'OZone Email Newsletter for February 2021

Beth Arroyo Utterback.
Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee

Report to the Community for 2020

From WWOZ General Manager Beth Arroyo Utterback: I am proud to share with you WWOZ's brand new Report to the Community for 2020. It's hard to believe that our beloved station accomplished so much during these incredibly challenging and stressful times. Many thanks to our amazing staff, show hosts, volunteers, musicians, board and supporters like you! Please take a few moments to read our report. I think you'll agree--this is a WOW!

» Read the entire report

Carnival vinyl.

Listen to Mardi Gras!

Even without parades or street celebrations, WWOZ is committed to bringing the joy of Mardi Gras to New Orleans and our worldwide audience! It's a carnival season tradition for our volunteer show hosts to provide a soundtrack for the celebration, especially during the final seven days culminating on Mardi Gras Day (February 16 this year). Our hosts break their format rules, and each brings you a party their own way, with everything ranging from Mardi Gras anthems to Mardi Gras Indian music, from brass bands to the sounds of carnival celebrations around the world. So keep your radio on WWOZ 90.7 FM and wwoz.org and make your own Mardi Gras, wherever you are.

» WWOZ Celebrates Mardi Gras

Detail from JFA "In Memoriam" house.
Photo by Stafford

House Floats Galore!

Residents all over New Orleans are decorating their houses like floats and celebrating "Yardi Gras" this year, most under the auspices of the Krewe of House Floats or the Krewe of Red Beans' "Hire a Mardi Gras Artist" initiative. Some of the best house floats are music-themed, like the Jazz Foundation of America house that's an "In Memoriam" installation honoring musicians and culture bearers, including our own Midnight Creeper/Brother Jess. There are also multiple Dr John houses, as many as four Dolly Partons, a house dedicated to Jazz Fest, and one honoring Clifton Chenier, Boozoo Chavis and other SW Louisiana musicians.

» See our Yardi Gras Flickr gallery

Louis Dudoussat & Action Jackson in the studio.

Spring Membership Drive, March 4-12

Tune in March 4-12 for our Spring Membership Drive, during which our airwaves and video streams will bring you the brightest stars in the New Orleans musical universe, gathering to support WWOZ -- through the magic of classic archival recordings from our Membership Drives, which you won't hear anywhere else! Check out the cool member gifts to celebrate WWOZ's 40th Anniversary on the airwaves. Show your support and commitment by joining the Guardians of the Groove and help us keep sweet-n-funky tunes flowing in New Orleans and around the globe 24-7.

» Support WWOZ

Doreen Ketchens streams Friday
Photo by Ryan-Hodgson Rigsbee

OnlineWire Virtual Gig Calendar

You can stay home and still support live, local music: our WWOZ OnlineWire, a calendar of virtual gigs, will be standing in for the regular WWOZ Livewire for as long as it takes! You can see performances happen on a variety of platforms, mostly social media. We're sharing links when and where we can. Many musicians are offering digital "tip jars" via Venmo or other payment systems during these sets. And be on the lookout for many of New Orleans' famous clubs and other venues, who are putting together regular weekly schedules for streaming sets.

»OnlineWire Virtual Gig Calendar

Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee
Photo courtesy rhrphoto.com

Volunteer Spotlight: Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee

This month we honor volunteer photographer Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee, who, over the last decade, has contributed mightily to the way WWOZ "looks" in the digital space. You've doubtless seen his work on our web site, in our social media posts, in nearly every issue of the OZone, or in our many Flickr galleries, to which Ryan has contributed over 8,000 images. A Chicago native and Ohio University photojournalism grad with a long list of freelance credits, Ryan's work for us includes documenting Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs and Mardi Gras Indians, as well as live music at festivals, in clubs, and in our studio. In addition to WWOZ, he collaborates with many New Orleans nonprofits to produce photography that's "both compelling and culturally responsible." His most recent book, It's Later Than You Think, focuses on Carnival season 2020. Thanks so much, Ryan: we appreciate you!

»See some of Ryan's work

Recipes: King Cake Cocktails

You can have your (king) cake and eat it too! Here's a half dozen recipes for King Cake cocktails, including one from our own Bill DeTurk (Friday's New Orleans Music Show host). And all those king cake babies you saved? They make great ornamental garnishes for these drinks. So does purple-green-and-gold colored bar sugar, which is available on line.

» Recipes: King Cake Cocktails