Live music options this week include a three-day funk festival, a legendary country band and much more.
NOLA FUNK FEST
Friday-Sunday, New Orleans Jazz Museum
The inaugural NOLA Funk Fest serves up funk and funk-adjacent local acts on two stages on the grounds of the Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave. Friday’s lineup is the Funky Uncle Allstars, the New Orleans Suspects featuring singer Maggie Koerner, Irma Thomas, Ghost Note featuring bassist Tony Hall and Meters guitarist Leo Nocentelli’s Experiencing the Meters.
On Saturday, pioneering New Orleans funk band David Batiste & the Gladiators kicks off at noon, followed by Ivan Neville, the Krasno Moore Project, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and more.
Sunday boasts a tribute to the late Russell Batiste Jr. — who had been scheduled to perform — plus George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Erica Falls & Vintage Soul and the Bucktown Allstars.
Single-day tickets are $45; a three-day pass is $100 (VIP options are available). Additionally, the Passing the Torch Stage, which can be freely accessed along Barracks Street, features student musicians from Loyola University and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.
NOLA Funk Fest is the inaugural public event of the Louisiana Music & Heritage Experience, the proposed music museum along the Mississippi riverfront. The Funk Fest also includes symposiums on Earl King and Dave Bartholomew, plus a new exhibit on Bartholomew and Fats Domino that will be at the Jazz Museum for six months. Go to www.nolafunkfest.com for details.
The New Orleans-based Americana band Loose Cattle features, from left, violinist Rurik Nunan, guitarist Michael Cerveris, singer Kimberly Kaye, bassist Rene Coman (standing) and drummer Doug Garrison.
LOOSE CATTLE’S STAMPEDE! DEUX
3 p.m. Sunday, the Broadside
New Orleans-based Americana band Loose Cattle pulls together numerous musical strands. Guitarist and co-founder Michael Cerveris is a dual Tony Award-winner for his acting and singing in Broadway musicals. Co-founding singer Kimberly Kaye’s background includes performing arts training programs and covering the arts for various publications. Rurik Nunan is a classically trained violinist from Atlanta now based in New Orleans. And bassist Rene Coman and drummer Doug Garrison are primarily known as the Iguanas rhythm section. On Sunday afternoon, Loose Cattle presents a musical roundup called “Stampede! Deux” at the outdoor Broadside. In addition to Loose Cattle, the show features a solo performance by Lydia Loveless; Jay Gonzalez, of the Drive-By Truckers; pianist and songwriter Lilli Lewis; and Americana frontman Dave Jordan. The Stampede runs from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets start at $25.
Singer Randy Owen left, and bassist/vocalist Teddy Gentry of the country band Alabama.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY SHOWS
Deer Tick rocks Chickie Wah Wah on Thursday with Country Westerns opening ($55).
Country music institution Alabama headlines the Smoothie King Center on Friday as part of the Roll On 2 North America Tour. Jake Hoot opens the show, which was postponed from its original Feb. 24 date. Only the arena’s floor and lower bowl will be open for this reduced-capacity show. Tickets start at $35.
Cuban-born, New Orleans-based percussionist Alexey Marti powers his Carnival-themed show Friday at Snug Harbor, which now starts its shows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. nightly ($30).
Garage-pop duo Generationals headlines Tipitina’s on Friday ($25).
The Original Pinettes Brass Band fires up at d.b.a. on Friday ($20).
Blues guitarist Little Freddie King plugs in at Chickie Wah Wah on Friday ($15 advance).
The Lost Bayou Ramblers render adventurous Cajun music with a rock band’s energy at Tipitina’s on Saturday ($20).
The Rumble featuring Big Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. does Mardi Gras Indian funk at the Maple Leaf on Saturday ($15 advance, $20 door).
Traditional Cajun bandleader Bruce Daigrepont leads a fais do-do at Tipitina’s on Sunday starting at 5:15 p.m. ($10).
Phillip Manuel Swings the Beatles perform at the Zatarains/ WWOZ Jazz Tent Thursday, April 30, 2015, at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. (Photo by Dmitriy Pritykin, NOLA.com l The Times-Picayune)
Jazz singer Phillip Manuel and an all-star band “Swing the Beatles,” presenting a program of rearranged Beatles songs at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro on Sunday. His band for the night includes saxophonist Tony Dagradi, pianist Michael Pellera, bassist Max Moran and drummer Doug Belote. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for the early show, $20 for the late show.
The George Porter Jr. Trio plays at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Monday at the Maple Leaf ($15 advance, $20 door).
Michelle Malone and Paul Sanchez team up on Tuesday at Chickie Wah Wah ($20 advance).
Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers stage their “Halloween Special” at Chickie Wah Wah on Wednesday ($20 advance).