French Quarter Festival 30th Anniversary Celebration
February 28, 2013 – Tourism officials call French Quarter Festival ‘the kickoff to festival season in New Orleans,’ and what started as a neighborhood festival and ‘locals’ event’ has grown into one of the largest music festivals in the United States. The 2012 French Quarter Festival hosted over 574,000 local and out-of-town visitors and had an economic impact of over $260 million. ‘Locals’ Lagniappe Day’ was launched in 2011, and French Quarter Festival officially became a four-day event. For the 30th anniversary, organizers will add new special events to festival; welcome incredible new restaurants to ‘The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch’; continue to program world class local musicians; and create special experiences for festival goers – all weekend long.
Sponsors help to keep this a true community event – Chevron joins as Title Sponsor and commits to multi-year sponsorship of both French Quarter Festival and Satchmo SummerFest
French Quarter Festivals Executive Director, Marci Schramm, can often be heard telling people that ‘the hardest thing about producing largescale, high quality events – that are free and open to the public – is paying for them!’ Chevron has been a longtime sponsor of French Quarter Festival, supporting both festival musicians and children’s programming. Under the leadership of Vice President Warner Williams, Chevron has made a multi-year commitment to become Title Sponsor of both French Quarter Festival and Satchmo SummerFest. This investment will allow non-profit French Quarter Festivals, Inc. to add new programming to the festivals, to engage in more long term and strategic planning, and to grow the August Satchmo SummerFest – which is a major summertime event for the City, during a time when businesses need a boost from tourism. “Chevron is proud to join the annual celebration of New Orleans’s vibrant culture as title sponsor of the French Quarter Festival. This investment is part of Chevron’s commitment to arts which we believe inspires, celebrates diversity, stimulates economic growth, and fuels the social vitality of the community our thousands of employees call home,” said Warner Williams, Vice President North America Exploration and Production, Gulf of Mexico Business Unit.
Showcasing New Orleans Music and Local Musicians
On twenty (of its twenty-one) music stages, only Louisiana artists are featured (the festival hosts one ‘International Stage’ where traditional jazz bands from all over the world perform). Part of the great appeal of French Quarter Festival is that attendees get a true and authentic New Orleans experience – locals and visitors can hear a broad range of artists and a diverse variety of musical styles and genres. French Quarter Festival is committed to keeping Traditional Jazz alive, and features New Orleans’ finest artists throughout the four days of festival, on stages all over the French Quarter. For 2013, the Cabaret Stage will move to the Palm Court Jazz Café, and is sponsored by the Hotel Monteleone
– the ‘Official Hotel’ of French Quarter Festival and Satchmo SummerFest.
For the 30th anniversary, festival organizers will bring back an event from the early years of French Quarter Festival by launching the ‘Chevron Evening Concert Series.’ A second line parade loaded with New Orleans talent and personality will precede these special sets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Festival. This year’s Chevron Evening Concert Series artists include the Dirty Dozen Brass Band (celebrating their 35th anniversary), Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet (sometimes referred to as ‘the best Cajun band in the world’), and Grammy Award winner Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience (celebrating their 31st anniversary).
Notable artists who will be performing at French Quarter Festival’s 30th anniversary celebration include: Soul Rebels, George Porter, Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, NOLA Nightingale Revue, Raw Oyster Cult, Bonerama, Chris Owens, the Dixie Cups, Harmonouche, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Preservation Hall-Stars, Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington, Chubby Carrier, Donald Harrison, Jr., Davell Crawford, Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Orchestra, Meschiya & the Little Big Horns, Papa Grows Funk, Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, Bill Summers & Jazalsa, John Autin and ex-Treme featuring Al ‘Carnival Time’ Johnson, Dr. Michael White, and more.
French Quarter Festival’s Musician Sponsorship Program continues to grow. For 2013, over one hundred companies, individuals, and foundations have signed up to support local musicians by ‘adopting an artist’. Sponsors come from all over the United States – from Minneapolis to Maryland – and are helping to keep French Quarter Festival free for the community. This year the Sheraton Hotel (also celebrating its 30th anniversary) joins as the largest single sponsor of festival musicians since the program’s inception. The 2013 French Quarter Festival will feature over 1,400 local artists. The Festival is still seeking 2013 sponsorships. Contact Georgia Rhody at (504) 522-5730 or email georgia@fqfi.org for more information.
2013 French Quarter Festival – big news for the 30th!
Over 60 food vendors make up ‘The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch’ at Festival – featuring classic New Orleans dishes as well as cutting edge cuisine from the best restaurants in the region. New food vendors include: John Folse’s Restaurant R’evolution (French Quarter); Schiro’s (Indian dishes from the Marigny restaurant), Dreamy Weanies (gourmet meat, vegan, kosher, and Halal hot dogs from the French Quarter), and festival favorite Jacques-i-mo’s returns to Jackson Square. A number of restaurants have been with the festival since its beginning in 1984, and have been great partners for 30 years: Court of Two Sisters, Pat O’Brien’s, Ristorante Carmelo, Trey Yuen, Tujague’s, Vaucresson Sausage, Desire Oyster Bar, and The Gumbo Shop.
Abita Brewing Company continues its partnership with French Quarter Festivals, Inc. for both French Quarter Festival and Satchmo SummerFest. A new contract unites the organizations through 2018. For the 30th anniversary celebration, Abita will be pouring Strawberry Abita at French Quarter Festival – for the first time ever. French Quarter Festival is the only Louisiana festival that will have this popular seasonal brew, made with Ponchatoula strawberries. In addition, Abita Amber, Purple Haze, Jockamo IPA, and Abita Light will be on tap.
For years, the TGIF ‘Thank Goodness it’s Festival!’ kickoff party preceded the Festival. For 2013, festival organizers and the 30th Anniversary Committee are planning a 30th Anniversary Gala at Antoine’s Restaurant, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting The Roots of Music. The Gala is scheduled for Thursday, April 11th (opening day of Festival) with a Patron Party from 7-8 pm and Gala from 8-10:30 pm. Guests will enjoy dinner from Antoine’s and other festival-favorite restaurants, with open bar courtesy of Republic and Abita Brewing Company. Entertainment includes Jeremy Davenport, Harmonouche, The Roots of Music, and special guests. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online at www.fqfi.org or by calling 504-227-3124. Patron tickets are $250 and Gala tickets are $125 ($150 beginning April 1st)
- 2013 welcomes expanded programming for the free dance lessons at French Quarter Festival. New for 2013 – there will be more dance classes at the French Market Traditional Jazz Stage. The Children’s Stage will also feature a new offering in addition to the Second Line dance classes for kids: Heal2Toe dance and exercise classes taught by Darryl Young (aka Dancingman504). Dance lessons are scheduled for the French Market Traditional Jazz Stage; Zydeco dance lessons at the Cajun Zydeco Stage; second line dance lessons and Heal2Toe at the Children’s Headquarters. Between musical breaks, festival patrons are invited to learn traditional dance-styles such as the Charleston, Swing, Zydeco and Second-line. Instructors from NOLA Jitterbugs will demonstrate, entertain, and educate visitors on these various dance styles.
- In partnership with Applitite, the French Quarter Festival iPhone App is back, along with the Android App – and they are still both FREE, courtesy of Capital One Bank. Fans can receive up to the minute announcements, downloadable music schedules, complete menus, special events, merchandise updates, shuttle information, and unique offers to enhance their festival experience. The application is now available for download. 2013 schedules, menus, and other information will be uploaded in March, prior to French Quarter Festival.
- The Capital One Bank Second Line Shuttle grows with the French Quarter Festival audience! A sixth bus was added in 2012 and will be back for the 30th anniversary celebration. Free shuttles help transport local fans to the festival Friday through Sunday. Parking will be offered in the Central Business District along O’Keefe Street for just $10 per day and the shuttle ride is FREE, courtesy of Capital One Bank.
Strong partnerships play a major role at French Quarter Festival
In order to keep French Quarter Festival free and open to the public, the organization relies heavily on the contributions of sponsors and partners, beverage and merchandise sales, and vendor fees. For the 30th anniversary, the festival is thrilled to welcome Chevron, as Title Sponsor.
Festival Sponsors for the 30th annual French Quarter Festival include: Chevron (Title Sponsor), Capital One Bank , Abita Brewing Company, Ford Motor Company, WWL-TV, Rouses Market, Harrah’s Foundation, Pepsi, Tropical Isle, French Market Corporation, Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, Popeye’s, Musician’s Performance Fund, House of Blues, Louisiana State Museum, PJ’s Coffee and Tea of New Orleans, Louisiana Lottery, BMI, Hotel Monteleone, United Airlines, Pat O’Brien’s, Dickie Brennan & Company, Palm Court Jazz Café, Windsor Court Hotel, Court of Two Sisters, Tulane Medical Center, Tulane Hospital for Children at Tulane Medical Center, Hermann Grima House, Applitite, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, Rolland Lock and Safe, Pelican Ice, SDT, OffBeat Magazine, Where Y’at Magazine, New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, NOLA Jitterbugs, Preservation Hall, The Historic New Orleans Collection, St. Louis Cathedral, The Royal Sonesta, WWNO 89.9 FM, WYES, Entercom New Orleans, Clear Channel, Sunburst Media, Louisiana Cookin’, Kids and Family New Orleans, Inthenola.com, Where Magazine, Curve Magazine, New Orleans Magazine, Louisiana Life Magazine, Acadian Profile, MyNewOrleans.com, St. Charles Avenue Magazine, New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, DownBeat Magazine, 96.1 The River, 101.5 WYNK, 102.5 WFMF, and 1150AM WJOB.
