NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Wu-Tang Clan founding member GZA with the Phunky Nomads, former Prince bassist Nik West, Afroman and Naughty Professor with Chali 2na will headline the 17th Annual Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo on May 17-19. A comedy tent, which premiered in 2023, will expand this year to also offer cabaret acts. The Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo is known for its water and paddling activities and is produced by Friends of Bayou St. John, the non-profit organization that preserves and protects the historic waterway of Bayou St. John all year round. For more information and tickets, visit the Boogaloo’s website.
“We are excited to once again bring a top notch music line-up to our long-time home on the banks of Bayou St. John,” said Jared Zeller, festival producer, founder and president of Friends of Bayou St. John. Zeller staged the first Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo in 2006 as a way to bring together his Bayou St. John neighbors as they rebuilt and recovered from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, the festival has expanded and been held annually on the banks of Bayou St. John with the exception of pandemic year 2020.
The complete 2024 music line-up includes GZA with the Phunky Nomads, George Porter Jr. & the Runnin’ Pardners, Nik West, Morning 40 Federation, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Afroman, Lez Zeppelin, Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Naughty Professor with Chali 2na, ÍFÉ, Eric Johanson, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr., Rumpelsteelskin feat. Ed Williams of The Revivalists, Saxkixave, Suplecs, Pollo Asado: A NOLA Tribute to Ween, Raw Deal feat. Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Dave Jordan & the NIA, Sierra Green & the Giants, Tiny Dinosaur, Marina Orchestra, Hash Cabbage, Los Guiros and the St. Claude Serenaders.
Performances at the Comedy & Cabaret tent include Minx Burlesque, Josh Starkman’s Variety Hour, Eureeka’s Drag Brunch, Stoned vs. Drunk vs. Sober hosted by Isaac Kozell, NOLA Roast Battle hosted by Pickle, Lefty Lucy’s Burlesque Bingo, Comedy Beast with Amanda G and Allison Hotard, Matt Owens, and LGBT LOL with Ryan Rogers and Shep Kelly, Samantha Bednarz, Taj Washington, and Jason Leonard.
In addition to music on two stages and the Comedy & Cabaret tent, Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo boasts a curated arts market, a Kid’s Cultural Pavilion, a VIP Canopy Club, a Crawfish Eating Contest and food from numerous local vendors. This year, Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries will be on-site at the festival with a baby alligator petting zoo.
Recycling and other ecological initiatives are a hallmark of Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo. In 2023, the festival’s eco-friendly efforts resulted in 8,184 cans, 405 lbs of plastic, 3,000 lbs of glass and a full superstack of cardboard recycled.
Three-day weekend tickets are now available for $29.50 and can be purchased on the Bayou Boogaloo website.This is a General Admission weekend pass with in and out privileges. Limited quantity available. Kids under 12 are free. Early bird single day tickets will be available for $15.00 on March 28.
Also available for purchase now are 3-day Canopy Club VIP passes for $220.00 each. Canopy Club VIP passes allow re-entry plus access to the Canopy Club VIP area, which is a shaded oasis next to the stage with front stage access, elevated viewing deck, private restrooms with AC and a selection of complimentary beverages and local eats.
Weekend, single day and VIP Canopy Club passes will all increase in pricing as the festival approaches.
Festival-goers who look forward to boating and floating on Boogaloo days will need a regular-priced ticket to the festival for entry, which includes a $2.00 environmental fee that goes to preserving and protecting Bayou St. John. Any person or group who desires to build and place a homemade barge in the water will be subject to a $100.00 removal fee if the barge is left in the bayou more than 24 hours after the festival ends. Note this is a change from the barge policies of 2022 and 2023 when anyone who wanted to place a large, home-made barge in the water paid the refundable fee in advance.
To purchase tickets, go to www.thebayouboogaloo.com.