Satchmo SummerFest changes announced

NEW ORLEANS — French Quarter Festivals Inc. announces a major move for Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron: the 16th annual event will take place in Jackson Square Aug. 5-7. The move will help FQFI achieve its goal to grow Satchmo SummerFest, which began in 2001 as a way to commemorate Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong’s 100th birthday.
Since its inception, the event — previously held at the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint — has turned into New Orleans’ traditional jazz festival which annually attracts an average of 40,000 attendees.
“As we celebrate the Festival’s 16th anniversary — and Louis Armstrong’s 116th birthday — we are thrilled to move into New Orleans’ most beautiful, iconic park,” said Marci Schramm, FQFI executive director of French Quarter Festivals. “Like Louis Armstrong, Jackson Square is beloved and integral to New Orleans’ history and culture. The new location, along with our incredible symposium panelists, traditional jazz musicians, great restaurants, and special events will make this year’s event incredibly memorable, historic, and high profile.”
Satchmo SummerFest is held annually on the weekend closest to Aug. 4, Louis Armstrong’s birthday.
Attendees can look forward to festival fare from some of New Orleans’ best restaurants, unique cultural events like a traditional jazz Mass and second lines, a Trumpet Tribute and Birthday Party for Louis Armstrong, and children’s activities, the FQFI news release states.
This year, Satchmo SummerFest grows with the addition of the new “Back o’ Town” stage located inside the air-conditioned on the second floor of the Louisiana State Museum’s Arsenal located at 600 St. Peter St. The “Back o’ Town” will feature a dance floor, NOLA Jitterbugs, and live dance music on Aug. 6-7.
Inside Jackson Square, two additional stages (the “Red Beans and Ricely Yours Stage” and “Cornet Chop Suey Stage”) will provide three days of musical performances. The lineup includes Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Bill Summers & Jazalsa, Kermit Ruffins, Brass-A-Holics, Catherine Russell (debut), Yoshio Toyama and the Dixie Saints, Jeremy Davenport, Trumpet Tribute to Louis Armstrong featuring James Andrews, Victor Goines (debut), Wendell Brunious and many more. Online visit fqfi.org/satchmo to view the full music schedule.
The Satchmo Symposium, three days of seminars with internationally-respected Satchmo scholars and musicians, will be held inside Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré. This year’s Symposium includes a special panel developed in partnership with the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Pulitzer: Celebrating 100 years of Pulitzer — From New Orleans to the World Stage: The Artistic Journeys of Louis Armstrong and Wynton Marsalis.
The panel will explore and contrast the approaches, outlooks and outputs of both artists, as well as how they were influenced by New Orleans; it will be moderated by New Orleans journalist and historian James Karst.
On Aug. 5, Grammy Award-winning artist Catherine Russell will present “From Satchmo’s Knee to a Grammy.” Russell grew up in New York City as the daughter of musical royalty: her father was pianist, bandleader and longtime Louis Armstrong musical director Luis Russell; her mother, Carline Ray, was a celebrated artist who performed with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, Mary Lou Williams and Ruth Brown, among others.
Author Mick Carlon presents “A Conversation with Jack Bradley.” Bradley was Armstrong’s most trusted friends as well as the “photo-taker” of some of the most candid Armstrong photographs ever captured. The recently-recorded interview will be shown on Aug. 7. A full Satchmo SummerFest Symposium schedule can be found at fqfi.org/satchmo.
The SummerFest also brings the “Spirit of Satch” Awards. Winners are champions of jazz and New Orleans music in a variety of areas. The winners will be announced Aug. 5 during the opening ceremony on the “Red Beans and Ricely Yours” stage.
The French Quarter Festivals is a nonprofit organization.