The 4th annual NOLAxNOLA concert series, running from tonight, September 26, to October 6 across more than 50 venues in New Orleans and featuring more than 300 performances, including music, comedy, and burlesque, showcases the city’s vibrant artistic landscape while promoting its historic music venues. Of particular note are all-star tributes to Stevie Wonder at Tipitina’s tonight featuring Irma Thomas, Cyril Neville, and Kermit Ruffins as well as an all-star tribute to Allen Toussaint at the Toulouse Theatre on October 5 featuring Music Director Reginald Toussaint, Thomas, Neville, John Boutte and more. The complete interactive schedule and ticket information can be found at www.nolaxnola.com.

As part of this year’s event, NOLAxNOLA has announced its partnership with Relix to present NOLAxNOLA Talks, October 3-4, 2024, at The Double Dealer, located in Crescent City’s Orpheum Theater. On the docket are seven panels featuring a high-profile lineup of speakers.

NOLAxNOLA Talks will focus its themes around New Orleans’ music industry and developing the city’s national status as a live entertainment hub by analyzing its all-encompassing connections to music, culture, and sports. Speaks comprised of industry/city leaders, artists, and cultural ambassadors, will also discuss the challenges and chances for the city to shine.

“NOLAxNOLA celebrates once-in-a-lifetime concerts and collaborations adding additional layers to the wonderful music scene that unfolds nightly on the block and streets of New Orleans,” says Sig Greenebaum, co-founder of NOLAxNOLA. “This is a city that thrives on creativity and collaboration and we’re thrilled to work with Relix to launch NOLAxNOLA Talks for an even more enriching experience for our attendees. The goal is about creating an opportunity to learn more about the business around our country’s great music and culture and as well providing a fertile opportunity to meet and network with other talented, like minded folks.”

For complete details, follow this link.  Tickets can be purchased here.

Schedule

Thursday, October 3, 2024

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Is New Orleans Ready to be a Year Round Live Entertainment & Music Hub?

Jon Atkison (Idea Village) moderates a panel of senior executives from national companies based in New Orleans with significant presence in the music and tourism industries. The panel includes Patrick Templeman (Managing Director of PSB Management), Don Kelly (CEO of Crew One), Kevin Ferguson (VP External Affairs at New Orleans & Company) and Alex Bowen (VP of Entertainment ASM Global). Hear the why they are in New Orleans and their vision for the future.

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM: How New Orleans Help Give Birth to the Modern Music Festival

Sig Greenebaum (Sigfest Events) moderates a distinguished panel of music festival veterans including Don Marshall (Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation), Reeves Price (VP Festivals AEG Presents) and Paul Peck (co-founder of Okeechobee Music & Arts Festival). Tracing the trajectory of the George Wein festivals, New Orleans Jazz Festival inspired a next generation of producers. Here we explore how those early events, steeped in New Orleans’ ethos, are the direct through lines to today’s successful festival scene.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM:  Curating, Loving and Caring for Historic Musical Spaces in New Orleans

At a time when independent music venues are facing more and more challenges owners of historic venues have become relentless stalwarts to keep magical spaces alive. The panel includes some of the most creative and passionate in the business; Ben Jaffe (Preservation Hall), Kermit Ruffins (Mother-in Law Lounge), Curtis Doucette (Dew Drop Inn) and Robert Mercurio (Tipitina’s).

5:14 PM – 6:15 PM: Sustainability in Music in New Orleans: How Music Gets Green in a Red State.

Bobby Hjortsberg (Captain of the Krewe of Freret) navigated his Mardi Parade to be the first to roll with no plastic beads in 2025, he will moderate a panel of environmental pioneers including Annie Farman (Plastic Pollution Coalition), Theresa Young (Founder Greengenutiy) and Jaron Druker (Tectronic) to explore their difficult task of making music and film production green despite the challenges and expense.

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Friday, October 4, 2024

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: The Friendzone: How Trust & Friendship Lead to Successful Business Partnership

Joshua Starkman (Musician & founder of the “Have a Great Day” phenom) moderates a panel of two sets of friends that found tremendous success by trusting each other. Enjoy the stories of Nate Cameron (Them People Productions) and Pell (Artist/Producer) and their creative collective glbl wrmng and Tarriona “Tank” Ball (Tank & the Bangers) and Tavia Osbey (Owner MidCitizen Entertainment) discuss how their college friendship led to a Grammy nomination.

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM: Is 8pm the New Midnight? The Evolving Draw of Late Night Shows Being Earlier

Jan Ramsey (Editor-In Chief of Offbeat) moderates a group of well traveled musicians that remember the days of New Orleans live shows ending at sunrise but things have changes. Stanton Moore (Drummer of Galactic/Owner of Tipitina’s), Ashley McGee aka “Pleasure Savior” (Promoter/Producer), Jason Paterson (Owner/Talent Buyer Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro) and Howie Kaplan (Owner Howlin’ Wolf/former Night Mayor of New Orleans) know why it’s happening and why its working.

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Why National Touring Musicians Love New Orleans Old, Intimate Venues

Alex Rawls (Editor-in-Chief of MySpiltMilk) moderates a panel about “the underplay”, when big national touring artists decide to play small New Orleans venues. From Springsteen, Jon Batiste, the Killers, Robert Plant and many more Doug Trager (The Maple Leaf Bar), Brian “Tank” Greenberg (GM of Tipitinas), Mike Martinovich (Managing Director of Preservation Hall) and Giovanni Vargas (Tour Manager for the Rolling Stones) have all gotten the calls and share their experiences and what it means for their venues, audiences and New Orleans.