Dear Listener,

Although Knoxville, Tennessee has more churches per capita than any place in America, it’s quite possible that New Orleans has more restaurants and bars per mouth. But I double dog dare anyone to find another city or region with more festivals per dancing feet than our own. Right now The Landing Festival, the Bogalusa Blues & Heritage Festival, the Gretna Heritage Festival and the (brand new) Treme Festival are all swirling around in my head.

If you didn’t get to them all, I hope you at least tuned into WWOZ’s live performance broadcast of the The Landing Fest launch party last Friday night from Tipitina's. And if the next day you managed to truck out to Bogalusa, I hope you stopped by the WWOZ outreach table and shared some time with Dimitri and 'em.

But let's not stop there. Because Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3, the inimitable Ponderosa Stomp will be presenting Freddie “Boom Boom” Cannon with Los Straitjackets, along with about 40 other one-of-a-kind acts at the Mid-City Lanes Rock-n-Bowl.

During the day on Saturday from noon to 5pm, we'll be at the Ponderosa Stomp Music History Conference and Record Show. WWOZ and independent free-form radio station WFMU, out of Jersey City, New Jersey, will be simulcasting the event. The conference will feature musicians, historians and musicologists tackling all kinds of music history topics, plus DJs from WWOZ and WFMU spinning the deep cuts, rare tracks and influential musicians that the Stomp is known for. We'll also be joined for interviews by a number of Stomper celebs.

On Saturday and Sunday, you won’t want to miss the first annual Treme Festival featuring the likes of John Boutte, Kermit Ruffins, James Andrews, Shannon Powell, Leroy Jones, Treme Brass Band, Zulu Connection, Stilt Walkers, and the Roots of Music, all to benefit 174-year-old St Augustine Church.

And finally don’t forget to circle your calendar for the Crescent City BBQ and Blues Festival October 16-18 on your way to the next five festivals.

Yours in second-lining and cane-grinding,

David Freedman
General Manager

On Saturday, October 3, we'll be doing a live broadcast from the Ponderosa Stomp Music Record Show. The broadcast will feature DJs from WWOZ and independent free form radio station WFMU, out of Jersey City, NJ, spinning the deep cuts, rare tracks, and influential musicians that the Stomp is known for. Performers at this year’s Stomp include Irma Thomas, Gene Terry, Barbara Lynn, Lil’ Buck Sinegal, and many more.

» Ponderosa Stomp Music Record Show

The 10th annual Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival returns to Lafayette Square October 16-18. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation produces this free festival and the lineup gets better every year. This year will feature The Funky Meters with special guests Allen Toussaint and Irma Thomas, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Little Freddie King, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and many more. For those of you who can’t make it in person, WWOZ will be broadcasting live from the festival on Saturday and Sunday.

» The best in blues at the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest

We’ve got more great live broadcasts coming your way in the next month. On Thursday, October 22, we’ll be in New York, broadcasting live from the Jazz Foundation of America’s 14th annual celebration, “A Great Night in Harlem” at the famed Apollo Theater. This year, the Foundation will honor Sonny Rollins with a Lifetime Achievement Award. We'll also be broadcasting from the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest on October 17-18 and from the YLC's "One Book One New Orleans" finale party on October 28.

» See the full live broadcast schedule

WWOZ's Fall 2015 Membership Drive happens November 3-13, and we need your help to make it a success! We're looking for phone bank volunteers to help us sign up new and renewing members at the studio. With lots of food, fun and live music, the phone bank rocks during the pledge drive!

 » Sign up for the Fall 2015 Membership Drive phone bank now!

Here's our online volunteer application, if you've never volunteered at WWOZ.

 » Online Volunteer Application form

The mighty Edna Karr High School Brass Band appeared on WWOZ's Cuttin' Class on Thursday, September 17. Edna Karr is located in the heart of Algiers and has serviced students in the New Orleans area since 1964. Each Cuttin' Class presentation brings young New Orleans musicians to the studio and gives them a chance to perform on live radio. Our show hosts sit down with the bandleaders to talk about the band, what it's like to be young musician, and about the music education opportunities in New Orleans. Upcoming appearances on Cuttin’ Class: 10/15 Warren Easton; 11/12 students from the Trombone Shorty Foundation.

 » See photos from previous editions of Cuttin’ Class

New Orleans Calling, WWOZ’s weekly syndicated program hosted by George Ingmire, is heard on stations from coast to coast and around the world. On our new website you can stream both new and old episodes online, including this week's visit with the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans, a gathering of the "unsung heroes" of American music for an alternate version of the history of R&B, soul, rockabilly, swamp pop, and rock and roll.

 » Get more New Orleans Calling at neworleanscalling.org

On Wednesday, October 14, The French Market is celebrating a return to its roots as the city's original public marketplace with the first anniversary of the Crescent City Farmers Market, which happens each Wednesday from 2-6p. There will be extended live music and cooking demonstrations, plus loads of fresh, local food.

 » More about the latest happenings at the French Market

This Peruvian staple balances freshness and spice and creates a balanced, rich, and delicious dish. Serve alongside your sides of choice, such as lettuce or plantains, and eat directly after preparation. Sometimes a twist of oregano, cilantro, and habanero is all you need! Recipe courtesy of Araña Taqueria y Cantina (Magazine Street, New Orleans).

 » Recipe: Ceviche