The 10th annual celebration of New Orleans’ musical culture will feature headliners Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience and early hip hop innovator Mannie Fresh. The three-day festival on the banks of Bayou St. John is scheduled for May 15-17,2015.
In keeping with the inclusive nature of the festival, which began as a one-day event in 2006, the rest of the lineup is equally as eclectic. Musical acts from virtually every genre will be presented on three stages.
From New Orleans funky rock supergroup the New Orleans Suspects and hoodoo bluesman Papa Mali to prog rock pioneers Woodenhead and R&B piano stylist Davis Rogan, the Bayou Boogaloo has something for everyone.
Of particular interest is an act billed as Mike Dillon’s New Orleans Punk Rock Percussion Consortium. Led by Dillon, the manic vibraphonist/ conguero/ tabla/ cuica/ fill-in-the-percussion instrument performer, the group features Stanton Moore, Jason Marsalis, Simon Lott, Terrence Houston, Daria Dzurik, Jesse Paige, Aaron Walker, Otto Schrang, Paul Thibodeaux, Brian Coogan, Doug Belote and others. Perhaps the rest of the drummers in town?
The 2015 lineup also includes Rotary Downs; 101 Runners, Yojimbo, The Wild Magnolias, Soul Creole, Erica Falls, Pirate’s Choice featuring Luke Quaranta and Justin Perkins (Toubab Krewe), Raja Kassis (Antibalas; Raja Kassis’ HUMANBEING), and Sam Dickey (Benyoro), Kim Carson, Colin Lake, To Be Continued Brass Band, Christian Serpas & Ghost Town, Meschiya Lake & Tom McDermott, Tony Hall & Friends, Dave Jordan & The Neighborhood Improvement Association, N’awlins Johnny’s, Alexandra Scott & Her Magical Band, Chicago Children’s Choir, Pontchartrain Wrecks, Funky Dawgz Brass Band, Kevin Stylez, Ecirb Müller’s Twisted Dixie, and more to be announced.
In addition to the three stages, guests can look forward to an art market, wellness activities, a 5k run and a wide selection of local food. Families can also visit the Kids Stage for all-ages workshops and entertainment.
As always, the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo is hosted by the MotherShip Foundation, a New Orleans 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging social change by improving quality of life through the promotion of arts, culture, and recreation.
Proceeds from the festival facilitate efforts including a new anti-litter initiative and the MotherShip Foundation’s Restore the Bayou Canopy campaign. This ongoing effort to replace trees lost to the hurricane has already resulted in the planting of eight live oak trees along Bayou St. John.
2015’s Boogaloo will be the second to offer attendees the chance to be a part of MotherShip’s Canopy Club. Members who join MotherShip with a tax-deductible donation of $250.00 or more will be given three days of access to the Club’s VIP lounge near the main stage. Cooling units, stage-front viewing, a private bar, local food, comfy seating, and other bonuses are available to Canopy Club pass holders. Children under 12 can accompany Canopy Club parents free of charge.
