More festivals, a big anniversary celebration, a pair of guitar-wielding brothers, a funk-a-thon and much more are on tap. Here are my picks for Memorial Day weekend.
There’s a new classic music festival called the Birdfoot Chamber Music Festival, which was founded in January 2011 by a group of New Orleans community members and professional musicians committed to building community in the New Orleans area, broadening access to live music performance while celebrating New Orleans’ classical heritage, and providing both professional and educational opportunities in chamber music.
Tonight, there’s a concert in the Piazza D’Italia that begins at 5:30 PM. The program will include selected duos by Béla Bartók, Brahms Hungarian Dances for piano four-hands, excerpts of Brahms’ Piano Quintet in F minor Op. 34, and Antonín Dvořák’s String Serenade in E major, Op. 22.
The big show is tomorrow night at Tulane University’s Dixon Hall. The program features Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio in E-flat major, Op. 70 no. 2, Antonín Dvořák: String Sextet in A major Op. 48 and Robert Schumann: Piano Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 47.
For something completely different, the Greek Festival is happening on the banks of Bayou St. John by Robert E. Lee Blvd all weekend. I have been told they have music too.
The Malone Brothers, that’s Dave formerly of the Radiators and Tommy formerly of the subdudes, are playing a rare local club date tonight at Chickie Wah Wah. They really tore it up on the main stage at Jazz Fest and I expect more of the same in this intimate setting. This just in–Cassandra Faulconer will be appearing on bass with the band. Music lovers with long memories will remember her from Have Soul Will Travel and other groove minded bands.
Over at Tipitina’s, a Funk-a-Thon is scheduled tonight with Gravity A and Yojimbo. Bru Bruser, the bassist for Gravity A, sent me a message telling me that the band is hitting on all cylinders and will be raring to go at the uptown club. He also wanted TVD readers to be prepared for an uptown funk onslaught. They are playing every Wednesday in June at the Maple Leaf Bar.
Last but not least, The Rebirth Brass Band is celebrating their 29th anniversary with a two-night stand at the Howlin’ Wolf. I am fortunate to have been seeing the band for the entire stretch and I can say unequivocally that this group of musicians (there have been dozens through the band over the years) is the best ever. They are also celebrating their first Grammy win and the first Grammy ever awarded to a New Orleans brass band. See you there!
