It’s not hard to get New Orleanians to go to a live music event. With over a hundred live music venues in the metro area, as well as festivals, fairs, and other seasonal events, there’s always music in the air. When that music is combined with a worthy cause, it’s even sweeter.
Harvest the Music in Lafayette Square
Harvest The Music is a worthy cause with few peers. An eight-week concert series to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, Harvest The Music will rock Lafayette Square in New Orleans’ CBD in the tradition of the YLC’s Wednesday At The Square concert series. Starting on Wednesday, September 14th, and running weekly through November 2nd, some of the best performers in New Orleans will take the stage, including Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Paul Sanchez and The Rolling Road Show, Bonerama with Dave Malone of the Radiators, Irma Thomas and The Professionals, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Blind Boys of Alabama, and Buckwheat Zydeco. Check out the full line-up for each week and mark your favorites on the calendar (assuming you can’t make them all).
To help generate a big turnout for the series, Second Harvest has lined up a full-court social media press, including many from the local Twitterati and blogosphere (including yours truly, @YatPundit, and my Yatmedia business partner, @kissmygumbo). This cadre of Twitter supports will be regularly tweeting about the events from now until the last concert. Local bloggers, such as Native Palate, Crawfish Tales, culicurious, and Miss Malaprop, will be writing and promoting the concerts as well. Each week, six of these folks will be out at the Square, wearing bright orange t-shirts. Find them and tweet the hunger fact written on the back of the shirt, using the hashtag #fighthunger, and you’ll be entered to win prizes such as $50 gift cards from Oceana Restaurant, Crepes A LA Cart, Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant and even a two night stay at the Hotel Monteleone. (Click here for contest details)
Gallier Hall looms in the background as a band plays at Harvest The Music 2010 (Josh Brastead photo)
Harvest The Music concerts are free, but @2ndHarvestGNOA ask that you don’t bring outside food and/or drink. There will be lots of tasty concessions at the square for you to purchase, and that’s how the food bank will raise funds. There are some delicious food options to choose from, including Ye Old Kettle Cooker, Martin Wine Cellar, Crêpes á la Cart, Miss Linda’s Soul Food Catering, Lil Dizzy’s Café, Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant, Oceana Restaurant, and Squeal, as well as the Second Harvest Food Bank Community Kitchen.
You don’t have to be a local to enjoy Harvest The Music. The concerts run from 5pm-7:30pm, and Lafayette Square is open to all. Come hungry, and support New Orleans live local music!
Edward Branley is the author of three books on New Orleans, New Orleans: The Canal Streetcar Line, and Brothers of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans, and his latest Maison Blanche Department Stores. He enjoys sharing his knowledge of the city’s history and culture with readers of his blogs, DailyKos.com, as well as speaking to various organizations in the metro area. He is a partner in Yatmedia, LLC, and is @YatPundit on Twitter (and at Harvest The Music on September 14th).
Who’s your favorite from the Harvest The Music 2011 lineup? Tell us in a comment.
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