On Thursday, June 21, French Quarter Festivals, Inc. announced the lineup and poster artist for the eighteenth annual Satchmo SummerFest.
Eight musical acts make their SummerFest debut, including Irma Thomas, who has several Grammy Nominations and recently received an honorary doctorate from Tulane, and there will be seven returning acts presented under two tented stages over three days of music.
The menu also has new options with The Big Cheezy and Roux Carre making their culinary debut at the festival. There will be nine returning food vendors, and this year French Quarter Festivals, Inc. will be partnering with Eat Fit NOLA to label the various healthy options on the menu.
Although the festival runs from August 3-5 at the Jazz Museum at the Mint, there is a kickoff party on Thursday, August 2nd that will act as a fundraiser for French Quarter Festivals, Inc. at the historic Omni Royal Orleans. John Bouttè will present An Evening of Music and the 2018 Spirit of Satchmo winners will be honored at the event. Tickets are $65 per person or $100 per couple and can be purchased online.
New Orleans artist Lionel Milton was selected as the 2018 Satchmo SummerFest poster artist; he started as a graffiti artist, and those roots can still be seen in the bold, colorful style of this year’s poster which can be viewed online as well.
Daily admission is only $5 and that money goes toward the performers and supporting the festival. Children 12 and under get in free and have access to Pop’s Playhouse for Kids powered by Entergy. The latter is part of the indoor activities which also includes presentations by renowned Armstrong scholars. For more information visit satchmosummerfest.org.