Blues and BBQ!!!

    On Sunday I had the pleasure of going to the Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival in Lafayette Square Park.  For a fairly small park, the festival, along with it's crowd, packed a punch!  The atmosphere was upbeat, fun, and rich with New Orleans culture.  Stepping out of the car I immediately was drawn in by the wonderful smell of the different local food vendor's specialties.  I myself enjoyed a delicious BBQ pulled pork sandwich from The Joint, a local barbecue restaurant that has been in top 10  BBQ lists in publications from Bon Appetit to Zagat.
    While I enjoyed some of the best BBQ that Nola has to offer, I laid down in the grass and enjoyed some blues music with my friends.  One of my favorite acts of the day was a fellow named Ironing Board Sam who got his name by improvising; using an ironing board as a stand for his electric keyboard.  Sam moved to New Orleans in the mid 1970's and has been making great blues music as well as inventing things such as the button keyboard here ever since!  Sam is known for designing his intricate stage outfits, and wore an eye-catching gold suite on Sunday.  Although not originally from New Orleans or even the state of Louisiana, Ironing Board Sam might as well be an honorary Nola native.  He sang many songs about his love and spirit for the city of New Orleans, such as "Come to Mardi Gras" and "Orleans Party".  Listening to him perform on stage with such passion for his craft and the city of New Orleans was a defining moment for me, as I too started to feel such a strong connection to the spirit and the culture of the city.  For a man in his mid 70s, Sam played with the energy of a 20 year old!  He was a master of the keyboard and piano, and his perfectly imperfect vocals gave me the chills.
    Another great part of my day was walking around and looking at the different local artist and vendor booths.  I bought some CD's at the music exchange booth, which boasted a huge collection of local music, as well as well-established bluesy music acts.  The art work at the different booths and tents was fantastic.  One woman's art particularly stood out to me (picture shown above).  She used vibrant colors  in her pieces that depicted local descriptions of all things related and associated with New Orleans.
    I had a great time at the blues and BBQ festival and I will definitely go back again next year!  It was a perfect introduction to New Orleans culture, and although it wasn't a huge festival, it definitely left a big impact on me!  I think everyone needs to venture out and experience the art, music and food that make up New Orleans' unique and crazy culture!