NEW ORLEANS – The NOLA Downtown Music & Arts Festival is part of the 25th annual Cutting Edge CE Conference for music business and entertainment law professionals. While the conference holds private events for attendees, this end-of-the-summer street party, stretching from Andrew Higgins Drive and Diamond Street to Fulton Street and the Piazza d'Italia, is free to enter and open to the public Wednesday, Aug. 23 – Saturday, Aug. 26.
Walking along the participating downtown streets, attendees will find food trucks, live music, films, art, bowling, shopping and other unique presentations. Some of the best new emerging artists from across the country will display their talent in the hopes of getting discovered and becoming the next big thing, organizers said. Shows will take place at various venues, including Little Gem Saloon, Sweet Loraine's, the Ace Hotel, House of Blues, Sidney’s Saloon, Prime Example Jazz Club and Central City BBQ.
Previous artists have included Chubby Carrier and The Bayou Swamp Band, Stephanie Jordan, Fire Bug, Grand Baton, Neckbone, Brass-A-Holics “Gogo Brass Funk” Band and other local favorites.
The Downtown Music & Arts Festival event is presented by the Music Business Institute (MBI), which aims to expand career opportunities available to musicians in the city of New Orleans.
The MBI hosts this event as part of the annual Cutting Edge C.E. Conference held in New Orleans that provides an intimate environment for musicians, entertainment professionals and attorneys to mingle freely with speakers and ask/ answer questions in a relaxed atmosphere.
This year’s keynote speaker is Thomas Barose, platinum selling recording artist and owner of a Sony Music Group record company. Other speakers include Linda Septein, talent developer of stars such as Selena Gomez and Demi Lavato; and Ralph Murphy, author of “Murphy’s Law of Songwriting.” The event will also showcase many producers, publicists, managers, producers and executives.
