Celebrating the cultural, economic, environmental & inspirational impacts and contributions of the Mississippi River to the Crescent City.
The 12th annual NOLA River Festival on Saturday, JUNE 1st, 2024 celebrates the cultural, economic, environmental, and inspirational impacts of the Mississippi River and its inhabitants on the Crescent City and the entire Gulf South region. The all-day festival at the New Orleans Jazz Museum will include live music, presentations and panels, delicious local food vendors and a full bar, and more.
11:00
Second line starting in Jackson Square featuring the N'awlins D'awlins Baby Dolls & Big Queen Mary Kay of the Original Wild Tchoupitoulas Indians
12:00 - 12:40 Treme Lafitte Brass Band
1:00 - 2:40 Egg Yolk Jubilee
2:00 - 2:40 Grayhawk Perkins & Friends
3:00 - 3:40 George Brown Band
4:00 - 4:40 Jason Neville Funky Soul Band
5:00 - 5:40 Britney Chauntae
6:00 - 7:00 Bobby Rush
Presentations and Interviews
(3rd Floor Performance Center)
1:30 – 2:15
“Partial Paradise: Documenting Several Decades of Coastal Louisiana"
Talk with the filmmakers Glen Pitre and Kevin McCaffrey
Glen Pitre has written, produced, and directed big screen dramas, cable thrillers, PBS documentaries, and IMAX films, movies --- most often set in his native southern Louisiana --- which have played in theaters and on TV worldwide and been lauded at festivals such as Sundance and Cannes. His other works include novels and non-fiction books, radio programming and still photography, museum exhibit and sacred space design, multi-screen video installations and 4D immersive experiences, and more.
Kevin J. McCaffrey is an American filmmaker, writer, editor, and oral historian based in New Orleans. His documentary and archivist work primarily focuses on Louisiana history and culture, with an emphasis on the region's culinary history and environmental issues. McCaffrey's work has received both national and regional recognition. He has worked with a number of notable organizations dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Louisiana and New Orleans, including New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, Louisiana State Museum, Historic New Orleans Collection, WYES-TV, Loyola's Center for Environmental Communication, and the Louisiana Folklife Commission.
2:30 – 3:15
Exhibit opening: Umbrellas and Lace
Vincent Simmons has devoted a decade of creativity to the New Orleans Baby Dolls. His original images of these legendary black women reflect the Baby Dolls motivation, devotion and commitment to their culture and heritage. The photographs honor these remarkable women and the unique character through which they promote the spirit of New Orleans.
3:30 – 4:15
Bobby Rush interviewed by David Kunian
The legendary musician Bobby Rush talks about his life, legacy and the importance of blues. Rush has become one of the most prominent advocates for the blues tradition, and says “it’s the root of all music, it’s the mother of all music. If you don’t like the blues, you probably don’t like your mama.”