You Do Voodoo?

As some of you may already know, part of the annual Voodoo Music Experience that was supposed to take place in late October in New Orleans has been relocated to my former hometown, Memphis, TN. The festival has (sadly) nothing to do with actual voodoo (not that the many religious conservatives in Memphis will know that). Instead it features many current popular national bands of the day; and over the years has blended in some New Orleans music on the side. I've never been; but my daughter went last year and found it to be "too commercial" for her hip 20 year old sensibilities. Anyway, needless to say, this year the plans changed dramatically. Here's a quote from their site:

Originally scheduled for Halloween Weekend in New Orleans’ City Park, VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE was displaced by the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. While plans were in full swing to move forward with relocation to Memphis,community leaders in New Orleans approached festival producers about the opportunity to move the event back home for one of its two days, as a tribute event for relief workers. Festival organizers and Memphis representatives alike agreed this was an amazing opportunity to increase the scope of the event.

On their site, you'll also find the listings for who's playing at both parts of the event. Unless you had a ticket for the original Experience in New Orleans or aren't a relief worker, you can't get into the first part; but what interests me are the line-ups for the free shows in Memphis at various downtown venues from Thrusday, the 27th through Sunday, the 30th. Included are such New Orleans acts as Bonerama, Theresa Andersson, Rebecca Barry (jazz saxophonist and vocalist), Ivan Neville, Cyril Neville, the Neville Brothers, Papa Mali (well, he's been living in Austin for years, but his Louisiana roots still show), and Dr. John. Again those are free shows, so you might want to stop on by if you are in the area. And proceeds from the big Memphis concert on the 30th will go to benefit good causes.

By the way, I am still waiting for someone to put on a festival of actual voodoo music. That would be an experience.