Shows

Known internationally for maintaining the traditional brass band genre, the Treme Brass Band is considered by many as cultural icons for the city of New Orleans. Under the direction of leader Benny Jones Sr., who formed the band around 1990, they’re perhaps best known for their participation in the city’s rich history of rituals like second line parades and jazz funerals. Their famous musical techniques revolve around improvisation and call-and-response within the traditional brass band style, playing a vast repertoire, from traditional tunes, hymns, funeral dirges, gospel pieces and upbeat tempo for marching and dancing. In 2006, the Treme Brass Band received a prestigious National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and since then has attracted international attention by collaborating with famous musicians & cultivating numerous references in popular culture relating to New Orleans.

The Storyville String Band of New Orleans, led by Seva Venet has been active on the local music scene since 2006, playing concerts, festivals, clubs and hotspots like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, Satchmo Summer Fest and many others. The band is loosely basted around Edmond “Doc” Souchon’s 6 7/8ths String Band of New Orleans, which formed around 1911. At that time the band played rags, pop songs and novelty songs of the early jazz era as well as revisiting the traditional 19th century New Orleans string (aka “dance”) bands. Band leader Seva Venet also composes original music recalling the same roots, style and feeling of the early New Orleans string ensembles and is a leader in recreating the old musical sounds of South Louisiana well knowns at that time.

Blues singer & guitarist Mem Shannon is a former 15-year cab driver who emerged onto the scene in 1996 with his first release, “A Cab Driver’s Blues.” The breakthrough buzz album led to national media coverage and eventually the release of six blues albums worldwide. Mem has won or been nominated for a ton of local & national blues awards, appeared as himself on HBO’s Treme, and is a regular performer at well-known world-famous festivals & venues. Mem Shannon’s music is rooted in the blues, but steeped in that Big Easy syncopated sound, oozing with funk and soul through every note. 

Clarinetist Dr. Doreen Ketchens, has famously been called Lady Louie, Miss Satchmo & The Female Louis Armstrong. She effortlessly dazzles fans from famous venues such as Lincoln Center or at her famous “spot” on Royal St. in the French Quarter where people gather from near & far to see her perform. Born & raised in New Orleans, she is a generational talent who has changed the way scholars view their clarinets and has garnered millions of fans worldwide in the process. Doreen has successfully created her own style that blends her classical training with the soul of jazz. She has appeared on dozens of TV shows, including CBS Sunday Morning, Queer Eye, Treme, Jimmy Kimmel and many others. Joined by her husband Lawrence Ketchens on tuba Doreen and her family band will make a return performance at the Dew Drop one you won’t want to miss. 

Back again this season after their successful premiere in 2023, the Northshore Gospel Choir will make a triumphant, joyful return to the Dew Drop’s historic stage. The choir is composed of talented singers from local African-American churches and is led by music director Dr. Maurice Moncure. The first set will feature the gospel choir and maybe a special guest. Along with gospel favorites & hymns, a few holiday tunes will likely make the repertoire as we showcase the talents of our neighbors from First Free Mission Baptist Church, Morning Star Baptist Church, and several other congregations. This joyful community celebration will be a tribute to choir member & longtime Dew Drop volunteer Sister Sandra Preston, who passed away in June.

Rounding out the second set will be the soulful sounds of famed New Orleans singer John Boutté and his band. John’s long career & vocal finesse has taken him around the world and includes a repertoire of jazz, gospel and soul that has earned him numerous awards & acclaimed recognition. His distinct, celebrated talent is like no other and we’re honored to have John return to the Dew Drop for this special collaborative performance, one that is now becoming a popular annual tradition in the historic hall.