The Big Easy’s fall festivals

19th September 2011   ·   0 Comments

By Geraldine Wyckoff
Contributing Writer

It wasn’t immediately apparent when the shift took place and New Orleans began boasting two distinct music festival seasons. It sort of sneaked up on us. Spring has long been considered the time for this city to celebrate in a big way its musical gifts to the world. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which heralded its 42nd anniversary, and the French Quarter Festival, which rang in its 28th year all in 2011, meant springtime was the musical right time in the city.

So here comes September, a month most notable for footballs flying and second lines rollin’. Now, added to that are some newish and brand new events to get folks out into the cooler environs of the month to hear some sounds, eat some great vittles and socialize with like-minded friends.

We’ll start with several events that are jumping on the fall festival bandwagon. One of the most intriguing is the Street Fare Derby. Held at the Fair Grounds Race Course on Saturday, September 24, it combines unique aspects of a plethora of food trucks, music and Quarter horse racing. Here’s the set-up. Food trucks, which have become the rage across the country due, in part, to television shows like “The Great Food Truck Race,” will be located between the track and the building where the statue of the jockey is located. (At the right side when looking at the Grandstand.) Participants include some dozen vendors with the likes of The Big Cheesy, Crepes a la Carte, Fork in the Road, Ms. Linda the Yakamein Lady and more.

Nearby, on the bottom floor of the Grandstand where, during the thoroughbred racing season betting takes place, Papa Grows Funk takes a stage from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. with Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers coming on at 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Fair Grounds presents a full-slate of Quarter horse races in celebration of the closing day of the three-week meet that began on September 7. Fair Grounds’ marketing manager James Mulvihill explains that the difference between thoroughbreds and Quarter horses is that the latter are noted for their speed though they lack stamina. “They can go 220 yards in a half of a minute,” he offers. “It’s the drag racing of the horse world.”

Considering the success of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, it’s always been a little surprising that the Fair Grounds hasn’t been utilized more during the track’s off-season. It is hoped by the organizers that the Street Fare Derby could become an annual event.

As always, entrance to the track is free and betting remains the same as during the regular season. Tickets for entrance into the Street Fare Derby area are $10 in advance and can be purchased online or $15 at the door. For more information go to www.streetfarederby.com.

Lafayette Square Keeps Rockin’

Another new addition to the autumnal festival scene is the Downtown Music & Arts Festival presented in conjunction with the Cutting Edge conference. The free, two-day event takes place at Lafayette Square on Friday, September 23, and Saturday, September 24. Hoping to catch some TGIF-spirited downtown office workers, the festivities get a hot start at 4:30 p.m. on Friday with the Brass-A-Holics Brass Band and keeps pumpin’ with zydeco accordionist Chubby Carrier at 5:10 p.m.

One of the most impressive aspects of the line-up is the variety of musical styles that are offered. Too often, straight-up jazz is lacking at small festivals held around town. Filling that bill with great style and grace is vocalist Stephanie Jordan who impressively will front a big band. Jordan, a member of one of New Orleans most talented musical families will take the stage on Friday at 6:05 p.m. A funkier musical family, the Batiste clan, holds a high profile at the Music & Arts Festival with percussionist Damon heading a group undoubtedly filled with his kin closing out Friday at 7 p.m. and his father, funkified keyboardist David Batiste & the Gladiators reigning as the final act on Saturday.

Saturday the music begins early with vocalist Frankie Ford of “Sea Cruise” fame coming on at 11 a.m. Again, the schedule reveals a mixed bag of styles of blues, gospel (the Gospel Soul Children at 4 p.m.) jazz/funk (keyboardist/vocalist Davis Rogan at 5 p.m.) and more.

The annual Harvest the Music concert series is also underway each Wednesday at Lafayette Square. This event goes way beyond the music as the proceeds from food and beverage sales benefit the very worthy Second Harvest Food Bank. The free shows run from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and the list of artists is again impressive. This Wednesday, September 21, features Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show with Bonerama double-billed with bluesman Alvin Youngblood performing on September 28. A few special Wednesdays to mark on the calendar include Irma Thomas on October 5 and Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and Orleans Avenue on October 12, 2011.

Find the complete schedule at www.harvestthemusic.org.

This article was originally published in the September 19, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper