10 Places to Groove to the Sounds of the Big Easy

This is the best of New Orleans.

On your next trip to N’awlins take heed to this helpful guide and know this, “It’s New Orleans. You’re Different Here. Come Meet the Real You.”

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On your next trip to N’awlins take heed to this helpful guide and know this, “It’s New Orleans. You’re Different Here. Come Meet the Real You.”

 \rThe Band's All Here\r - Grammy Award-winning New Orleans native Irma Thomas said it best about her hometown sound, "We live and breathe our music, we don’t just play it." So, if it's an authentic slice of the Big Easy life you’re looking for, then you need to get an up close and personal view of the legendary brass bands that play throughout the city. From the popular Louisiana Brass Band to the Stooges Brass Band to the Rebirth Brass Band, you can see them all live. Venues like the famed Vaughn's Lounge and Kermit Ruffins' Sydney’s Saloon are exceptional spots to hear the finest jazz music. 

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 \rThe Band's All Here\r - Grammy Award-winning New Orleans native Irma Thomas said it best about her hometown sound, "We live and breathe our music, we don’t just play it." So, if it's an authentic slice of the Big Easy life you’re looking for, then you need to get an up close and personal view of the legendary brass bands that play throughout the city. From the popular Louisiana Brass Band to the Stooges Brass Band to the Rebirth Brass Band, you can see them all live. Venues like the famed Vaughn's Lounge and Kermit Ruffins' Sydney’s Saloon are exceptional spots to hear the finest jazz music. 

 \rFrenchmen Street\r - If you're looking to escape the bustle of Bourbon Street, take the short jaunt to Frenchmen Street. The two-block musical stretch offers the infectious sounds of jazz, blues, Latin and reggae in spots like The Blue Nile, Snug Harbor, and d.b.a. Be sure to visit on "Dead Mondays."

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 \rFrenchmen Street\r - If you're looking to escape the bustle of Bourbon Street, take the short jaunt to Frenchmen Street. The two-block musical stretch offers the infectious sounds of jazz, blues, Latin and reggae in spots like The Blue Nile, Snug Harbor, and d.b.a. Be sure to visit on "Dead Mondays."

Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival - It doesn't get more N'awlins than this. Every March the festival rolls into the city’s famed Tremé neighborhood (yeah the same one from the critically-acclaimed HBO series) where foodies and music lovers can feast on a smorgasbord of gumbo dishes as they join the jubilant second-line parades that make their way through the streets of the Big Easy, keeping up centuries of a jazz tradition.

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Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival - It doesn't get more N'awlins than this. Every March the festival rolls into the city’s famed Tremé neighborhood (yeah the same one from the critically-acclaimed HBO series) where foodies and music lovers can feast on a smorgasbord of gumbo dishes as they join the jubilant second-line parades that make their way through the streets of the Big Easy, keeping up centuries of a jazz tradition.

Bounce to Dat - Before Lil Wayne and Cash Money Records became dominant forces in hip hop, 504 natives got down to bounce music, the energetic call-and-response style that originated in the wards of New Orleans. Today, fans of the old school sound can check out shows at venues like Republic New Orleans, where bounce veterans like Katey Red, Rusty Lazer and Big Freedia perform their hits.\r 

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Bounce to Dat - Before Lil Wayne and Cash Money Records became dominant forces in hip hop, 504 natives got down to bounce music, the energetic call-and-response style that originated in the wards of New Orleans. Today, fans of the old school sound can check out shows at venues like Republic New Orleans, where bounce veterans like Katey Red, Rusty Lazer and Big Freedia perform their hits.\r 

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Sunday's Best - The holy trinity of religion, music and food come together every Sunday in the Big Easy at the weekly Gospel Brunches. The New Orleans tradition, which is inspired by the city's gospel roots (legendary gospel great Mahalia Jackson is a native of the Big Easy), offers the religious and non-religious an opportunity to enjoy spiritual tunes and soulful food at many of the city's top restaurants. See the best choirs in the city perform while feeding your soul at spots like The House of Blues.\r\r 

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Sunday's Best - The holy trinity of religion, music and food come together every Sunday in the Big Easy at the weekly Gospel Brunches. The New Orleans tradition, which is inspired by the city's gospel roots (legendary gospel great Mahalia Jackson is a native of the Big Easy), offers the religious and non-religious an opportunity to enjoy spiritual tunes and soulful food at many of the city's top restaurants. See the best choirs in the city perform while feeding your soul at spots like The House of Blues.\r\r 

Satchmo Summer Fest  - Each year French Quarter Festivals, Inc. produces Satchmo SummerFest – the premier American Jazz Festival dedicated to the life, legacy and music of New Orleans’ native son, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong.  The free festival takes place annually on the weekend closest to Armstrong’s birth (August 4th) in New Orleans historic French Quarter. Satchmo SummerFest features live music, free dance lessons, events, and an array of educational and entertaining children’s activities.  In addition, the festival features special events, including an annual Jazz Mass at the historic St. Augustine Church in Treme, a traditional second line parade and a trumpet tribute birthday celebration.  Armstrong’s influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today.   For more information on all FQFI festivals an...

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Satchmo Summer Fest  - Each year French Quarter Festivals, Inc. produces Satchmo SummerFest – the premier American Jazz Festival dedicated to the life, legacy and music of New Orleans’ native son, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong.  The free festival takes place annually on the weekend closest to Armstrong’s birth (August 4th) in New Orleans historic French Quarter. Satchmo SummerFest features live music, free dance lessons, events, and an array of educational and entertaining children’s activities.  In addition, the festival features special events, including an annual Jazz Mass at the historic St. Augustine Church in Treme, a traditional second line parade and a trumpet tribute birthday celebration.  Armstrong’s influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today.   For more information on all FQFI festivals an...

Essence Music Fest - Every Fourth of July weekend the urban magazine descends on the Big Easy to host its renowned music festival. The gathering  brings hundreds of thousands of music fans and A-list stars — Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Frankie Beverly, Yolanda Adams — from different genres of music.(Photo: Kyle Petrozza/PictureGroup) 

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Essence Music Fest - Every Fourth of July weekend the urban magazine descends on the Big Easy to host its renowned music festival. The gathering  brings hundreds of thousands of music fans and A-list stars — Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Frankie Beverly, Yolanda Adams — from different genres of music.(Photo: Kyle Petrozza/PictureGroup) 

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - New Orleans' First Family of Funk, the Neville Brothers, are still going strong after over 40 years in the music business. Fans can catch Art, Charles, Aaron and Cyril in action along with other local/national artists performing in and around the city at events like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

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New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - New Orleans' First Family of Funk, the Neville Brothers, are still going strong after over 40 years in the music business. Fans can catch Art, Charles, Aaron and Cyril in action along with other local/national artists performing in and around the city at events like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

State Farm Bayou Classic - Dubbed by many as the "Black Super Bowl," the annual football game between Grambling State University and Southern University played at the Superdome in New Orleans brings with it the popular "Battle of the Bands." The marching bands from both schools perform throughout game day.\r\r \r(Photo: Bob Levey/WireImage for AOL)\r\r 

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State Farm Bayou Classic - Dubbed by many as the "Black Super Bowl," the annual football game between Grambling State University and Southern University played at the Superdome in New Orleans brings with it the popular "Battle of the Bands." The marching bands from both schools perform throughout game day.\r\r \r(Photo: Bob Levey/WireImage for AOL)\r\r