Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival

What’s better than October in New Orleans? Three days of finger-licking-good BBQ served up in beautiful Lafayette Square to the sounds of live blues: that’s what. Couple that with the handmade wares of talented local artisans and perfect autumn weather and you have the makings of one of the best free festivals in a city that is famous for them. 

At last, the Louisiana summertime releases its grip! The first crisp mornings and low humidity afternoons of fall are a welcome reminder for festival-starved outdoor music lovers that it’s time to gather and celebrate again. Where to go? For the finest Louisiana live blues music, festive and flavorsome food, and exquisite handmade artistry, follow the clouds of richly scented smoke to New Orleans’ Lafayette Square Park when the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival returns for a sixteenth time, the weekend of October 13—15. 

Established in 2006 to acknowledge New Orleans’ pivotal role in making the blues and R&B some of the most influential musical genres in the world, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival pays homage to the genre built around 12 bars and bent-notes. All weekend, blues lovers can expect to experience close to 20 high-octane blues acts hailing from all over southern Louisiana and Mississippi. Among them will be big names including Tab Benoit, Lurrie Bell, Samantha Fish, Little Freddie King, and Shemekia Copeland. Proudly presented by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, admission to the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is completely free (how DO they do that?). Here’s who’s onstage, and when to see them. 

Friday, October 13

St. Charles Avenue Stage

• 5:30 pm–6:45 pm: The Lili Lewis Project

• 7 pm–8:30 pm: Tab Benoit

Saturday, October 14

Camp Street Stage

• 11 am: Honey Island Swamp Band

• 1 pm: John Mooney & Bluesiana

• 3:15 pm: Johnny Sansone

• 5:45 pm: Lurrie Bell

St. Charles Avenue Stage

• 12 pm: Ghalia Volt

• 2 pm: Ernie Vincent

• 4:30 pm: Selwyn Birchwood

• 7 pm: Samantha Fish

Sunday, October 15

Camp Street Stage

• 11 am: Johnny Mastro & the MBs

• 1 pm: Li’l Jimmy Reed

• 3:15 pm: Trudy Lynn

• 5:45 pm: Little Freddie King

St. Charles Avenue Stage

• 12 pm: D.K. Harrell

• 2 pm: The Roadmasters with Special Guests

• 4:30 pm: Cedric Burnside

• 7 pm: Shemekia Copeland

Live Bands, BBQ, and Original Art, too

In a winning combination, this festival also invites many of the Crescent City’s most decorated BBQ pitmasters to the party, illustrating the evolution of the classic, “low-and-slow” style of cooking that is a fundamental part of the South’s culinary heritage. Reflecting the culinary creativity that is quintessentially New Orleans, this BBQ festival also features vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options alongside its more traditional, carnivorous offerings. Between the blues riffs and the BBQ bites, visitors who make their way to the festival’s Arts Market will discover an expansive array of handmade wares by local and regional artists to explore as well.

Admission to the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is free. However, those looking to get comfortably closer to the action can opt for a VIP ticket, which provides access to exclusive enclosures and opportunities. You can feel good about your investment, because proceeds from VIP ticket sales help to offset the cost of delivering an outdoor music festival beloved by thousands of music lovers. Want to dig deeper? Volunteer opportunities are available, too. Click HERE to learn more.  

For more details, information about VIP ticket packages, and complete schedule information, visit jazzandheritage.org/events/crescent-city-blues-bbq-festival/