New Orleans has a rich centuries-long tradition of music that permeates the culture of the city, which is also known as the Birthplace of Jazz. Live music of many genres can be heard any day of the week- including R&B, blues, funk, rock, bounce, and much more!
This year’s MLA conference falls at the same time as one of the biggest musical events of the year, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - known by locals as “Jazz Fest”. This festival welcomes thousands of musicians, cooks, and craftspeople for an outdoor event two weekends in a row. This year’s festival takes place April 29, 30, & May 1 and May 5 – May 8, 2022.
To learn more about the history of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, be sure to check out Tulane University Special Collections gallery exhibit “Music IS the Scene”: Jazz Fest’s First Decade, 1970-1979 while visiting New Orleans. (A copy of the exhibit poster accompanies this blog post.)
For those attending MLA virtually, a companion digital exhibition is available for viewing/listening via Tulane Online Exhibits.
If you’re unable to attend the festival itself- have no fear! With musicians from all over the world visiting New Orleans to perform at Jazz Fest, high quality live music and after-parties can be found around the city every evening.
- To see listings of live music, be sure to check the WWOZ Livewire Music Calendar.
- You can also find listings of live music in New Orleans during Jazz Fest by checking The Nearly World Famous Jazz Fest Grids website.
- To learn more about sustainable ways to participate in and support the culture of New Orleans, be sure to read the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans’s (MaCCNO) Good Visitor Guide to New Orleans.