Mark Stewart straddles the worlds of art and music. He’s better known as the music director for Paul Simon’s band and has worked with Simon since 1998. He also makes musical instruments and is the curator of a collection of giant instruments at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA).
Last week, he was in New Orleans as part of a Resonant Residency at the Music Box Village. He worked with Music Box staff to fabricate 14 instruments with materials including objects like butter knives and garden trowels. High school students from The Living School experimented with the instruments and worked with Stewart on the design of a new “house,” or large piece of musical architecture, that will debut at the Music Box in fall.
That’s been happening at the Music Box during a hiatus since the art and performance venue closed its fall season early last year, canceling a couple of performances. While the Music Box is adjusting to a financial crunch, it reopens its spring season April 6 with a day of open hours. A schedule of spring events was just released, and tickets are available on the Music Box website.
Music Box director Leah Hennessy is looking forward to re-opening and getting back on track.
“We have to get open and get people back into the space and reengage people about the work and the mission,” Hennessy says. “We’re doing open hours on the first day to get families back in and people of all ages playing on the instruments.”
The Music Box season includes performances by local and visiting musicians, from John Boutte to a Headhunters show featuring longtime members Bill Summers and Mike Clark with special guests Stanton Moore, Yusa, Clarence Johnson and more. Returning from Colombia are the Meridian Brothers, a project presenting itself as a 1970s salsa band reborn in contemporary times. The group played the venue in 2022 and returns May 16.
“People really love playing in Music Box,” Hennessy says. “The Meridian Brothers wanted to come back to New Orleans.”
One show is a holdover from a fall season postponement. Louis Michot’s “Reve du Troubadour” features cellist/guitarist Leyla McCalla, accordionist Corey Ledet, Rising Stars Fife & Drum Band, Lost Bayou Ramblers guitarist Jonny Campos and more. The show is now May 11.
During Jazz Fest, there also is a show by IFE and Weedie Braimah & the Hands of Time. Another Jazz Fest-time show will be announced.
The neighborhood festival fills Freret Street from Napoleon Avenue to Valmont Street.
The Music Box’s fall closure reflects a dip in funding coming out of the pandemic, Hennessy says. The Music Box also saw a change in leadership, as founders and longtime organizers Jay Pennington and Delaney Martin stepped away from leadership roles in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The Music Box chose to close the season early and had to let go of some staff as it reorganized, Hennessy says.
Martin and Pennington collaborated on the original Music Box Village in 2011. It featured house-like art installations primarily made from reclaimed materials. There have been several iterations and locations of the Village.
The Music Box currently has three full-time staff and one part-time person and expects to bring on more paid help and volunteers during the season.
For spring, the schedule is essentially all special events, with no regular open hours, unless increased funding allows otherwise, Hennessy says. The venue also is doing private events. The scheduled open hours will bring local musicians into the space to play the musical installations and engage visitors.
Stewart is working with lead fabricator Christian Repaal, technical director Alex Abalos and others on the construction of a house. The residency draws some grant support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The house will be part of the Village in fall, with an official celebration including Stewart in November.
For more information, visit musicboxvillage.com.
Juvie Tuesdays is closing in on 20 years.
Keep up with the latest events at calendar.gambitweekly.com.
