Mardi Gras season has a lot of different sounds. There is the hollering of crowds eager for throws, and the numerous “hey, how y’all doing’s?” shouted from the other side of a tent. Or, the noisy food; a crackle of chicken skins, silence when sharing king cake, and the dull taps of a wooden spoon hitting pot bottom of the jambalaya. Then, amongst all those other ambient festival noises, there’s the music. Bruno Mars blasts from float speakers. The bands roll in step with drilling drum-lines. Those who once marched play a different style with their trumpets and horns, graduated into the jazz culture of the city.
New Orleans is a city of sounds, and there is so much live music during Mardi Gras.
One particular show this weekend highlights the cultural music of regions that’ve most heavily influenced Mardi Gras, like West Africa and Brazil. Voilà is a funk party of four groups that are bringing a diverse set-up and collection of sounds, techniques, and influences to Man Ray Records. Boogie on down.
Great Live Music During Mardi Gras
If you are ready to dance, this is the event for you. There are acts up and down the night’s bill that have some real groovy energy. Begin with two DJs, Hiatt DB & C’est Funk, a Brazilian-transplant spinning 70’s and 80’s boogie. Joey Lyle, a current touring artist with Givers, is going to rock the drums. Another artist collection, Amigos do Samba, will be strumming and thumping their rhythmic namesake style with hip loosening intent.
Kumasi Afrobeat Orchestra plays funk that might just raise Fela Kuti. But Kumasi’s live-shows are way more then covers of the great African artist; Afrobeat Orchestra offers originals music drawn from the funk-concepts of Ghana and Nigeria. Just listen below to their live set at Music Box Village with the legendary Tony Allen.
Reading the ensemble cast of players coming together for Voilà is enough to make some feet start tapping. Music is crucial to this season. A show that’s for the sounds of the cultures that cultivated Carnival is going to be the most live music during Mardi Gras time. Don’t sleep on getting tickets to Voilà.
Voilà at Man Ray Records
Voilà takes place at Man Ray Records today, Feb. 21st. Man Ray Records is a “pre-loved” records store in the French Quarter, found at 228 Decatur. This event is co-hosted by Man Ray, Hiatt DB’s Mystery Zone Records, and C’est Funk’s Batucada Groove.
Doors open at 9:30p, the event page says music until 4a. Tickets are only $10 right now but go up on entry, so get them here to save some scratch: Voilà @ Man Ray Records. Enjoy a night of unique African, South American, and Caribbean music– the real sounds of Mardi Gras.
Have any tips on live music going on around the city?
Shout me out instagram: @b.randonrich or email brich@riverbeats.life
Featured image via Kumasi Afrobeat website.
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