Countdown To Crawfish

Aaron Neville

New Orleans Returns to New Jersey as the Best of the Big Easy’s Music and Food Arrives for Milestone Weekend Celebration at Sussex Fairgrounds in Augusta

 Tickets on Sale NOW!

Watch the highlight reel

 A New Jersey tradition will be marking its milestone 30^th anniversary celebrating two of New Orleans’ greatest traditions – music and food – with Big Easy backyard authenticity, when the likes of Aaron Neville, the Marcus King Band and over 20 other great Crescent City acts go “head to tail” with 10,000 pounds of specially imported crawfish and more at MICHAEL ARNONE’S 30^TH ANNUAL CRAWFISH FEST, May 31-June 2 here at the Sussex County Fairgrounds.

Tickets are on sale NOW for the three-day festival, which annually draws close to 20,000 people for a unique weekend experience featuring the best music and food that New Orleans and all of Louisiana has to offer. The music spans Bayou-based Cajun, Zydeco, Delta Blues, New Orleans R&B, Brass, Gospel and Jazz across three stages, while the food highlights assorted other south Louisiana delicacies such as fresh Boiled Louisiana Crawfish trucked in alive, with Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee, Alligator Sausage, Po-boys (oyster, shrimp and catfish), Char Grilled Oysters, Southern Fried Chicken, along with the Louisiana chefs who prepare it all. 

Marcus King Band

Also scheduled to appear are Neville Jacobs, Rebirth Brass Band, Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, Cowboy Mouth, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, Bishop Gunn, Cory Henry and the Treme Funktet, John Papa Gros Band, Jonathon Long, Flow Tribe, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha-Chas, Darcy Malone and the Tangle, Amanda Fish, The Iceman Special, Jesse Lege and Bayou Brew, Tony Smith and the You Know How We Do Crew, and Big Mamou.

Festival goers can purchase 2019 Crawfish Fest Single Day, 2 Day Combo, Group, onsite 4 day/3 nights Camping/ Admission, and King Crawfish Krewe Tickets (main stage pit passes). Advance tickets start at $35 for adults (free for children under 14 with parent), and are available through the official website, www.crawfishfest.com.

“The great thing about this festival is its incredible authenticity,” says festival creator-producer and Louisiana import Michael Arnone. “It’s so real that for everybody who’s moved up North from Louisiana, everyone who’s homesick, this is like going home for a few days. The Louisiana atmosphere, the crawfish, the jambalaya, it’s all there. I tell people the music brings them, but the food keeps them.”  

"Songs Of Inspiration"

Get, Get, Get inspired! 

Professor Louie & The Crowmatix "Songs Of Inspiration"

to be released via Woodstock Records on April 5th

Americana Legends Take on Folk and Gospel Classics

Professor Louie has emerged in the music industry as the torchbearer of the true spirit of American Roots music. As a seasoned live performer, prolific recording artist, and versatile multi-instrumentalist Louie also wears the hat of award-winning recording producer and engineer, capturing the talents of some of the world's most highly acclaimed musicians, most notably, The Band.  In 2018, Professor Louie and The Crowmatix joined the Empire State Orchestra & Choir to perform their song Melody Of Peace at The NY Capital Region's premiere holiday extravaganza CBS 6 TV Special "Melodies Of Christmas". The four night sold out performances at The Proctors Theater in Schenectady, NY was filmed in front of 15,000 people and viewed by three million on CBS 6. The show since its inception has raised over $8,000,000 for The Melodies Children's Ward at Albany Med and the impetus for the album "Songs Of Inspiration." Award winning song Melody Of Peace was recorded by Professor Louie & The Crowmatix in Prague with The Prague Symphony and Kuhn Radio Choir. This version is on "Songs Of Inspiration". Professor Louie traveled, performed and recorded with The Mighty Gospel Giants of Brooklyn, and on this album with his dynamic group The Crowmatix, recorded some of his favorite gospel tunes including I'm On My Way, Up Above My Head, I Shall Not Be Moved, Motherless Child, plus other songs that influenced his career. Louie and his writing partner Miss Marie penned the international award winning composition Melody Of Peace and Open Hand Open Heart, which has become a theme song for many international organizations. The Crowmatix are: Professor Louie (Keys, Accordion, Vocals) collaborated with The Band for 17 years. John Platania (Guitar, Vocals) known for his performances with Van Morrison.  Gary Burke (Drums) performed with Bob Dylan's The Rolling Thunder Review.  Miss Marie (Vocals, Percussionist, Keys) preformed, recorded with Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson.  Frank Campbell (Bass, Vocals) Levon Helm's Music Director with the Woodstock All-stars. Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Shop

Gotta Serve Somebody

Bob Dylan, he's a poet and you know it... Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs Of Bob Dylan Coming to DVD and digital formats February 9th Features an intense performance from Bob Dylan, plus performances from Aaron Neville, Shirley Caesar, Dottie Peoples, and many others during behind-the-scenes making of the Grammy-nominated compilation "Gotta Serve Somebody" released 15 years ago "The best African-American covers of Dylan songs since Jimi Hendrix." - The New York Times

Marking the fifteenth anniversary of GRAMMY-nominated album Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan, MVD Entertainment Group will reissue the film of the same title. Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan features an intense Bob Dylan performance from 1980 of "When He Returns" as well as powerful performances and interviews with Aaron Neville, Shirley Caesar, Fairfield Four, Mighty Clouds of Joy, and Dottie Peoples, reflecting on their faith and connections to Dylan's Christian music. Now, with the November release of Columbia Records' "Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981," a further exploration of that period has taken place, which began with this album and film. "It was an honor to have made an impression on the great artist himself with these recordings," said the film's producer Jeffrey Gaskill. From 2009 to 2011, Bob Dylan opened 40 concerts around the world with Gonna Change My Way of Thinking (his Grammy-nominated new version re-written and recorded for Gotta Serve Somebody: The Gospel Songs of Bob Dylan with Mavis Staples.) in concert halls in Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, London, Beijing, Shanghai, Adelaide and this performance in Tel Aviv (video HERE). Just a month after his recording with Staples he would kick off a new tour in Stockholm Sweden and perform Solid Rock (what many consider the theme song to his gospel era concerts) for the first time in over twenty years. Dylan would continue to perform this rousing song as well as other gospel era songs at numerous concerts across Europe and beyond. The two-time Grammy nominated compilation would be released on Sony/Columbia one year later on April 1, 2003 (video HERE). "This gospel music was Bob Dylan's ultimate rebellion, and it took much more courage than strapping on an electric guitar," said Gaskill. The film offers historical insights into this Bob Dylan era provided by Jim Keltner, Fred Tackett, Spooner Oldham, and Regina McCrary - all of whom performed and recorded with Dylan at the time. Famed record producer Jerry Wexler, who produced the records, and music journalists Paul Williams and Alan Light, also disclose insights. Pre-order at the MVD Shop or on Amazon TRACK LISTING Arlethia Lindsey - Every Grain of Sand Bob Dylan - When He Returns Sounds of Blackness - Solid Rock Shirley Caesar - Gotta Serve Somebody Dottie Peoples - I Believe in You Aaron Neville - Saving Grace Helen Baylor - What Can I Do For You' The Fairfield Four - Are You Ready Great Day Chorale - In the Garden Mighty Clouds of Joy - Saved Chicago Mass Choir featuring Regina McCrary - Pressing On Rance Allen - When He Returns

Kelly Clarkson/Stewie/Kelly Clarkson/Taylor Swift

Kelly Clarkson As Stewie: "I'm So Hot I'm The Leading Cause Of Global Warming"

Are you confused? Well don't be. The one and only original American Idol Ms. Kelly Clarkson did a bomb ass cover of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off, gospel style.

Pretty amazing stuff, I must say...what does Stewie from The Family Guy have to do with this? Kelly dressed as him in the image above for Halloween one year!

So have a groovy ghoulie day and sing it peeps with Ms. C!

"Shake It Off" Kelly Clarkson style after the jump:

Groove with Kelly at:
https://www.facebook.com/kellyclarkson