Jazz Fest Late Night Picks

Marco Benevento @ Blue Nile

With Jazz Fest rapidly approaching, you may find yourself feeling a bit overwhelmed by the almost unfathomable amount of live music options presented over the next two weeks.  While some of the toughest decisions will be made at the Fairgrounds (Trombone Shorty or Buddy Guy? Sting or Sturgill Simpson?), there are still tons of choices to make after the main event shuts down at 7:00.  

But fear not!  We scoured the exhaustive Jazz Fest Grids to hunt down those extraordinary shows, the ones you won’t see any other time of year and may never see again.  Whether it’s a tribute set or an all-night party, these are the shows you won’t want to miss this Jazz Fest.

Red Baraat @ Blue Nile

Saturday April 28

Fusing brass band rhythms with traditional Indian instrumentation, Red Baraat always delivers a rollicking good time that defies easy categorization. Their Tiny Desk Concert is hands-down one of the best performances the NPR offices have ever seen, and their legendary shows involve full audience participation.  After a long day at the Fest, an Indian street party will be the perfect jolt to snap you out of the post-Fest daze and launch you into the night.

NOLA Crawfish Fest @ Central City BBQ

Monday – Wednesday April 30 – May 2

The NOLA Crawfish Fest is back again in their new digs at Central City BBQ for three days of crawfish, beer, and the best funk bands in the city.  From Walter Wolfman to Tab Benoit, NOLA Crawfish Fest features some of our top local talent in a much more intimate fest setting than the Fairgrounds with the NOLA Crawfish King himself, Chris “Shaggy” Davis, manning the pot. Music kicks off around 3:30 daily and wraps by 10:00, so you can still get your funk fix without staying out too late as you gear up for weekend 2. 

Tip: take care of admission and food with a variety of ticketing options available online before prices increase at the gate.  

Turkuaz @ Tipitina’s

Friday May 4

Brooklyn funk band Turkuaz has made a name for themselves in recent years through their high energy shows and relentless touring schedule, and this year they set up shop for two nights at Tipitina’s during the second weekend.  Night one will feature the band’s road-tested original songs while night two will be a tribute to Wings, featuring original Wings guitarist Denny Laine. Unexpected collaborations like this are what make the Jazz Fest late night scene so special, and this show will not disappoint.

Joe Russo’s Almost Dead @ Mardi Gras World

Friday May 4 and Saturday May 5

For the past three years, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead has taken over The Joy Theater for wild nights featuring their raucous interpretations of the Grateful Dead songbook.  Having outgrown The Joy, this year they’re moving the party to Mardi Gras World for two nights of Dead jams and choice covers, as well as plenty of spontaneous improvisation. Harkening back to the high energy of early Dead, the wrecking crew of musicians in JRAD play together with a virtuosic intensity unmatched by any other Dead tribute. Previous years at The Joy have sold out so make sure you get a ticket early.

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe presents “Eat a Bunch of Peaches” @ The Joy Theatre

Saturday May 5

Once again, the Joy Theater has a stacked lineup of great shows every night of the Fest, including the annual late night sets by British funk institution The New Mastersounds.  Karl Denson is no stranger to Jazz Fest cover shows, and this year’s “Eat a Bunch of Peaches” tribute to The Allman Brothers Band is not to be missed. Denson’s ace band, Tiny Universe, is a natural fit for the groove of the Allmans and will have no problem nailing the epic guitar solos and soulful interludes.  Throw in an expanded rhythm section with Stanton Moore and Mike Dillon and you have a funk-rock supergroup tackling some of best jams of all time.

Marco Benevento @ Blue Nile

Saturday May 5

Marco Benevento will be a very busy man during Jazz Fest playing multiple shows with his trio–two nights with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and countless sit ins around town. The late night dance party at Blue Nile on Saturday will cap off his 2018 New Orleans residency with plenty of revved-up party jams and a healthy dose of unexpected covers.  Expect this one to stretch into the early morning as Benevento rings in the final day of Jazz Fest.