Dear Listener,

Andy Warhol famously once said, "WWOZ is the best station in the universe," and ever since WWOZ has been howling at the moon. But now, it seems, the moon is howling back!

For instance, just last month, we got word that New Orleans' local big-time grocery chain, Rouses, planned on 'OZ-ifying three of their stores—starting with their Mid-City location on Carrollton. The café areas will be festooned with WWOZ banners and posters and, best of all, the real-deal authentic WWOZ Mango Freeze, like you get at Jazz Fest, will be served up daily. August 3 is the big kick-off party at the Carrollton store. Our remote broadcast truck and outreach krewe will be there to celebrate. If you can make it, by all means come join us.

Meanwhile, "News with a Twist" on WGNO/ABC TV has been running a series spotlighting local musicians cooking up their favorite dishes from That Sounds Good, WWOZ's recently released cookbook, featuring 200 recipes by local musicians and a first-ever history of WWOZ. So far, viewers have been treated to Delfeayo Marsalis' Cranberry Bog Recipe and Gaynielle "Queen G" Neville's Okra and Shrimp Stew along with Margie Perez whipping up some of her mom's Cuban Flan and Wanda Rouzan showing off her Condensed Milk Bread Pudding recipe.

A little further down the line, WWL/CBS TV is planning a yearlong series of short features called "Guardians of the Groove" starring WWOZ show hosts interviewing folk who you may or may not know, but who are all around us making a difference to the cultural life of this city. The first episode is slated for September.

Finally, if you happen to be taking a subway in Manhattan, or the BART in San Francisco or a bus in Seattle, don't be surprised if you see big placards inside and out promoting WWOZ. It's all part of a major campaign launched by TuneIn, the multi-station streaming app, to let more than 27 million people in on the joys that await them when they "TuneIn" to WWOZ.

Like I said, it feels like that August moon is beaming back at us mighty strong.

Yours in bumper stickers and banjo pickers,

David Freedman
General Manager

Every year in early August, New Orleanians gather to celebrate our most famous musician, Louis Armstrong, with Satchmo SummerFest. This year's lineup includes Kermit Ruffins, James Andrews, Wendell Brunious, Ellis Marsalis, Meschiya Lake and many, many more.

July 26 - 31, we'll have festival performers (like Ellis Marsalis!) dropping by the WWOZ studio to perform live; click through to see the schedule.

» Celebrate Satchmo SummerFest

Rouses will be 'OZ-ifying three of their New Orleans area grocery stores, starting with the Mid-City location at 400 N. Carrollton. The café area will be transformed with WWOZ banners and posters, and best of all, the real-deal authentic WWOZ Mango Freeze, like you get at Jazz Fest, will be served up daily. Join us on August 3 for the big kick-off party. Entertainment will be provided by the Treme Brass Band and others, and outreach krewe will be there to celebrate.

 » Mango Freeze Rouses block party

Soul Sister, Funk Baby and Gasa Gasa present "It's a Love Thing," a benefit love-fest for Deborah Cotton (victim of the Mother's Day second line mass shooting) on Friday, July 26 at Gasa Gasa, 4920 Freret St. Admission is $10, with 100% of the gate donated to the Fund for Deborah Cotton, for her medical and recovery expenses. In addition to WWOZ's Soul Sister, there'll be live painting and art, complimentary eats by chef Nathaniel Zimet of Boucherie, and more.

» "It's a Love Thing" details

On July 26, Roots of Music will visit WWOZ in the latest edition of "Cuttin' Class", a series of live in-studio performances by middle and high school age students which celebrates music education in the Greater New Orleans area. Made possible by Coventry Health Care of Louisiana.

» All about "Cuttin' Class"

WWOZ is partnering with the Center for Car Donations (CCD) to offer a new way for our listeners to become Guardians of the Groove and support our mission of bringing New Orleans music to the universe! Car donations are a quick & easy way to convert unwanted vehicles into cash for WWOZ. By working with the CCD, things are kept simple for both you and the station.

» Get the lowdown on car donations

The 2013 Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival will take place  October 18-20, with another choice lineup that includes, among many others, Mel Waiters, Beverly Guitar Watkins, Sonny Landreth and Alvin Youngblood Hart's Muscle Theory.

There are also several opportunities associated with the festival. You can:

» Enter the tee shirt design competition

» Apply to be a food vendor

» Apply for the art market

To make a "Louisiana-style" crab cake, we added a little bit of the trinity (onion, celery, bell pepper) pre-cooked in butter, plus lemon juice and herbs. A sauce made with creole mustard and Tony Chachere's is served on the side. Oh, and lots of Louisiana lump crab meat.

» Recipe: Louisiana-style Crab Cakes

There's been a whole lot of shakin' (up) going on at lately WWOZ. Two of our most-loved show hosts have moved on: Jivin' Gene and Sherwood Collins. We are sad to see them go, but extremely lucky to have shared so much of their time and talents (not to mention tasty grooves!).

And there have been several changes in the Membership Department. Melanie Merz has moved over from the Web Team to Sponsor Services. Lindsey Darnell is our new Membership Director, moving from Outreach Coordinator, which is now held down by (Your Cousin) Dimitri Apessos.