Looking for more to do this week? Check out the latest on Gambit's calendar at calendar.gambitweekly.com.
CimaFest NOLA
Afro-Cuban funk artist Cimafunk last year threw a high-energy, guest-packed show at the Civic Theatre. He’s back for the second annual CimaFest, this time with pianist and Afro-Cuban jazz great Chucho Valdes and singer La Dame Blanche, an equally energetic performer mixing hip-hop, cumbia and dancehall. More guest artists will be announced. CimaFest takes place at 9 p.m. Friday, April 26, at the Civic. Tickets are $55 via civicnola.com.
Flaming Lips
Bandleader Wayne Coyne has always had a flair for theatrics. He created sci-fi videos and full movies for some Flaming Lips albums, and once crowd-surfed in a giant inflatable bubble at an outdoor concert in City Park. He, Steven Drozd and Michael Ivins are the core longtime members of the Oklahoma psychedelic rock band, and they are revisiting classic material in a tour featuring music from 2002’s “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” featuring songs like “Do You Realize??” (the official rock song of Oklahoma). At 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at Saenger Theatre. Tickets $39.50-$89.50 via saengernola.com.
Bianca Del Rio
Bianca Del Rio honed her sharp tongue and vicious sense of humor hosting drag bingo and doing shows in local bars. Since winning season six of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” she’s gone on to star in two “Hurricane Bianca” movies and tours the world doing live shows. She’s back in her hometown for a show at 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at Mahalia Jackson Theater. Find tickets via mahaliajacksontheater.com.
Jay Jurden
Stand-up comic Jay Jurden was a staff writer for “The Problem With Jon Stewart” and has appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” Filled with quick quips and turns, his material often digs into his experiences as a queer Black man and recent sets have touched on his marriage to his husband, being uncancelable and hypocritical baby boomers. Sports Drink hosts Jurden for shows Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, at Junk Drawer Coffee. Sets at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $20 via sportsdrink.eventbrite.com.
Gambit previews the first weekend of Jazz Fest 2024.
David Sedaris
Humorist David Sedaris is known for his pieces on NPR and books including “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” “Theft by Finding: Diaries (1977-2002)” and “Happy-Go-Lucky,” in which he reflected on the pandemic and his difficult relationship with his father. In February, he and illustrator Ian Falconer released “Pretty Ugly,” a tale about a monster with a human face. He speaks at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at Orpheum Theater. Find tickets via orpheumnola.net.
Low Cut Connie
Philadelphia pianist and singer Adam Weiner gave it his all at a blazing hot midday set on Jazz Fest’s largest stage last year. His act as Low Cut Connie seems more cut out for a still sweaty, but dimly lit lounge show. His energetic approach to rock incorporates old R&B, boogie-woogie, funk and more. Low Cut Connie released the album “Art Dealers” last year. It’s back in New Orleans for two shows at Siberia at 9 p.m. Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27. Tickets $31 via dice.fm.
Take Me to the River All-Stars
The Take Me to the River project has produced two films about music traditions in Southern cities, one focused on Memphis, Tennessee, and another on New Orleans, released in 2022. Many of the musicians featured in the New Orleans documentary, including William Bell, Cyril Neville, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. and others will perform together as the Take Me to the River All-Stars at 9 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Joy Theater. Tickets start at $39.50 via thejoytheater.com.
‘Wakanda Forever’
The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission will show "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” as its next Movies in the Park screening on Friday, April 26, at Joe W. Brown Park. The sequel to the Marvel blockbuster “Black Panther” picks up a year after the death of King T’Challa and follows the leaders of Wakanda fighting to protect the country from a new threat. The movie begins at dusk and is free to attend. Find more information at nordc.org.
‘Born With Teeth’
William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe, two of the greatest minds of Elizabethan England, meet in a London tavern, where they match wits, collaborate on a new play and flirt in Liz Duffy Adams' recent comedy. Ian Hoch and Dylan Hunter star in the show at Le Petit Theatre. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday (preview night), April 25, through Saturday, April 27, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 28, and May 2-12. Tickets $20-$85 (includes fees) via lepetittheatre.com.
Festin' Around the Fest
Plaquemines Parish Seafood Festival
The Belle Chasse festival kicks off Friday, April 26 with a 5K and runs through Sunday, April 28. There are carnival rides and live music, including R&R Smokin’ Foundation on Friday, Nashville South headlining Saturday and Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters closing out the festival on Sunday. There’s also a kids tent with arts and crafts, a petting zoo, caricature drawing, character meet and greets, clown acts and more. The festival takes place at 333 F. Edward Hebert Blvd., and admission is free Friday and $5 cash only for everyone 13 and older on Saturday and Sunday. Carnival ride ticket options are available at an additional cost. For more information, visit plaqueminesparishfestival.com.
Swing in the Oaks
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra hosts its annual free concert in City Park. The show starts and ends on a patriotic note with “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Stars and Stripes Forever,” but in between LPO will play everything from “Do Whatcha Wanna” to songs from the “Pirates of the Carribean” and “Star Wars” soundtracks. The show starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, with a special performance by LPO Academy students at 6 p.m., at The Great Lawn & Peristyle at City Park. For more information, visit lpomusic.com.
Mavis Staples
With a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, a Kennedy Center honor and countless more accolades, rhythm and blues singer Mavis Staples deserves to be called a living legend. Staples got her start in her family’s gospel and soul group The Staple Singers and has had a more than 50-year solo career filled with powerful music. A fan of collaborations, Staples has appeared on recent songs with Run the Jewels, Hozier and Jon Batiste. Staples performs at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 28, at the Civic Theatre with the New Breed Brass Band. Tickets start at $60 via civicnola.com.
It's likely nobody who will ever look at a water cooler the same way again.
