The Big Easy in Buffalo celebrates Mardi Gras, Dyngus Day

Shows featuring Buffalo, New Orleans bands on tap

The Big Easy in Buffalo announced the next shows in its local live stream series that features Western New York’s top local bands that have that New Orleans spirit. The shows will be live-streamed at www.facebook.com/TheBigEasyInBuffalo, all with a 5:30 p.m. start time.

•Feb. 13 – Ten Cent Howl, The Brass Machine, the 14th Annual Mardi Gras Jam – Americana band Ten Cent Howl and New Orleans-style brass band The Brass Machine will each perform and join each other for a unique jam bringing two very different musical genres together.

•March 13 – Grace Stumberg – a solo performance by the singer/songwriter/guitarist who has toured the world with Joan Baez.

•April 3 – The Buffalo Touch – celebrate Dyngus Day a little early with “America’s polka party band” (with a rebroadcast on Dyngus Day, April 5).

•May 8 – The Barroom Buzzards – one of Western New York’s original New Orleans-inspired bands, are a traditional jazz ensemble performing New Orleans jazz, swing, blues, Dixieland and Ragtime music.

In addition, on the morning of Fat Tuesday, Feb. 16, The Big Easy in Buffalo will premiere a special Mardi Gras virtual show featuring exclusive performances by New Orleans musicians John “Papa” Gros Band, Joe Krown, Josh Paxton, Marc Stone, and the Storyville Stompers Brass Band. The show will be available to view all day.

 “We’re excited to continue our successful local music series, and to finally bring New Orleans bands back even if we have to do it virtually right now,” Artistic/Executive Director Tod A. Kniazuk said.

The shows are free of charge, though tips for the bands are strongly encouraged. All shows will be streamed thanks to buffalo.fm and posted at www.facebook.com/TheBigEasyInBuffalo, as are frequent live streams from New Orleans artists.

“Celebrating both Mardi Gras and Dyngus Day is the textbook definition of The Big Easy in Buffalo,” Kniazuk added. “The five Buffalo and five New Orleans bands we have coming up next in our series are all world-class and we can’t wait to share these shows with everyone.”

Since 2007, The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low-cost live performances, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo, thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture.

The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by Erie County, buffalo.fm, Silo City, Buffalo Iron Works, Sportsmen’s Tavern, The Buffalo Grand Hotel, and Dick & Jenny’s.