Adopt an Artist and enjoy the benefits of sponsorship, a tax deductible contribution, and most importantly – Help keep this event free for our community.

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. announces the launch of the 2012 Musician Sponsorship Program, a new initiative designed to help keep the „largest free music festival in the South‟ a high quality event that celebrates the best of New Orleans culture, while keeping it accessible to everyone and contributing to the economic well being of the French Quarter, the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana.

French Quarter Festival, now in its 29th year, has grown to be the largest free music festival in the South, attracting over 500,000 people to the historic neighborhood each year. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is a self-sustaining non-profit organization. Festivals are made possible through sponsorship, participation fees and onsite beverage and merchandise sales. The production budget for this free event is over a million dollars, including costs for employing NOPD officers, sanitation, firewatch and EMS personnel.

Musician Sponsorship Program:
taking good care of local musicians and building for the future

Nineteen of the twenty stages at French Quarter Festival feature Louisiana Artists exclusively! The 20th stage is an „International Stage‟ featuring Traditional Jazz musicians from around the world. Over 800 local musicians perform annually at French Quarter Festival. For decades, entertainment sponsors have been third parties who agree to pay musicians for their performance in exchange for publicity and various other sponsor benefits. A recent survey of musicians showed an unbelievable myriad of „payments‟ – everything from online fundraising, Facebook appeals for sponsorship, to gift certificates, shopping sprees, studio time, a weekend stay at a camp across the lake, a restaurant tab – even babysitting. Notwithstanding, the survey revealed one vital fact – musicians absolutely love playing French Quarter Festival and look forward to it every year. In response to the survey, artists also conveyed just how much they look forward to the new Musician Sponsorship Program that French Quarter Festivals, Inc. will manage, removing the sponsorship burden from them.

French Quarter Festival‟s new program will facilitate the relationship between Artists and Sponsors, eliminating the Musician‟s responsibility in securing a Sponsor and freeing them to focus on their performance. Because French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, sponsorships are tax deductible – another great benefit for sponsors.

With the launch of this program, Louisiana businesses are invited to truly participate in this annual community celebration, making a major impact, and enjoying the benefits of sponsorship. Contrary to what many think, a free music festival is not really „free‟, but the French Quarter Festival has grown to become the „largest free music festival in the South‟. It continues to be voted „locals favorite festival‟ year after year and is third in economic impact for the City of New Orleans (Mardi Gras ranks number one and the Super Bowl is number two, when it is held in New Orleans).

French Quarter Festival is not just a fun, high quality event. It annually generates over $300 million in economic impact with over $15 million in direct tax revenue going to the city and the state as a direct result of the festival. Over 500,000 people attended French Quarter Festival in 2011.

According to Marci Schramm, Executive Director of French Quarter Festivals, Inc., “There is something very special about this type of support. Music sponsors come from all corners of our community and from all over the state. They share a love of local culture and care about preserving what makes Louisiana so special.” Current music sponsors include everyone from beloved brands like Zapp‟s, to heavy hitters like Chevron and Northrup Grumman Corporation. The family of music sponsors also includes law and accounting firms, doctors, veterinarians, restaurants, hotels, retail shops and many more. “Like the diverse styles of music heard at French Quarter Festival, we also embrace an eclectic mix of sponsors who love the celebration and what it does for the community,” added Schramm. “Music sponsorship is rewarding and fun for those who participate – a sponsor can do as much (or as little) as they wish to tell the world that they support French Quarter Festival. Some sponsors love to get up on stage and introduce „their‟ band while some just like to hang a banner during the sponsored act‟s set.”

Sponsors may sign up at the „Shorty‟ level ($500) or as „Pops‟ ($20,000) – or anything in between. Supporters truly help keep New Orleans music alive, while being recognized by over half a million people at the annual French Quarter Festival.

Contact French Quarter Festivals, Inc. at 504-522-5730 (email: georgia@fqfi.org) for more information about the Musician Sponsorship Program.

On behalf of all of us at French Quarter Festivals, Inc., THANK YOU
for helping to make this a memorable weekend and a glorious celebration of Louis Armstrong.

We couldn’t do it without your time, talent, dedication and enthusiasm!

Our heartfelt appreciation goes out to our entire Satchmo SummerFest family.

Save the dates for next year’s festival !
August 2 – 5, 2012

Tented stages, extended hours, new food and beverage offerings, and exciting new programming will enhance festival goers experience at the 2011 Satchmo SummerFest.

The Experience

Satchmo SummerFest has extended its hours from noon to 8 pm on Saturday, August 6^th and Sunday, August 7^th.  For the first time, fans will enjoy ‘Satchmo in the Shade’ – musical performances under completely tented areas. The new 40-by-80-foot tents will cover stage areas and provide relief from the August heat.  In addition, picnic table dining areas on festival grounds will also be tented.  ‘Satchmo in the Shade’ is sponsored by Where Y’at Magazine.

Satchmo SummerFest introduces two new beverages this year:  an Absolut Mango Daiquiri and Malibu Rum Piña Colada Daiquiri in souvenir cups. In addition, local-festival-favorite ‘Cool Fruit Sensations’ will join Satchmo SummerFest for the first time, fresh-squeezed revitalizing fruit blends with a choice of traditional or cocktail blends. A sample of the flavors include: Blueberry Lemonade, Arnold Palmer, Strawberry Lemonade, Blueberry Tea, Pineapple Lemonade and Watermelon Lemon Tea.

Satchmo SummerFest presents a new delicious menu, featuring some of New Orleans favorite restaurants.  New restaurants at the 2011 festival include: Lasyone’s (Natchitoches Meat and Crawfish Pies); The Thee Muses (Mini Lamb Burgers with Goat Cheese and Tomato Chutney as well as Creole Tomato Gazpacho with Louisiana Crabmeat); The Bombay Club (Gulf Fish & Shrimp Escabeche);  Old Nawlins Cookery (Charbroiled Oysters); and Royal House (Gator Burger Sliders).  A complete list of restaurants and menus can be found at www.fqfi.org\satchmosummerfest.

Exciting Programming at the Satchmo Seminars

2011 has been an incredible year for advancements in Armstrong scholarship.  The worldwide release of a new Armstrong box set will take place during the 2011 Satchmo SummerFest.  The release is called ‘Satchmo’ and has been hailed as the ‘most comprehensive Armstrong box set ever made available’.   Producer Richard Havers will be at the festival to present the ‘Keynote Conversation’ on Thursday, August 4^th (Louis Armstrong’s birthday).  He will discuss this exciting new work and the never-before-heard material that it contains.  Richard Havers is a critically acclaimed British music writer and concert producer for some of the most famous artists in the world.

Ricky Riccardi is author of the new Louis Armstrong biography, What a Wonderful World, which focuses on the magic of Armstrong’s later years.  Riccardi’s book offers a fresh perspective on one of the world’s most famous and beloved artists and he has received incredible reviews since the book was released earlier this year.  Ricky will be joined by Armstrong House Museum and Archive Director Michael Cogswell at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 5^th at Maison (508 Frenchmen Street) to discuss this new book.

Keith Spera, Times Picayune writer and author of the new Groove Interrupted: Loss, Renewal and the Music of New Orleans, will discuss his new book at Satchmo SummerFest. Groove Interrupted focuses on the post-Katrina experiences of over a

dozen well known New Orleans musicians, including Allen Toussaint, Fats Domino,

Jeremy Davenport, Pete Fountain, Aaron Neville and Gatemouth Brown.  Keith will be joined by trumpeter Jeremy Davenport at 12 noon on Sunday, August 7^th to discuss the book and the behind-the-scenes reality of making a jazz album in the modern era, with all its creative and economic challenges.

Meet the authors and

get books autographed and personalized at Satchmo SummerFest

Richard Havers, Ricky Riccardi and Keith Spera will be available to sign their books and the box set during Satchmo SummerFest.  These newly released books and the box set will be on sale at the festival merchandise booth (Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Avenue) and at Satchmo Seminars (Maison, 508 Frenchmen Street).   Shipping is also available for a nominal charge.

Festival goers will enjoy traditional jazz and brass bands, New Orleans classic cuisine, family activities, culture and fun at weekend-long celebration

NEW ORLEANS (July 19, 2011) – French Quarter Festivals, Inc. announces details about the eleventh annual Satchmo SummerFest – the premier American Jazz Festival dedicated to the life, legacy and music of New Orleans’ native son, Louis ‘Satchmo’ Armstrong.  The 2011 Satchmo SummerFest takes place August 4 through August 7 in the French Quarter – at the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint, Maison on Frenchmen Street (Satchmo Seminars), and at Muriel’s Jackson Square (Satchmo Opening Reception and Keynote Speech).  Friday through Sunday the festival is free and open to the public.

Live, Local Music and Family Activities

Two stages of music on the grounds of the Mint will include traditional jazz, contemporary jazz and brass bands.  Musical performers include Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, Preservation Hall Allstars, Yoshio Toyama and the Dixie Saints, Hot 8 Brass Band, Tim Laughlin and Connie Jones, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Leroy Jones, Jazz vocalist Leah Chase, Leon ‘Kid Chocolate’ Brown and many more.  This free community event will also feature free dance lessons sponsored by NOLA Jitterbugs during Saturday and Sunday at  the Cornet Chop Suey Stage. Lessons will take place between each musical set (see music schedule for details).  The festival will also feature an array of educational and entertaining

children’s activities, including a Satchmo collage project,  a second-line umbrella creation station sponsored by the New Orleans Jazz Celebration, activity stations sponsored by Krewe of Muses and Young Audiences, coconut decorating with the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club ‘Junior Zulus’ and Jazz National Historic Park’s Junior Rangers program. Festival hours have been extended to 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7. The festival will also include a new tented music and food area called Satchmo in the Shade and is sponsored by Where Y’at Magazine.

Fascinating Speakers, Seminars and Discussions

The 2011 Satchmo SummerFest Seminars will be held at our new location, Maison in the Marigny, located at 508 Frenchmen Street, just one block from the Old U.S. Mint.

An impressive array of speakers will present seminars, discussions, music, and movies, scheduled from Friday, August 5 to Sunday, August 7.  Satchmo SummerFest Keynote Speaker, Richard Havers, will open the sessions at Muriel’s Jackson Square on Thursday, August 4^th, Armstrong’s birthday, at the annual Satchmo SummerFest Kickoff Party. Critically acclaimed British music writer Richard Havers and Grammy-winning record producer Russ Titelman are co-producers of the new comprehensive box set from Universal Music Group of great Armstrong recordings, ‘Satchmo’ – officially releasing at the 2011 Satchmo SummerFest in New Orleans. The set is being hailed by experts as “the most complete Louis Armstrong boxed set ever made available.” Havers and Armstrong archivist Ricky Riccardi will discuss and play clips from the set, along with additional Armstrong re-issues scheduled for release later this year.  Richard Havers has written over 2,000 jingles for radio and television and has produced concerts for artists such as Paul McCartney, the Beach Boys, Chicago and America. Amongst his many books, Havers wrote the Frank Sinatra biography, Sinatra, and collaborated on two books with Bill Wyman: Bill Wyman’s Blues Odyssey and Rolling with the Stones. Many other sessions are scheduled with educational and entertaining speakers who knew or were inspired by Louis Armstrong (complete schedule attached).

Special Events

In addition to a weekend full of great music, food, seminars, movies and children’s activities, Satchmo SummerFest features an array of special events, including an Opening Reception

and Keynote Address on Armstrong’s birthday (August 4^th); the annual Jazz Mass at the historic St. Augustine Church in Treme, a traditional second line parade and the annual

‘Trumpet Tribute’ which closes the festival Sunday night with a Satchmo birthday party. Please see attached schedule for more details.

Happy Birthday Satchmo!

Satchmo SummerFest is scheduled annually to coincide with Louis Armstrong’s birthday on August 4^th.  The artist often stated in public interviews that he was born on July 4, 1900 (USA Independence Day), a date that has been noted in many biographies.  Armstrong died in 1971 and his true birthdate, August 4, 1901, was not discovered until the mid-1980s.  Louis Armstrong was born in a poor section of New Orleans known as “the Battlefield”. Throughout his career, he entertained millions – from heads of state and royalty to the neighborhood kids on his stoop in Corona, New York. Despite his fame, he lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood.  The man known around the world as ‘Satchmo’, short for Satchelmouth, was widely recognized as a founding father of jazz – a unique American art form. In 1932, Melody Maker magazine editor Percy Brooks greeted Armstrong in London with “Hello, Satchmo!” and the nickname stuck. His influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. Armstrong was a charismatic and innovative performer whose improvised soloing was the main influence for a fundamental change in jazz. As one of the most famous musicians of the 20th century, he was first known as a cornet player, then as a trumpet player, and toward the end of his career he was best known as a vocalist and influential jazz singer.

2011 Official Poster by Christy Works Boutte

A Satchmo SummerFest limited edition print by local artist Christy Works Boutte will be available for purchase.  Christy’s love of vibrant colors and ability to create harmony using thick oil paints has become a trademark of her creations.  She most recently worked with French Quarter Festivals, Inc. in 2008, creating the painting which became the sold-out French Quarter Festival poster. Other merchandise will be available for sale at the festival and online including Satchmo SummerFest shirts, hats, cooling bandanas and jewelry.  More than twenty-five food and beverage booths will be open at the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint and will feature authentic local cuisine, drinks and snowballs from the area’s finest restaurants to create “Red Bean Alley.”

Sponsors and Community Partners for the 11^th annual Satchmo SummerFest include:  The City of New Orleans, The Convention & Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Abita Brewing Company, WWL TV-4, Louisiana State Museum, French Market, Louis Armstrong International Airport, Absolut, Malibu, Rhodes Funeral Home, Hotel Monteleone, Muriel’s Jackson Square, Rouses, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Aidan Gill, Harrah’s New Orleans, Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, OffBeat Magazine, nola.com, Where Y’At Magazine, Pelican Ice, www.nolajitterbugs.com, Tulane Medical Center, Event Rentals, Rolland Safe and Lock, Mardi Gras Productions, New Orleans Jazz Celebration, New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation,  Jefferson Variety, My New Orleans, WWNO 89.9 FM, Louisiana Cookin’, Kids and Family New Orleans Magazine, The Vinyl District, SLS Arts, Krewe of Muses and Sunburst Media.

Featured in the August edition of Louisian Cookin Magazine….The Satchmo Swizzle.

Click here to learn how to make this wonderful drink in honor of the 2011 Satchmo Summerfest & Louis Armstrong!

Just 19 days until Satchmo SummerFest!