Last Updated: Monday, September 30, 2024 4:27 PM by Lauren Saizan
October is Music Month in New Orleans, and it all kicks off with NOLAxNOLA, our citywide celebration of local musicians, music venues, and New Orleans culture. Catch your favorite artists and discover new ones at hundreds of live performances from September 26-October 6. After NOLAxNOLA ends, keep enjoying live music at one of our many fall festivals. Read below for our music picks of the month.
Catch this celebration of Cajun music at the Joy Theater on October 3. Tickets start at $25, plus fees.
This family-friendly event at the Broadside features an all-star lineup of musicians as well as delicious food and drink on October 5. Advance tickets are $12, plus fees.
Head to Toulouse Theater on October 5 for this extra-special event. Tickets start at $30, plus fees.
The New Orleans Jazz Museum in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park & NOLAxNOLA celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this September 15-October 15. On October 4, enjoy a performance from Fermín Ceballos inside the Jazz Museum’s Education Center at 2 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public.
Held at the University of Holy Cross (UHC) campus in Algiers on October 12, this free festival is open to the public. Come out and enjoy music from Dile Que NOLA, Mariachi Jalisco, and more. Attendees can also look forward to food vendors, community resources, and shopping.
It’s nearly impossible to discuss concerts in October without talking about one of the biggest ones of them all–Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. Tickets may be nearly impossible to find for the sold-out show, but for three nights over the last weekend in October, it’s going to be Taylor’s town.
National Fried Chicken Festival is back this October 5-6 at the New Orleans Lakefront. All kinds of fried chicken will be available for purchase. Performers for National Fried Chicken Fest include Bun B, Better Than Ezra, Teedra Moses, Cupid, Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more. Tickets for the fest are $20 daily.
Just across the Mississippi River from downtown New Orleans lies Gretna, and this October 4-6, a lot of folks will be headed that way. Gretna Fest returns with a lineup including Dierks Bentley, Natasha Bedingfield, The Revivalists, and several others. Tickets are $40 for a single day or $90 for a weekend pass.
Music, food, and community are all the focus of Gentilly Fest, a neighborhood festival held in Pontchartrain Park. Enjoy various vendors, plus live music, and activities for the kids on the weekend of October 11-13. Performers include Tory Sawyer & the Elementz, Hot Boy Ronald, and more. This fest is free to attend.
This October 11-13, Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest returns with three days of music, food, and art. Performers include Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials, Irma Thomas & the Professionals, Sierra Green & The Giants, and dozens of others. Let’s not forget the food—it’s equal parts music and barbecue festival! Enjoy free admission to the festival all weekend long, which takes place at Lafayette Square Park.
Get ready to groove to the beats of the funkiest musicians in New Orleans this October 18-20. NOLA Funk Fest is a celebration of Louisiana’s rich music history. Held at the Jazz Museum, performers include Tank and the Bangas, Big Freedia, Geo Leo, The Soul Rebels, and several others. Tickets start at $40.
Every year, Bayou St. John comes alive with Gospel music. From October 18-20, enjoy three days of handclapping, foot-stomping, and soul-touching Gospel music and praise. The festival is free to attend. Find the full lineup here.
Enjoy three days of music, food, and vibes in Congo Square this October 25-27 at Nola Reggae Fest. Performers include Dem Roots, Afro Soca Love, Denisia, and more. Tickets start at $25, plus fees.
Returning on October 26, Tremé Fall Fest is a celebration of community with food, live music, art, and performances. Tremé is the oldest African American neighborhood in the country. This free-to-attend festival serves as a fundraiser for St. Augustine Church and various community non-profits. Performers include The James Rivers Movement, James Andrews & The Crescent City All Stars, Doreen Ketchens Jazz New Orleans, and more.
For even more live music in New Orleans, visit the WWOZ LiveWire Music Calendar.
Lauren Saizan is a New Orleans native raised in the Gentilly neighborhood. In addition to being the editorial and online content manager for New Orleans & Company, she is also a member of Mélange Dance Company. Lauren has performed professionally in many venues across the city, including the Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, the New Orleans Museum of Art, Longue Vue House & Gardens, and Marigny Opera House. When not writing or dancing, she can be spotted sipping the Blue Eyes tea at French Truck, attending a concert downtown, or visiting a local library.
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