Start things off this weekend with free music on Friday afternoon. The French Market Concert Series is underway again and they are presenting the Honey Island Swamp Band from 4-7 PM. If you haven’t seen them in a while, the HISBEEs are on fire from relentless touring. They also play Saturday at the Hogs for the Cause benefit in City Park.
The outdoor event kicks off at noon with the Mississippi Rail Company followed by Amanda Shaw at 1 PM. The HISBEEs are at 3 PM and then they are joined at 4 PM by the Soul Rebels Brass Band for a set called, “Swamp and Soul.” I saw them do this collaboration at the Voodoo Music Experience and it’s not to be missed.
6:30 PM brings Anders Osborne with Big Chief Monk Boudreaux. Anders has been killing it lately in support of his great new album, “American Patchwork” and Monk just completed another Carnival/St. Joseph’s celebration with his tribe, the Golden Eagles, so he will be full of the spirit.
Saturday night, if you have any energy left, the guitarist Jake Eckert is celebrating the release of his new CD at the Maple Leaf Bar. His band is out of the box with Cornell Williams on bass, CR Gruver on keys, Jeff Watkins on sax, and Mac Carter on drums. Did you know Watkins played with James Brown? This show should be way funky.
Free Show of the Week– the oldest jazz musician in the city, Lionel Ferbos, who turns 100 later this year, is playing the Nickel-a-Dance series at the Maison on Frenchmen Street from 5-7. Don’t miss one of the last links to the beginnings of America’s only original art form.
