Last Updated: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 10:16 AM by Lauren Saizan
If you’re visiting New Orleans this April, you're doing it right - there are hundreds of shows to catch, from daytime festival sets to after-hours Jazz Fest shows that run into the wee hours of the morning. Live music is 24/7 in New Orleans, but we’ve cherry-picked a few can’t-miss shows for the month ahead.
French Quarter Fest is the largest showcase of Louisiana music in the world, and it takes place this year from April 11-14. Catch dozens of performances throughout the festival weekend, including sets from Irma Thomas, Ivan Neville, Chapel Hart Band, and more. Check out our Ultimate Guide to French Quarter Fest here and start planning.
Jazz Fest returns from April 25-May 5 with performances from The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Jon Batiste, The Killers, Vampire Weekend, and more! Check out our Ultimate Guide to Jazz Fest here.
Wednesday at the Square continues into April with four shows: TBC Brass Band ft. Jelly Joseph + Jamal Batiste Band (April 3), Erica Falls & Vintage Soul + Slugger (April 10), glbl wrmng + Grace Gibson (April 17), and New Orleans Suspects + J & The Causeways (April 24). The festival is free to attend and is held every Wednesday from 5-8 p.m. in Lafayette Square.
Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue return to the Saenger Theatre for another post-Jazz Fest jam session on Saturday, April 27 at 8 p.m.
Check out Festin’ at the Leaf 2024, which includes sets nightly from artists including Louis Michot, Miss Erica Falls, Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet, and many more.
Toulouse Theatre in the French Quarter has shows every single night after Jazz Fest. Check out The Funk Sessions series featuring performance from Stanton Moore & Friends, plus three nights of Tank and the Bangas.
From April 24 – May 6, enjoy Tipitina’s Festin’ 2024 with performances from The Iceman Special, North Mississippi Allstars, and more.
Check the Orpheum for their Jazz Afterdark Series to see who’s playing nightly after Jazz Fest.
On April 19, the New Orleans Jazz Market hosts a second installment of Jazz for Young Audiences. Topics discussed will include the history of New Orleans jazz, the art form and its rich traditions, and much more. For more information please email: info@thenojo.com.
For even more music, check out the WWOZ LiveWire Music Calendar, What to Do the Week Between Jazz Fest Weekends, and the Nolafunk series during Jazz Fest.
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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