Last Updated: Tuesday, April 4, 2023 12:03 PM 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 13-16. Catch dozens of performances throughout the festival weekend, including sets from Irma Thomas, Samantha Fish, Tank and the Bangas, Flow Tribe, and more. Check out our Ultimate Guide to French Quarter Fest here and start planning.
Jazz Fest returns from April 29-May 7 with performances from Lizzo, Dead & Company, Ed Sheeran, Santana, The Lumineers, Kane Brown, Jon Batiste, and more! Check out our Ultimate Guide to Jazz Fest here.
Wednesday at the Square continues into April with four shows: Mia Borders + The Quickening (April 5), The Suffers + Trumpet Mafia (April 12), The Iceman Special + Zita (April 19), and George Porter Jr. & Runnin' Pardners + Joy Clark (April 26). 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 with special guests Dumpstaphunk on Saturday, April 29 at 8 p.m.
Take Me to the River is a film celebrating the music of both New Orleans & Memphis. See the stars of the film live in concert on Saturday, April 29 at the Joy Theater. Irma Thomas, George Porter, Jr., Ivan Neville, Bobby Rush, and more are scheduled to perform. This late-night show begins at 10 p.m.
Toulouse Theatre in the French Quarter has shows every single night after Jazz Fest. Check out the Soul Rebels on April 28, Stanton Moore + Ivan Neville + friends on May 4, and Big Freedia on both May 5 and 6. Check out the lineup here.
From April 27 – May 8, enjoy Tipitina’s Festin’ 2023 with performances from Anders Osborne, Galactic, North Mississippi Allstars, Dumpstaphunk, and more. Check out the schedule here.
The legendary norteño band, Los Tigres del Norte, bring their Siempre Contigo Tour to New Orleans on Saturday, April 8. Catch this fun and lively band at the Smoothie King Center.
For even more music, check out the WWOZ LiveWire Music Calendar, 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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