I remember the few little tents and one stage of the first years of this festival; I love how it has grown and that it is so well run. A good example of how to utilize our city center for our culture without taking the fun (or life!) out of it.

Dr. John’s first performance at French Quarter Festival since 1987

Dr. John embodies the best of New Orleans’ rich musical heritage, and in 2014, he returns to French Quarter Festival for the first time since 1987. This will be his ONLY appearance at a major spring festival in New Orleans in 2014. Dr. John and the Nite Trippers will perform on the riverfront Abita Stage Friday, April 11th at 4:30 p.m. In what promises to be an incredible musical evening, Dr. John will be followed by the Roots of Music with very special guests, and Grammy award-winning Rebirth Brass Band. Longtime Festival supporter, vendor, and friend – Tropical Isle – has generously provided the support to bring Dr. John back to French Quarter Festival. Enter to win the Dr. John VIP experience for a chance to join Tropical Isle for ring access to the show: https://apps.facebook.com/my-contests/aqesyl

Riverfront construction ends and brings the launch of a new music stage:
GE Capital/New Orleans Tech Big River Stage

Year after year, French Quarter Festival is voted ‘locals’ favorite’ while also attracting a tremendous out-of-town audience. A huge part of the appeal is that it provides a true and authentic New Orleans experience – a broad range of Louisiana artists and a diverse variety of musical styles and genres. Since 1984, French Quarter Festival has been committed to featuring New Orleans’ finest artists every day of the festival, on stages all over the French Quarter. The tradition continues in 2014, when FQFI unveils the Big River Stage with new partners GE Capital/New Orleans Tech. The stage has a diverse mix of talented artists that includes Davell Crawford, Paul Sanchez and the Minimum Rage, Glen David Andrews, Jeremy Davenport, New Birth Brass Band, Eric Lindell, Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Flow Tribe, Diablo’s Horns, George Porter, Jr. and Runnin’ Pardners, Lynn Drury, Russell Batiste & Friends with The Wild Tchoupitoulas featuring Jason Neville, Egg Yolk Jubilee, Big Chief Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolias, Casa Samba Extravaganza, The New Orleans Suspects, the Iguanas, and more. The Big River Stage will feature music daily, on April 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th.

Brass bands are moving from the Riverside Legacy Stage (formerly located on the riverfront) to the new Popeyes Brass Band Jam with OffBeat at the Old U.S. Mint. Barracks Street will be closed to traffic, adding more to the ‘pedestrian playground’ and street party feel of the Festival. The stage will feature Leroy Jones’ Original Hurricane Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, Treme Brass Band, Audacity Brass Band, Lagniappe Brass Band, Onward Brass Band, Corey Henry’s Treme Funktet, The Original Pinettes Brass Band, Andrew Hall’s Society Brass Band, Orleans Brass Band, and more. Popeyes Brass Band Jam with OffBeat will run April 11th, 12th, and 13th.

The Chevron Cajun Zydeco Showcase launched in 2013 at the Bienville Triangle (North Peters near St. Louis Street). It was such a hit with festival fans, that it will return for 2014. One of the most popular stages at Festival, the 2014 lineup includes: Big Easy Playboys, Waylon Thibodeaux Band, Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet, Corey Ledet, Brandon Moreau & his Cajungrass, Bruce Daigrepoint Cajun Band, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Amada Shaw, Feufollet, Babineaux Sisters Band, Rusty Metoyer and the Zydeco Krush, Sean Ardoin-n-Zydekool, Les Freres Michot, Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots, the Lost Bayou Ramblers, and more.

New site for the Film Festival at French Quarter Festival: Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré

French Quarter Festivals, Inc. continues its partnership with Timecode:nola – a non-profit 501(c)3 organization made up of filmmakers who promote local filmmaking. Because of its incredible popularity at the 2013 French Quarter Festival, the 2014 Film Festival (free and open to the public) will move to Le Petit Théâtre, with more room for fans. Movies and shorts will focus on New Orleans music, neighborhoods and culture (click here for full schedule). Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, originally organized in 1916 as the New Orleans Chapter of the Drama League of America and one year later as the Drawing Room Players, is one of the oldest community theatres in the country. Since moving into its current home in 1922, the “Little Theatre” has entertained thousands of audience members in a wide array of dramas, comedies, and musicals.

Exciting new additions to Festival food and beverages

The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch will include a new dining area. Over 60 food vendors make up ‘The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch’ at French Quarter Festival, featuring classic New Orleans dishes as well as cuisine from the best restaurants in the region. A number of restaurants have been with the festival since its beginning in 1984, and have been great partners for 30 years: Pat O’Brien’s, Ristorante Carmelo, Trey Yuen, Tujague’s, Vaucresson Sausage, Desire Oyster Bar, and Court of Two Sisters. Other festival favorites return for 2014, including Galatoire’s, Muriel’s, Antoine’s, Praline Connection, Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House, Restaurant R’evolution, Desire Oyster Bar, Bennachin, Love at First Bite, Crescent Pie and Sausage, Boucherie, GW Fins, House of Blues, Jacques-Imo’s, K-Paul’s, Mrs. Wheat’s, Lasyone’s Meat Pies, and more. New vendors include Café Reconcile, Loretta’s Pralines, Ninja Restaurant, Rib Room, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza.
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