Ponderosa Stomp Highlights Week of Music in New Orleans

Press release
Source: conqueroo / Cary Baker

Ponderosa Stomp, the renowned New Orleans roots festival, has announced its artist schedule (see below). The sixth annual Stomp extravaganza is set to roll on Wednesday, May 2, at New Orleans’ House of Blues, encompassing three separate stages with non-stop music from 5:30 p.m. til 2 a.m. Tickets for the Stomp are now on sale through Ticketmaster outlets and at www.ponderosastomp.com. Wednesday, May 2 rests comfortably between the two weekends of JazzFest in new New Orleans, and many Fest-goers stay late or come early to experience Ponderosa Stomp.

This year’s Stomp promises to bend ears with the inclusion of many legends of blues, R&B, soul, garage rock, New Orleans music, traditional country, rockabilly and swamp pop. Among the featured artists are garage rock legend Roky Erickson, rockabilly wild man Dale Hawkins, legendary Muscle Shoals singer/songwriter/producer Dan Penn, R&B soprano Little Jimmy Scott, New Orleans songwriting legend Dave Bartholomew, master arranger Wardell Quezergue, Texas Tornado Augie Meyers, Texas shouter Roy Head, keyboardist extraordinaire Willie Tee, Houston blueswoman Barbara Lynn, Mississippi Hill Country bluesman Kenny Brown, chitlin’ circuit kingpin Bobby Rush, Detroit guitar monster Dennis Coffey, and “Mr. Big Stuff” soul songstress Jean Knight, among dozens of others. Stanley “Buckwheat Zydeco” Dural will play the Hammond B3 organ behind many of the artists.

But the Stomp itself is not the only musical event happening in New Orleans between JazzFest weekends. The Mystic Knights of the Mau-Mau, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which that produces Ponderosa Stomp, will also present the following events and shows:

• Hip Drop DJ Showdown at the Dragon’s Den on Monday, April 30
• Bluesman Little Freddie King live at the Circle Bar, also on Monday, April 30
• Ponderosa Stomp Preview Party with Eddie “The Hawg” Kirkland, Ernie Vincent and Irving
Bannister at the Circle Bar on Tuesday, May 1
• Simeon from Silver Apples featuring One Cut Kill and Viva L’American Death Ray Music at the
Circle Bar on Tuesday, May 1
• Ponderosa Stomp itself at the House of Blues and Parish on Wednesday, May 2
• Swamp Pop Throwdown with the Little Band o’ Gold, with special guests Rod Bernard, Lazy Lester,
Tommy McClain and Warren Storm at the Cabildo on on Jackson Square, on Thursday, May 3 (8-10 p.m.)
• Detroit guitar monster Dennis Coffey and guests at the Circle Bar on Thursday, May 3
• Guitarist Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of go-go,” at the House of Blues on Friday, May 4

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (JazzFest) will take place the weekends before and after the Stomp – April 27-29 and May 4-6, making the Stomp week even more of a destination.

The Monday, April 30 Hip Drop DJ Showdown at the Dragon's Den will feature the world’s best 45 RPM spinners with the biggest record collections: Danny Holloway (Los Angeles), DJ High C (Texas), Tony Janda (Alabama), DJ Brice Nice (New Orleans), DJ Berraco (Alabama), DJ Pasta (New Orleans), Lynne K. (Brooklyn), Michael Hurtt (New Orleans) and Shawde Banx (New Orleans) and many more to come plus an appearance by The Camel Toe Lady Steppers.

Then, of course, there is the main event, Ponderosa Stomp itself, which features the following lineup at the House of Blues and Parish on Wednesday, May 2:

Main Stage
5:30-5:45 Lil Buck & the Top Cats With Stanley Buckwheat Dural
5:45-6:30 Dennis Coffey backed by Lil Buck & the Top Cats
6:30-7:15 Lazy Lester backed by Lil Buck & the Top Cats
7:15-8:00 Barbara Lynn backed by Lil Buck & the Top Cats
8:00-8:30 Roy Head backed by Lil Buck & the Top Cats
8:45-9:15 Little Jimmy Scott backed by Lil Buck & the Top Cats
9:30-11:00 Wardell Quezergue & His New Orleans Rhythm and Blues Revue with Dave Bartholomew, Tony Owens and Jean Knight
11:15-11:45 Dan Penn and Bobby Emmons
12:00-1:00 Roky Erickson & the Explosives
1:15-2:00 Augie Meyers
2:10-2:30 Guitar Lightnin’

Parish Stage
5:30-6:00 Ralph Soul Jackson
6:00-6:30 Eddie Kirkland
6:45-7:15 Jay Chevalier with Grace Broussard
with the Haunted Hearts
7:30-8:00 Henry Gray
8:15-9:00 Dan Penn and Bobby Emmons
9:15-10:00 Kenny Brown and Bobby Rush
10:15-10:45 Little Freddie King
11:00-11:30 Dale Hawkins backed by Deke Dickerson & the Eccfonics
11:30-12:00 Joe Clay backed by Deke Dickerson & the Eccofonics
12:00-12:30 Matt Lucas backed by Deke Dickerson & the Eccofonics
12:45-1:30 Willie Tee
1:30-2:00 Rockie Charles
2:00-2:30 Al Johnson

Patio Stage
8:00-830 Skip Easterling
8:30-9:00 Jay Chevalier
9:00- 9:30 Eddie Kirkland
930-10:00 Henry Gray
10:00-10:30 Al Johnson
10:30-11:00 Kenny Brown and Bobby Rush
11:00-11:30 Rockie Charles
11:30-12:15 Lazy Lester
12:15-12:45 Little Freddie King

So between JazzFest weekends, there is no rest for the weary as Ponderosa Stomp sprawls into every crevice of the Crescent City.

For more information, please visit www.ponderosastomp.com.

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