Live music is 24/7 in New Orleans, but we’ve cherry-picked a few can’t-miss shows for the month ahead. March is a month full of festivals at which live music abounds. From jazz to hip hop, local to national artists, here are the best shows to catch this March. 

Chanteuse: Women in Music 

Celebrate women in music with the Chanteuse series at the Jazz & Heritage Center this March. Throughout the month, enjoy performances from Sarah Quintana Band (March 3), Ever More Nest (March 4), The Nayo Jones Experience (March 10), and Sharon Martin (March 11). All performances start at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.) and tickets are $10. 

Danny Barker Banjo & Guitar Festival 

Featuring performances, masterclasses, and sessions from March 7-12, you can’t go wrong when choosing live music from the six pages of events at Danny Barker Fest. One event to highlight is the 2023 Danny Barker Festival Banjo and Guitar Summit at Tipitina’s featuring artists The Dixie Cups, Claude Carre, Detroit Brooks, and more on the evening of March 8. Check out the full lineup of events here.

Preservation Hall: A Celebration of Allan and Sandy 

Preservation Hall celebrates founders Allan and Sandy Jaffe on March 10-11. These two very special nights of performances feature artists including Mark Braud, Wendell Brunious, Shannon Powell, and the Preservation All Stars.  

Wednesday at the Square 

We love Wednesday at the Square for many reasons:  it’s a fundraiser for the Young Leadership Council, it features great local musicians and vendors, it’s free to attend, and it’s held every hump day throughout the height of spring, like a balm for your midweek blues. The 2023 spring series kicks off on March 15 and concludes on May 17. Artists include Water Seed, Maggie Koerner, Galactic ft. Anjelika "Jelly" Jospeh and more great local talent all at Lafayette Square. 

Paul Broussard
John Boutte with James Andrews and the Crescent City All Stars - Congo Square New World Rhythms Fest 2017

James Andrews & The Crescent City Allstars  

Two festivals, one weekend: Armstrong Park plays host to both the Congo Square Rhythms and Tremé Creole Gumbo festivals this March 24-26. James Andrews & The Crescent City Allstars kick off festival weekend on Friday, March 24 at the Jazz & Heritage Center (tickets $10). Enjoy free live music at the festival on Saturday and Sunday.  

NOEW Fest 

New Orleans Entrepreneur Week returns from March 27 – April 1. On the final three days of the week, enjoy the first-ever NOEW Fest. The lineup includes White Denim, Pell, Brass-A-Holics, and more. Learn more here