MO Fest 2005
NEW ORLEANS MO Fest, a free outdoor showcase of local music sponsored by the City of New Orleans, returns to Woldenberg Park April 25-26 " the Monday and Tuesday between Jazz Fest weekends.
Now going into its third year, MO Fest ("The Mayor's Office Festival") will take place from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Hibernia Pavilion. It will feature great local food and more than a dozen outstanding New Orleans musicians, most of them not appearing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
In addition to regularly performing bands, MO Fest will present a special tribute to the classic sound of the Hammond B3 organ and its influence on New Orleans music over the years. The B3 summit will be led by Joe Krown of Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown's band and will include such noted New Orleans keyboardists as: John Gros, Rich Vogel of Galactic, Willie Tee, David Torkanowsky and Robert Walter of 20th Congress and Greyboy Allstars fame. Special surprise guests are expected.
Other highlights from this year's MO Fest schedule include:
- The all-star trombone band Bonerama
- A special trombone summit several notable New Orleans horn players
- The up-and-coming funk-rock band Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes
- An underground hip-hop showcase featuring the artists of the New Orleans-based label
- Media Darling Records
- Singer-songwriter Shannon McNally
- Local "swingin 60's" surf-rock band Dr. A Go-Go
The schedule of confirmed MO Fest performers is as follows:
Click on a performer for more information!
Monday, April 25, 2005
1 p.m. Johnny Angel & the Swingin' Demons
2 p.m. Tin Men
3 p.m. Dr. A Go Go
Media Darling Records Underground Hip Hop showcase featuring Know One, Soapbox, Bionik Brown, Impulss, DJ Quickie Mart and DJ Lady Fingaz
5 p.m. Soul Rebels Brass Band
6 p.m. Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes
7 p.m. Trombone Summit
8 p.m. Bonerama
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
1 p.m. Waterseed
2 p.m. Sublime Lens
3 p.m. Shannon McNally
4 p.m. Jeff & Vida Band with special guest Theresa Andersson
5 p.m. Fatter Than Albert
6 p.m. Stanton Moore of Galactic, Skerrik and Robert Walter
7 p.m. B3 Summit featuring Joe Krown, John Gros, David Torkanowsky, Willie Tee, Rich Vogel of Galactic and Robert Walter
8 p.m. B3 Summit featuring Joe Krown, John Gros, David Torkanowsky, Willie Tee, Rich Vogel of Galactic and Robert Walter
MO Fest is a showcase opportunity for local musicians at a time when the global music industry's attention is focused on New Orleans because of Jazz Fest, which brings numerous festival promoters, booking agents, managers and record label executives to town. Most of the bands appearing at MO Fest are not at Jazz Fest this year.
A recent survey of artists who have performed at MO Fest to date shows that one-third credit the event with generating an employment opportunity that they wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Those jobs range from overseas festivals to private events and local clubs.
In addition to the City of New Orleans, MO Fest is sponsored by: Southern Comfort, the Music Business Program at Loyola University, Entercom Communications, House of Blues, NOLA.com, WWOZ-FM, OffBeat Magazine, White Oak Productions, Crescent Music Services, Where Y"at Magazine, NewOrleans.com, BellSouth, Four Winds Specialty Printing, Express Signs & Graphics, the Louisiana Music Factory and the Audubon Nature Institute Aquarium of the Americas.
View all of our sponsors!
For more information, please contact: Scott Aiges, musicbiz@mayorofno.com or (504) 658-0913.