Down On The Bayou III: May, 2011

During the second weekend of the 2011 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, musicians from all across the country--and specifically from across the South--gathered for the third annual "Down On The Bayou" concert organized by Widespread Panic keyboardist JoJo Hermann, all to benefit the New Orleans Musicians' Clinic and its parent, The New Orleans Musicians Assistance Foundation. This was my second year of participation, and I was completely jazzed to be asked to emcee the show. In classic Jam Band tradition, JoJo had planned a nine-hour concert, complete with a tasty "late night" section guaranteed to delight the fans-- and delight them we did, as artist after artist rolled onto the stage of legendary club Howlin' Wolf. From true classics (Irma Thomas, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Deacon John, Jon Gros, Ivan Neville, Russell Batiste, Jr. ) to Mardi Gras Indians (Wild Magnolias w/Bo Dollis and 101 Runners w/Monk Boudreaux) to R&B-tinged artists (Anders Osborne, Bonerama, and my barn-burnin' duet with American Idol Taylor Hicks on the Edwin Starr soul chestnut "25 Miles") to new-style country legend Jamey Johnson (the hit of the late-night segment) to blues queen Marsha Ball, alt-country legend Michelle Shocked, and Jam Band heroes Seven Walkers (Bill Kreutzmann & George Porter, Jr.'s newest aggregation), the fun never stopped for a moment. Fans left happy at 6 a.m., and the Musicians Assistance Fund was enriched by some $62,000 and still counting (private donations continue to come in). By all means, consider going to the Clinic's website and donating today. Their vital work helps to keep the music (and musicians) of New Orleans alive.

In other Beehive news, we await the imminent release (late June) of Live Hive, Christine Ohlman & Rebel Montez's first-ever concert DVD. Watch for news on the web site and in our blogs...
I will decamp to Muscle Shoals, AL in late July for the WC Handy Festival. Rebel Montez can be seen all over the Northeast this summer....check www.christineohlman.net for all the concert listings!!