Our Picks for French Quarter Festival 2022
The Preservation Brass will open the Jackson Square GE Stage on Thursday, April 21 at 11:15am
After nearly three years since the last French Quarter Festival, we are thrilled that this family-friendly and free community event will return in 2022, spanning from Thursday, April 21, to Sunday, April 24. We’ve compiled a schedule where you can catch the city’s finest traditional jazz ensembles, brass bands and Black Masking Indian groups and much more, featuring the beloved musicians of the Preservation Hall collective.
Updated April 18, 2022 – you can always find the full, downloadable schedule at frenchquarterfest.org/music-lineup!
THURSDAY, APRIL 21
An opening ceremony and parade will kick off the festival at Iberville & Bourbon Streets at 10am –with the New Birth Brass Band, New Wave Brass Band and the TBC Brass Band leading the procession. You can catch the resident brass band of Preservation Hall – the Preservation Brass – opening the Jackson Square GE Stage at 11:15, and the “King of Treme” Mr. Shannon Powell on the same stage at 5:30. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, featuring legendary baritone saxophonist, beloved Preservation Hall Master Practitioner and co-founder of the Dozen, Mr. Roger Lewis, will close out day one.
The Preservation Brass
11:15 – 12:25
Jackson Square GE Stage
Shannon Powell Traditional All-Star Band
5:30 – 6:45
Jackson Square GE Stage
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
6:30 – 8:00
Abita Beer Stage at Woldenberg Riverfront Park
FRIDAY, APRIL 22
Friday kicks off at 11:15 with the Storyville Stompers, featuring beloved regulars on the bandstand of Preservation Hall: Mr. Will Smith and Mr. Craig Klein. Other Hall regulars like Lars Edegran, Joe Lastie, Rickie Monie, Gerald French, Wendell Brunious and Steve Pistorius all lead ensembles throughout the day. Don’t miss the all-female Original Pinettes Brass Band, one of the outstanding 2020 PHF Community Engagement Grant recipients – and of course, close out the festival day with none other that Mrs. Irma Thomas!
Storyville Stompers Brass Band led by trumpeter Will Smith and Craig Klein (right)
Storyville Stompers Brass Band with Will Smith and Craig Klein
11:15 – 12:25
Louisiana Fish Fry Stage at the New Orleans Jazz Museum
New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra featuring Lars Edegran
11:30 – 12:45
French Market Dutch Alley Stage
Joe Lastie’s New Orleans Sound
12:30 –1:30
Tropical Isle Hand Grenade Stage at Woldenberg Riverfront Park
Don’t miss Joe Lastie on drums with his band Nation of Gumbolia immediately following until 2:50.
Rickie Monie & his Traditional Jazz Ramblers
1:00 – 2:15
French Market Dutch Alley Stage
Original Tuxedo Jazz Band with Gerald French
3:30 – 5:00
French Market Traditional Jazz Stage
Original Pinettes Brass Band
4:00 – 5:25
Louisiana Fish Fry Stage at the New Orleans Jazz Museum
Wendell Brunious
3:50 – 5:00
Jackson Square GE Stage
Steve Pistorius & the Southern Syncopators
5:30 – 7:00
French Market Traditional Jazz Stage
Irma Thomas, Soul Queen of New Orleans
6:40 – 8:00
Chevron Stage at Jax Brewery
SATURDAY, APRIL 23
Saturday’s highlights include jazz ensembles led by Mark Braud, Tom Sancton, and Preservation Hall Lessons Curriculum Developer and 5th generation New Orleans musician, Mr. Louis Ford. You can catch young Mardi Gras Indians perform traditional song and dance, and trombonist Craig Klein with trombone super group Bonerama and with the Grammy-winning New Orleans Nightcrawlers, alongside beloved bass drummer of the Preservation Brass, Kerry “Fat Man” Hunter. But the set we’re most excited for is Lawrence Cotton’s Legendary Experience – led by the eldest member of the Preservation Hall collective: 94-year-old master pianist Lawrence Cotton.
Lawrence Cotton is New Orleans’ oldest working musician and senior member of the Preservation Hall collective of musicians.
Young Indians of the Nation
11:00 – 12:00
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Kids Stage at Natchez Wharf
Mark Braud’s New Orleans Jazz Giants
11:30 – 12:45
Dorignac’s Food Center Stage at 700 Bourbon Street
Bonerama
2:10 – 3:10
Abita Beer Stage at Woldenberg Riverfront Park
Dejan’s Olympia Brass Band
2:15 – 3:40
Louisiana Fish Fry Stage at the New Orleans Jazz Museum
Lawrence Cotton’s Legendary Experience
3:45 – 5:00
Zapp’s Potato Chips Stage at 600 Bourbon Street
New Orleans Nightcrawlers with Kerry Hunter and Craig Klein
4:00 – 5:25
Louisiana Fish Fry Stage at the New Orleans Jazz Museum
Tommy Sancton’s New Orleans Legacy Band
4:00 – 5:15
Dorignac’s Food Center Stage at 700 Bourbon Street
Louis Ford & His New Orleans Flairs
5:30 – 7:00
French Market Traditional Jazz Stage
SUNDAY, APRIL 24
The closing day of the festival kicks off with drummer Gerald French and his French Connection – named after the legendary French family of musicians, and steeped in New Orleans musical traditions. Saxophonist Roderick Paulin will join the Paulin Brothers Brass Band at 2:15, just as the Treme Brass Band led by Mr. Benny Jones takes the stage at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Trombonist Haruka Kikuchi will appear with the Shake ‘Em Up Jazz Band, and beloved bandleader, trumpeter and clinician Kevin Louis will accompany none other than Mrs. Topsy Chapman to close out the Jackson Square stage.
Drummer and clinician Gerald French leads the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, the longest operating jazz band in the world. Founded by his grandfather Albert “Papa” French, the band celebrated its 111th year in 2021.
French Connection with Gerald and George
11:00 – 1:30
Jazz Playhouse at the Royal Sonesta at 300 Bourbon Street
Davis Rogan
12:15 – 1:15
Jones Walker Songwriter Stage at 520 Royal Street
Paulin Brothers Jazz Band
2:15 – 3:30
Zapp’s Potato Chips Stage at 600 Bourbon Street
Treme Brass Band
2:15 – 3:40
Louisiana Fish Fry Stage at the New Orleans Jazz Museum
Mark Brooks
2:30 – 3:45
Dorignac’s Food Center Stage at 700 Bourbon Street
Shake ‘Em Up Jazz Band
3:45 – 5:00
Zapp’s Potato Chips Stage at 600 Bourbon Street
Don Vappie & Banjo a la Creole
3:50 – 5:10
Jackson Square GE Stage
Clive Wilson’s New Orleans Serenaders
4:00 – 5:15
Dorignac’s Food Center Stage at 700 Bourbon Street
Topsy Chapman and Solid Harmony with Kevin Louis
5:30 – 6:45
Jackson Square GE Stage
Have a safe and happy French Quarter Festival!