Lana Del Rey
Friday, April 25; 9 p.m.
Champions Square, 1500 Sugar Bowl Dr.
Superdome.com/square; $61.50
Lana Del Rey is one of today's more refreshing acts breaking the monotony of modern day pop with her deep lyrics and strong vocal skills. Aside from being a great singer/song writer, Lana Del Rey can be defined as an overall creative as displayed in her 2011 "Video Games" single that she created the video for herself. Her videos feature a sort of "cut and paste" style featuring numerous short video clips from the past and present jumbled together as you listen to her classic vocals. The music of this world renowned singer started when she began writing at age 18, her first album, Lana Del Rey, was released in 2010 in digital format only. Two years later, after signing with Interscope Records, she released her highly acclaimed Born to Die in 2012. Since then her music has been in high demand, and for good reason. This show originally booked at the Sugar Mill, which holds around 3,000 spectators had to be relocated to Champions Square which holds around 7,500, due to ticket demand. Lana Del Rey is one of the great vocalists of our generation and will be something your eyes and ears will thank you for when it is all over. - Kevin Laughlin
Trombone Shorty
Friday, April 25; 9 p.m.
House of Blues, 225 Decatur St.
Houseofblues.com; $50
Troy Andrews, better known by his stage name Trombone Shorty, is one of the many pioneers of the modern day jazz heard in New Orleans. Andrews, getting his start at the age of six, has been playing the trombone all his life. This wealth of experience has led him to new heights as one of the world's greatest jazz composers and performers of our time, working with names of high acclaim such as The Neville Brothers, U2, Green Day, Lenny Kravitz and more. This native son has put himself and New Orleans on the map with his stellar NBA All-Star halftime show performance. Currently he is focusing on Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue which is a funk, pop, and hip hop mix he and bandmates Mike Ballard, Dan Oestreicher, Tim McFatter, Pete Murano, and Joey Peebles collectively create. Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue remind young and old alike what this city is all about: great music. - Kevin Laughlin
Strange Roux
Friday, April 25; 10 p.m.
AllWays Lounge
2240 Saint Claude Ave.
Theallwayslounge.net; $15
Swamp Rock locals Strange Roux is fresh off their first EP release titled Boogieman. Local in every sense of the word, this band performs in New Orleans, lives in New Orleans, and is signed to a New Orleans label (Total Riot Records). Bringing their audience high energy rock and roll every time they hit the stage, this band is dedicated to bringing its listeners and viewers original music from start to finish. Made up of Michelle Cunningham (Vocals), Jason Kareores (Guitar/Slide), Nick Hughes (Drums), and Eric Burgess (Bass), this fairly new band can be found at all your local hotspots including Tipitina's, Howlin' Wolf, and Blue Nile. You will not want to pass on the opportunity to see this group featured as one of the "Up and Coming" bands at the 2011 "Made in the Shade" event, which takes place during French Quarter Fest. - Kevin Laughlin
Dumpstaphunk
Friday, April 25; 9 p.m.
Howlin' Wolf, 907 S. Peters St.
Thehowlinwolf.com; $35
It's hard to believe that just over a decade ago New Orleans' own Dumpstaphunk debuted at the 2003 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. If you had to judge a groups future success on and early performance this one would predict a very bright future. After the rocking the stage New Orleans-style in 2003, the group has been very busy and has not slowed down. They have been making appearances at regular local venues, but have also found a broader audience who appreciates "the funk." This group has made appearances from Jazz Fest all the way to Bonnaroo, bringing audiences their high energy, loud, bass-knocking grooves. Having always pushed the limits of funk music to including other genres, Dumpstaphunk's summer 2013 release, Dirty Word, does just that. If you have not already picked up a copy and let it blow your mind, you should go to the record store right now. A star-studded cast of other great musicians such as Trombone Shorty, Rebirth Brass Band, Ani DiFranco and more make appearances on the album to help push the limits of funk and your ears. - Kevin Laughlin
Morning 40 Federation
Friday, April 25; 9 p.m.
One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse St.
Oneeyedjacks.net; $20
Dating back to 1998, Morning 40 Federation can be considered one of the first of many recent New Orleans bands who have mixed the traditional jazz/funk sounds with a little bit of rock and roll. The local band from the Ninth Ward has been putting out their unique take on Jazz since 2000 with the release of You My Brother all the way to their most recent album, Ticonderoga, in 2007. After their 2009 reunion show at the Voodoo Music Experience, fans have seen more of the band locally at venues like One Eyed Jacks and d.b.a. At a recent show at One Eyed Jacks, the band played two new songs hinting there could be another album in the works, but that is still uncertain. They will be making an appearance later this month at One Eyed Jacks bringing their unique style and stage presence to the local fans that have loyally thrived off their music. - Kevin Laughlin
Pretty Lights
Saturday, April 26; 9 p.m.
Champions Square,
1500 Sugar Bowl Dr.
Superdome.com/square; $55
Derek Vincent Smith, better known by his stage name of Pretty Lights, will bring his unique "Hip-Hop Electro Soul" music to Champions Square later this month. After opening for larger Electronic acts from 2007-2009, Pretty Lights hit center stage beginning in 2010 with appearances at Coachella, Ultra, Evolve, and New York's Electric Zoo. Pretty Lights put out 3 albums from 2006-2009, most of which were strictly samples from other genres of music with his own electro twist on it. However, after nearly four years without putting out an album, Pretty Lights released A Color Map of the Sun in 2013 to high acclaim. This would be his first album without using borrowed samples. Pretty Lights worked with session musicians, some being from New Orleans, with tracks he had composed and then used these with his computer programs to give them his signature style. This hard work did not go unnoticed as he was nominated for Best Dance/Electronica Album at the 2014 Grammys. Do not miss the chance to see one of the world's most sought after Electronic artists along with New Orleans' own Hot 8 Brass Band. - Kevin Laughlin
Anders Osborne with Rebirth Brass Band
Saturday, April 26; 9 p.m.
Howlin' Wolf, 907 S. Peters St.
Thehowlinwolf.com, $35
Growing up, Osborne had many musical influences, but once he heard the sounds of blues, he knew exactly what genre he wanted to partake. He ran away from Sweden, where he was born, at the age of sixteen, and, after bouncing around for a while, he landed in New Orleans, where he still calls home; he lived in Mid-City as well as the French Quarter. Osborne has won numerous awards such as Song of The Year for his composition "Louisiana Gold." Osborne's latest work moves away from chaos and expresses inner peace and sunlight. He strips away all the dark and grunge and lets the light and happiness shine through. Osborne has been touring non-stop either as a solo artist, in a trio or as a guest. With his detailed songwriting, perfect guitar work, and powerful vocals, Osborne can easily be classified as a musical treasure. - Amy Pracheil
BoomBox, Ott, Nunchuck, Gravity A and J. Wail
Sunday, April 27; 9 p.m.
Howlin' Wolf, 907 S. Peters St.
Thehowlinwolf.com; $20
Holwin' Wolf's "Howlin' for Beats" brings together five amazing bands in an electronic performance. BoomBox has developed an electronic blend of vintage Rock and Blues while creating their hybrid style on the fly. Ott has been taking over England with his unique expressed love for organic dub and pristine electronics. Nunchuck, from Chuck Morris, plays the drum kit while augmenting instrumental mixes. Gravity A, an electronic band brings together the sounds of funk and New Orleans into each album. J.WAIL creates "club-funk-glitch-rock" through innovative techniques using live guitar, live drums, vocals, synthesizers and live electronics. Together these artists will come alive on stage at the Howlin' Wolf. - Kevin Laughlin
