International Stage French Quarter Festival New Orleans

Did you know that the Oakcity Jazzband was the onliest band from Belgium on this world famous festival? In the weekend of May 8-10 there were 250 groups in the various stages in the French Quarter of New Orleans!
Moreover, and Johan from Jazzclub Lokeren told us that, we were the first Belgian band invited after Hurricane Katrina (August 2005)!

Dick Breeny sent us the pictures in this album this week, with a very nice message: "My wife and I enjoyed Oak City Jazz Band immensely at French Quarter Fest a couple of weeks ago. I love doing photography and I have quite a few photos on you and your band along with some dancers and crowd shots. Thanks so much for coming to New Orleans."

It was a great performance that the Oakcity Jazzband gave away, all in the best circumstances. The people were very attentive, and surprised with our comparison between New Orleans and our hometown Maaseik.
It is the river and the water that binds us.

It's incredibly beautiful when you hear that the audience encourages and applauds, and when they start dancing out of satisfaction, then you're swinging on stars.
The lady, who we got on stage, was delighted with the attention she received, when we played our blockbuster and closing number "When you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you"

New Orleans, Royal Street Jam

*New Orleans, Friday April 8, 2011.
No, we did not cheat on our hornsection! ;0)
After our great FQFI gig at the Dutch Alley they were stitched at Fritzels Jazz pub on Bourbon Street, and the rhythmsection was kind of lost on Royal Street.
A wink, a smile, a nod, and this streetjam just happened.
Music is a beautiful universal language...

Petition "Reopen the Louis Armstrong Park" in New Orleans

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

We were at the Louis Armstrong Park, and we were very disappointed that it was closed. We could only take some pix of our Idol's statue through the iron bars of the gate.

Please Sign! Hopefully it will help to open the park soon.

How the New Orleans story began

Our trip to New Orleans was a happening of unique and amazing events.
But if you put that all together in one short week, then you might understand why we felt like swinging between the musical stars of New Orleans.




New Orleans, Thursday April 7, 2011

"How we met Connie Jones and Tim Laughlin"

This morning Frank, Lieven and Nic made a walk to see the Mississippi.

On the side we saw a Fox camera crew to shoot the festival start-up.
Without any problem we had a chat with Connie Jones (trp) and Tim Laughlin (cl), both musicians on the bill of the French Quarter Festival!

Connie and Tim invited us immediately on Monday to come to their CD release party at Fritzel's European Jazz Club on Bourbon Street.


Coincidence? Destiny? The Ghost of Mary Laveau is wandering around in New Orleans, and she must have been supporting us everywhere.

French Quarter Festival International Stage

New Orleans, Saturday April 9, 2011.

Between the Mississippi and the French Market place is the Dutch Alley.
There, at the international stage we gave away our best gig ever!
The sound in the kiosk, was sublime, also for us musicians!

Our Dixieshow gave us an exuberant, cheering audience.
Our French songs "C'est si bon" and especially "La Vie en Rose" were highly appreciated!
There was spontaneous singing and dancing!

We were pleasantly surprised that so many Belgians came to congratulate us after the show.
They bought CDs and took photos and videos, that we hope to see later.

There were even men from Poland, which knew us from our St. Louis Blues moves?
They had already seen them last year at the 40th International Dixieland Festival in Dresden ...


Frits, a Dutch American, went with us and treated!! us in the Original French Restaurant. We hope to hear from him and his wife Edith soon.

Click here for a slideshow!

French Quarter FestivaI Openingsparade

New Orleans, Friday April 8, 2011.

We are in our hotel on St Charles Avenue and we can use google blog!
It's great out here!
This town sweats music!!!
The Openingsparade this morning was totally crazy! What a happening!
After the jazzparade we wandered around at the French Market and played for fun!
We really needed a cool-down in the Original French Market Restaurant...

Click here for a slideshow of the pix of the French Quarter Festival Openingsparade.

We'll spare you the detail of the troubles we have on the background, but Franky says we are almost a rockband now...;0)

Kreuzau Autoshow

Last Sunday we played in not so nice weather at the Mainstreet of Kreuzau for an open air carhow.
Today these 7 Oakcity friends fly to to the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans. The temperature can get 82°F, says the weather forecast.
The differences are sometimes big, but, where-ever we go, we do our best to make people smile. And it works! And getting Ice Creams in return, that works too!
Here are the pictures of our gig in Kreuzau, attention to the photographers and the Rock & Roll dancers in the street! Despite of the weather, Monika's day has become a beautiful one!

New Orleans Hit

Great!
The first hit from New Orleans at our website is not an April 1 joke!