Jazz and Heritage

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, but it’s also a great month for music of all kinds in New Orleans. Between French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest, you can hear everyone from Kermit Ruffins to Drake perform live in the space of a few weeks.

The Mudbug Media team took full advantage of our proximity to French Quarter Fest this year, and we plan on taking Jazz Fest by storm on opening day.  With so much great food, music and culture floating around, there’s no way we’re going to miss the party.

Ernie Vincent Funks up the Fest

This year Mudbug Media sponsored New Orleans funk guitar mainstay Ernie Vincent and the Top Notes at French Quarter Fest. Vincent and company kicked things off on April 9^th with a great show in the courtyard of the Old U.S. Mint.

It was a little bit early in the day for funky guitar and smooth sax solos, but Vincent delivered a great set, getting the crowd moving as the afternoon began to warm up and the beer began to flow.

Check out his latest CD at the Louisiana Music Factory.

French Quarter Fest is always amazing with its perfect weather, solid lineup of great local acts, Abita beer, tons of crawfish and general celebration of everything New Orleans.  A perfect opening act for Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest oozes “only in New Orleans” moments.

The Main Event

Friday, April 23 will be Mudbug Media Day at Jazz Fest…at least that’s what we’re calling it.  Mudbug Media president Scott Zeitzer is a die-hard Jazz Fest fan, so much so that he buys a ticket for every one of his employees every year and gives us all a free vacation day to enjoy the fest.

We had a direct connection to French Quarter Fest this year through our sponsorship of Ernie Vincent, but we know a guy at Jazz Fest too.  Project Coordinator Bertha Chicas’ boyfriend George Gekas will be making his Jazz Fest debut this year as his band The Revivalists, and you can bet the entire Mudbug Media team will be front and center.

You can download The Revivalists’ Live at Tipitina’s album for free here.

We are also pitching in to help Café Reconcile staff the Strawberry Lemonade booth during the second weekend of Jazz Fest.  In addition to donating our time and skills to build a website for Café Reconcile, we like to help out in any way we can, either in the board room or at the Fair Grounds.

So while it’s a good time for music fans in New Orleans, it’s an even better time for Mudbug Media employees.  The only drawback is that April only happens once a year.