Join us for the Backbeat Jazzfest 2025!

Schedule of Events:

11:00pm - 1:15am - Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers

18th Annual Backbeat JazzFest Series presents Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers

Doors 10:00PM / SHOW 11:00PM
Advance Tickets $25 + Processing Fees & Applicable Taxes at Checkout.

"We Partyin'!"

Kermit Ruffins needs only two words to hype a New Orleans barroom for one of his weekly shows, and this, his personal slogan, sums up what this Big Easy ambassador is all about. From playing himself in the HBO Series Treme, to barbecuing outside his bar, Kermit's Treme Mother-inLaw Lounge, to sitting in with Jon Batiste and Stay Human on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the trumpeter/vocalist keeps himself busy when he isn't on stage doing what he does best—entertaining and sharing his love of life with the world. He personifies the laid-back vibe of New Orleans.

11:59pm - 4:30am - Marco Benevento

THIS IS A LATE SHOW FRIDAY MAY 2.
(Technically this show starts early morning Saturday May 3.)
Doors 1:00AM / Show 2:00AM
Advance Tickets $30 + Processing Fees & Applicable Taxes at Checkout.

Over the course of seven studio albums and countless shows around the world, Marco Benevento has amassed a devoted fanbase, while drawing praise from tastemakers far and wide. Los Angeles Times has written, "it's safe to say that no one sees the keyboard quite like Marco Benevento's genre-blind mashup of indie rock, jazz and skewed improvisation," while NPR Music raves that Benevento combines "the thrust of rock, the questing of jazz and the experimental ecstasy of jam," and Rolling Stone praises "the textures and colors available in his keyboards and arsenal of manipulated pedals and effects along with his deceptively rich, catchy melodies and straight-ahead grooves."

Indeed, Benevento's music covers a wide swath of ground, connecting the dots in the vast space between LCD Soundsystem and Leon Russell, His songwriting is smart and earthy, yet pulsating with dance rock energy. Benevento's high energy live shows have led to numerous high profile appearances, ranging from Carnegie Hall to Pickathon. In the studio, he's collaborated with the likes of Richard Swift, Leon Michels and Joe Russo among others.

On his latest studio album, simply titled, ‘BENEVENTO,' the Woodstock, NY- based artist dives deep down a psych funk rabbit hole, reimagining the current Zeitgeist of these troubled times through surrealistic optimism and the pure joy of an irresistible groove on tracks like "At The End Or The Beginning," "Winter Rose" and "Do You Want Some Magic?"

All shows are for ages 21 and up. Valid ID required upon entry.

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