24th Annual Satchmo SummerFest Presented by New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) Showcasing a New Generation of Jazz and Satchmo’s Musical Influence | | | Satchmo SummerFest presented by the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) returns for its 24th year on August 3 and 4 at the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint. We're celebrating the life, legacy, and music of New Orleans' native son, Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, and bringing more than two dozen musical performances, seven food vendors, and special events to the community for FREE! Everyone is invited to the annual celebration, which includes the Satchmo Sound-Off with the Roots of Music on Saturday and Sunday's Jazz Mass presented by Rhodes Funeral Home at St. Augustine Church, immediately followed by the Satchmo Salute Parade and more. This year's festival proudly introduces a new partnership with PosiGen Solar and Energy Efficiency. The new PosiGen Solar Stage will host musical performances, including Preservation Brass, George Brown Band, and Al "Lil Fats" Jackson.
Gates are open from 11:30 AM to 8:00 PM daily. | | Savor the Sounds and Tastes of New Orleans | | | The 2024 festival boasts a diverse lineup of 30 musical acts, spanning traditional jazz, swing, brass and marching bands, funk, R&B, jazz fusion, and more, all showcased across two tented stages—the Fidelity Bank Stage and the new PosiGen Solar Stage.
We have the electrifying Satchmo Soundoff kicking off the weekend. Our city's youngest and most talented musicians, The Roots of Music, will be performing Saturday at 11:30 AM, under the Fidelity Bank Stage tent. Highlight performances of the weekend include The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Catherine Russell, and John Boutte', as well as debut sets from Brass-A-Holics with Flagboy Giz, NOJO 7 featuring Phillip Manuel, Detroit Brooks, with a special appearance by Charmaine Neville, and Big Chief Donald Harrison with the ICONS featuring Choppa, BlaqNmilD, and Tonya Boyd-Cannon. | | | The taste of New Orleans doesn’t stop on stage. This year, we’ve invited seven local vendors to provide varying culinary selections for everyone. Check them out below.
- 14 Parishes’ Caribbean flavors
- Cafe Dauphine’s soul food
- Fresh Fruit Sensations' refreshing salad options
- Plum St. Snoballs’ icy treats
- Southerns’ fried favorites
New Vendors: Mrs. Wheat’s Pies will be onsite with their cajun meat and seafood pies with jambalaya added to the mix. Nori Guys will also serve a fusion of comfort and seafood with their crab and shrimp wonton nachos and shrimp, chicken, and tofu hibachi plates. | | | Keeping it Cool with Indoor Activities
This year, the heat won't be a problem, thanks to Chill at the Fest powered by Entergy New Orleans, featuring misting fans and free neck chillers. Cool off in the museum's air-conditioned halls, enjoy additional music, and learn from our scholars on the second and third floors. The returning New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Piano Sessions on the second floor will feature performances from some of the city’s finest piano players including, The Victor Campbell Duo and Capt. John Royen.
On the third floor, the Satchmo Legacy Stage in Memory of Joni Berry offers ten insightful presentations by Satchmo scholars and historians from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM each day. These presentations provide enriching insight into Armstrong's life and times and those inspired by him!
The New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint will launch a new exhibition, It All Started in Jane Alley: Louis Armstrong in New Orleans, which will open on August 1 in conjunction with Satchmo SummerFest. Louis Armstrong, synonymous with New Orleans, learned invaluable life lessons during his years here—about music, people, racism, food, and life. When he left in 1922 to conquer the world, he carried New Orleans' values with him, always reflecting on his beloved hometown. It All Started in Jane Alley: Louis Armstrong in New Orleans explores Armstrong’s formative years in New Orleans and his return visits. The exhibit showcases how New Orleans shaped Armstrong through photos, artifacts, and writings, including the cornet he played at the Colored Waifs’ Home. This new exhibit complements an ongoing showcase of From Congo Square to the World: Early Jazz In New Orleans and will be free for festival attendees on Saturday and Sunday.
For a sensory break in a cool and quiet area, Benny's Sensory Activation Vehicle, courtesy of the Beignet Fest Foundation, makes events more inclusive for individuals with sensory processing sensitivities often associated with autism and other conditions. The fully equipped tow-along trailer provides a safe space for decompression for those who need a pause from the sights and sounds of the day's events.
Full Speaker Lineup | Exhibition Information
| | Sunday’s Spirit After Saturday’s sound-off, live performances, and discussion series, we’re back at it the next morning! Sunday begins at 10:00 AM with the traditional Jazz Mass presented by Rhodes Funeral Home at the historic St. Augustine Church. The Treme Brass Band will share a spirited performance, then lead the Satchmo Salute Parade presented by New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF) immediately following services. Participating organizations include the Treme Million Dollar Baby Dolls, the Zulu Steppers, the Sporty Brass Band and more! The second-line parade will embody the festive spirit of New Orleans and guide music lovers to the New Orleans Jazz Museum for day two of Satchmo’s birthday celebration. | | | | | Did Someone Say Merch? 👕👜
This year's limited edition Satchmo SummerFest lineup t-shirt features a fun and funky original design inspired by the Big Band and Atomic Age era of the 1940s—when Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra entertained fans worldwide with swingin' pop and jazz hits. Get yours online for the fest or at the merch tent on the grounds.
We're also introducing a new line of bags made from recycled festival banners this year, furthering our sustainability efforts. These limited-edition items, created by local company Tchoup Industries, are a unique way to reduce waste by upcycling vinyl banners that are otherwise destined for a landfill. The one-of-a-kind recycled banner bags will be available at the official festival merchandise booth during the event. | | | | Thank You, Sponsors and Community Partners
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. is proud of its 40-year history of providing high-quality community events accessible to all. The organization relies heavily on the contributions of sponsors and partners, as well as beverage and merchandise sales, to support the festival. Thank you to our sponsors and community partners! | | New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund (NOTCF), New Orleans & Company, Fidelity Bank, PosiGen Solar and Energy Efficiency, Joseph K. & Inez Eichenbaum Foundation, Omni Royal Orleans, WWL-TV, Friend of Fest, Entergy New Orleans, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, Brown-Forman, Jack Daniels, el Jimador Tequila, Finlandia Vodka, Sonoma-Cutrer, Korbel California Champagne, Abita Brewing Company, Pepsi, French Market Corporation, New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint, Louisiana Office of Tourism, The Folgers Coffee Company, JAX Brewery Parking Lots and The Berger Company, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, Capital Vacations, Rhodes Funeral Home, Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Keesler Federal Credit Union, LeafFilter, T-Mobile, Touro, Danny & Alana Wolfe, Beignet Fest Foundation with support from New Orleans & Co., Renaissance Publishing, Nola.Com, OffBeat Magazine, Cumulus New Orleans, Telemundo 42 New Orleans, WGSO, DownBeat Magazine, Louisiana Cookin’, Clarion Herald, WYLD 98.5, WRNO 99.5, WWOZ 90.7 FM | | | Happy Birthday, Satchmo! Satchmo SummerFest is scheduled annually to coincide with Louis Armstrong’s birthday on August 4. The first festival took place on what would have been his 100th birthday, the same year the New Orleans airport was renamed Louis Armstrong International Airport. The artist often stated in public interviews that he was born on July 4, 1900 (Independence Day), a date that has been noted in many biographies. Armstrong died in 1971, and his true birthdate, August 4, 1901, was not discovered until the mid-1980s. Louis Armstrong was raised in a poor section of New Orleans known as “Jane Alley.” Throughout his career, he entertained millions – from heads of state and royalty to the neighborhood kids on his stoop in Corona, New York. Despite his fame, he lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood. The man known around the world as “Satchmo,” short for Satchelmouth, was widely recognized as a founding father of jazz – a unique American art form. In 1932, Melody Maker magazine editor Percy Brooks greeted Armstrong in London with "Hello, Satchmo!” and the nickname stuck. His influence as an artist and cultural icon is universal, unmatched and very much alive today.
About French Quarter Festivals, Inc. Satchmo SummerFest is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI), the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which also produces French Quarter Festival in April and Holidays New Orleans Style. in December. French Quarter Festivals, Inc. promotes the Vieux Carré and the City of New Orleans through high-quality special events and activities that showcase the culture and heritage of this unique city, contribute to the economic well-being of the community, and instill increased pride in the people of New Orleans. For more information on all FQFI festivals and events, call (504) 522-5730 or visit online at www.fqfi.org. | | | | |
