French Quarter Festivals, Inc. welcomes new Entertainment Manager, Greg Schatz

October 13, 2008 – New Orleans, LA - French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is pleased to welcome Mr. Greg Schatz as Entertainment Manager for French Quarter Festivals, Inc. – producers of French Quarter Festival, Satchmo SummerFest , and Christmas New Orleans Style. With thirteen years of music industry experience in New Orleans, Greg has worked as a musician, producer, label founder, and band manager. As a bass player, accordionist, keyboard player and vocalist, he has performed with several local ensembles and also at clubs and festivals in Europe and around the U.S., including the French Quarter Festival and JazzFest. During 2005, he played with Jeremy Lyons and the Deltabilly Boys, touring the U.S. with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Greg then made his debut at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fischer Hall in 2006 during the CMJ Music Conference. As manager of ‘Schatzy’ and founder of Hot Spazz Records, Greg has overseen the release of multiple albums, wearing the hats of both musician and producer.

A graduate of Cornell University and native of Ithaca, New York, Schatz moved to New Orleans in 1995 to pursue a career in music. After honing his craft playing accordion on the streets of the French Quarter, he joined Jeremy Lyons and the Deltabilly Boys, a group he continues to play with. Greg has also performed with local favorites such as the Morning 40 Federation, Dave James Banned, Big Mess Blues Band, and others.

As Entertainment Managerr at French Quarter Festivals, Greg will have the impressive task of booking and coordinating over 450 musicians to perform more than 250 hours of music during French Quarter Festival, organizing programming for the Satchmo SummerFest stages and seminars, and providing support for Cathedral Concerts during Christmas New Orleans Style. French Quarter Festivals Executive Director Marci Schramm commented, “We are so excited to welcome Greg to our team. His talent, experience, enthusiasm, and great relationships in this community will help us take all of our festivals to the next level.”

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. annually produces three festivals: French Quarter Festival (the largest free music festival in the South), Satchmo SummerFest, and Christmas New Orleans Style. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization which celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2008.

For more information on French Quarter Festival, call 504-522-5730 or visit online at www.fqfi.org.