The Jazz Fest, Essence Festival, and Voodoo Fest may be the main attractions, but New Orleans music festivals cover a wide range of genres from hip hop to punk. If you're looking for a live music experience, Frenchmen Street is the place to be. All of the jazz clubs are fantastic, but the Spotted Cat is the most iconic. It's a small, intimate club with purple lights that illuminate the 5-member jazz band that takes the stage every night.
They have a rotation of artists, but each one is incredibly talented in their craft. VooDoo Music Experience is an epic and euphonic adventure that takes place over Halloween weekend in one of the most eccentric cities in the world. It's a three-day event full of exciting music lovers dressed in some of the craziest costumes you've ever seen. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival features jazz as well as other genres such as R&B, gospel, Cajun, Zydeco, blues, folk, Latin, rock, bluegrass and more.
It's an unmissable event for families of musicians who enjoy the vibrant culture of New Orleans and its delicious food and endless entertainment. The French Quarter Fest is a free festival for local musical talent and it's a great way to engage with NOLA residents. It's an affordable way to keep kids busy and it attracts local New Orleans families looking for fun. Music Box Village is more of an interactive art installation than a place, but it's a great way to support the arts in New Orleans.
April is the ideal time to visit as temperatures range from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and you can spend four days wandering around the French Quarter enjoying good local music and treating yourself to delicious food like bacon and nutella crepes and cheesecake with nut cake. These festivals act like a kind of melodious Johnny Apple Seed, spreading the Gospel of New Orleans music to visitors from all over the country and the world.
