decoration, instrument creation, and a book nook hosted by New Orleans Public Library.
Click here to donate. All donations will be matched dollar for dollar by a generous Satchmo SummerFest fan and go directly towards purchasing the arts & craft supplies, coconuts, and umbrellas for these activities. Help us raise money so that each child can create something they will cherish while also learning and celebrating the musical heritage of New Orleans and the life and legacy of Louis Armstrong!!
Satchmo Symposium to Include Pulitzer Panel Celebrating the 100-Year Anniversary of the Pulitzer
The Satchmo Symposium, three days of fascinating seminars with internationally-respected Satchmo scholars and musicians, will be held inside Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré. This year's Symposium includes a special panel developed in partnership with the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and 2016 Pulitzer Prize Centennial Campfires Initiative: Celebrating 100 years of Pulitzer - From New Orleans to the World Stage: The Artistic Journeys of Louis Armstrong and Wynton Marsalis. The panel, comprised of saxophonist, educator, and longtime colleague of Wynton Marsalis, Victor Goines, music historian Bruce Raeburn, and award winning jazz journalist Dan Morgenstern, will explore and contrast the approaches, outlooks, and outputs of both artists - as well as how they were influenced by New Orleans; it will be moderated by New Orleans journalist (NOLA.com|The Times-Picayune) and historian James Karst.
On Friday, August 5, Grammy Award-winning artist Catherine Russell will present From Satchmo's Knee to a Grammy. Russell's father was pianist, bandleader, and longtime Louis Armstrong musical director Luis Russell. Catherine, who met Louis Armstrong when she was very young, has toured the world as a backup singer with such top artists as David Bowie, Jackson Browne, and Cyndi Lauper - and over the last 10 years has released five critically-acclaimed CDs as a solo artist and bandleader. Catherine makes her Satchmo SummerFest debut on stage at Festival and will talk about her fascinating musical heritage and wide-ranging career with interviewer Fred Kasten.
A full Satchmo SummerFest Symposium schedule can be found at fqfi.org/satchmo.
Terry Marks, Sr. is the 2016 Satchmo SummerFest Poster Artist
New Orleans native Terry Marks is president of the Metairie Art Guild, as well as an active member of the New Orleans Art Association and Jefferson Art Guild. After obtaining a degree in Advertising Art, he opened a sign business in 1976, and his work can be seen all over the region. The original poster art, a vibrant portrait of Louis Armstrong with a retro, sub-tropical vibe, was carved from wood salvaged from the old Dixie Brewery. "The wood was over 200 years old. I felt that only a New Orleans legend such as Louis Armstrong would be a fitting subject for this piece," Marks said.
The poster is now available online- click here to purchase!
'Spirit of Satch Awards' and Other Special Events
The 16th anniversary of Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron also brings the return of the 'Spirit of Satch' Awards. Winners are champions of jazz and New Orleans music in a variety of areas, including 'Jazz Education', 'Keeping Traditional Jazz Alive and Well', and 'Preserving our Musical Legacy'. The winners will be announced at festival on Friday, August 5 during the opening ceremony on the 'Red Beans and Ricely Yours' stage.
In addition to music and education, Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron showcases New Orleans' most important indigenous traditions, such as a Sunday morning Jazz Mass at the historic St. Augustine Church in Treme and a traditional second line parade. Other special events include an opening night concert at Le Petit Theatre and a reception at the beautiful and historic Omni Royal Orleans Hotel (the official hotel of Satchmo SummerFest). Click here to purchase tickets to the opening night festivities.
Daily admission to Satchmo SummerFest is $5 per person (kids 12 and under are free). Volunteer registration is now open- click here to learn more!
For more information on FQFI festivals and events visit fqfi.org or call 504-522-5730.