You guessed it, the seven day music monolith Jazz Fest is officially upon us. This first week of the Fest begins on Thursday and will be packed with revelers and festies until closing on Sunday night. You can check out the full schedule and plan your day or days there with the schedules conveniently located in our issue out now. You can also pick one up from the helpful folks passing them out when the Fest opens up on Friday and Saturday. If you want to enhance your Fest experience, you welcome to attend the Sync Up Conference. Those interested in and involved with new media and entertainment technology can check out Sync Up at the New Orleans Museum of Art on Friday and Saturday morning beginning at 9 a.m. The conference is free, but you must register here.
There’s plenty going on around town to amuse you when the Fest gates are closed. This sultry burlesque troupe is getting extra saucy at Siberia on Thursday night; Big Deal Burlesque features some familiar names: producer Roxie le Rouge puts on a rotating, one-of-a-kind, and never the same show twice event featuring Ruby Rage, Seattle’s own Jesse Belle-Jones, and many more for your eyes’ entertainment. $10 at 9 p.m. The ladies will begin the teasing at 9 p.m. for $10. Stick around for the disco dance party Disco Nouveau after the show. But if you didn’t get your fill of live music at the Fest, you can catch the Guitar Masters featuring Cranston Clements, Jimmy Robinson, Phil DeGruy, and John Rankin at the Circle Bar at 10 p.m.
Folk-inspired bands Hurray for the Riff Raff and Lonesome Leash get the boots stomping at the Allways Lounge on Friday at 10 p.m. Closer to the French Quarter Sheer Terror Records presents a strangely-themed punk show featuring Dummy Dumpster, Secret Society in Smaller Lies, Atomic Power Bots and more at the Dragon’s Den at 10 p.m. There will be a cult leader Jim Jones costume contest and there will be Kool Aid drink specials. They are not however poisonous.
On Saturday night, Texas thrashers Warbeast come back to rock their second home of NOLA at Hangar 13 with locals Zombie Legion and the Devil’s Rain at 9 p.m. for $10.