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Mardi Gras Mayhem – Brass Bands, Beads and Crawfish Boils

Music >

Mardi-Gras-2011Two things that we love here at Brown Paper Tickets: Mardi Gras and brass bands! And there’s no other brass band that we love more than our buddies in Tubaluba. They marched with us at last year’s Gay Pride Parade here in Seattle and proved, without question, that they are the hottest, funkiest 2nd line brass band this side of the Big Easy.

With Fat Tuesday fast approaching, it’s time to start making your Mardi Gras plans and if you’re in Seattle, you’re in luck because Tubaluba are not only hosting a Mardi Gras bash at The Tractor Tavern but are also hosting a party bus that will take you to FOUR other Mardi Gras parties around town.

Mardi Gras revellers will meet at The Tractor Tavern at 4pm and then head over to Lower Queen Anne’s Tolouse Petit where Tubaluba will perform between 5 and 6pm. The party train will then head to the Capitol Hill neighborhood for KEXP’s Mardi Gras Bash at Havana Social Club. Next, is the Fremont neighborhood where Tubaluba will play at Nectar Lounge‘s Mardi Gras party. After Fremont, Tubaluba will head to their final destination, Ballard, where they will lead a parade down Ballard Avenue at 10pm, culminating in Tubaluba’s headlining performance on the Tractor Tavern stage. Your ticket to the party bus will get you admission into ALL these incredible Mardi Gras parties, complimentary beverages (including water), snacks and a commemorative Tubaluba Mardi Gras T-shirt. These tickets won’t last long so GET YOURS NOW!

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Of course, for those of you not in Seattle, there are a ton of other Mardi Gras events going on nationwide, including, naturally, the home of Mardi Gras: New Orleans. We wanted to share a few of our favorites so you can start making party plans in your own neck of the woods.

Friday, February 8

King Rey with Texas Funeral plus DJ Minor StrachanNew Orleans, Louisiana  Mardi Gras Friday at the Circle Bar with Boys on the Battlefront, ‘Rex’ Rey (King Rey), Texas Second Line (Texas Funeral) and DJ D’Etat (Minor Stracha).

Papa Grows Funk Final Lafayette ShowLafayette, Louisiana  Papa Grows Funk has announced that they will be taking an indefinite break to pursue other musical interests but not before one last show at the legendary Grant St. Dancehall. What a way to start your Mardi Gras weekend!

Saturday, February 9

5th Annual NOLA Eats King Cake Tasting PartyNew Orleans, Louisiana  The BIGGEST public king cake party in New Orleans is celebrating its 5th year of sugar highs! Indulge in king cakes from the best bakeries in and around the city, and vote for your favorites. This year’s event is hosted by Little Gem Saloon, a jazz supper (and lunch!) club, where you will experience live entertainment, gorgeous interiors, a wrap-around balcony, and beautiful bar. There will be prizes as usual, special guest judges and live entertainment.

C-Street Mardi Gras – Springfield, Missouri  Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! Springfield announces its 3rd Annual Mardi Gras on Historic C-Street! This event, with live entertainment at six indoor venues, has proven to be one of the most popular festivals in the region. Offering a unique and eclectic array of performances, ranging from titillating vaudeville and burlesque, to well-known regional musical acts. This event promises to entertain in the spirit of New Orleans!

Bay Street BashPort Orchard, Washington  Come celebrate on the Saturday before Fat Tuesday. Blackjack, roulette, craps and maybe some rock, paper, scissors with professional dealers from Team Casino. Creole food, king cake, Jello shots and beads. Live music and a DJ. Tons of great baskets and raffle items and a no host bar.

Sunday, February 10

JEFFREY BROUSSARD & The Creole Cowboys ~ The Town Crier’s annual Mardi Gras Celebration!Pawling, New York  Jeffery Broussard was a leading member in Zydeco Force, an influential band at the forefront of the nouveau zydeco movement. His accordion and vocals defined this new style of Creole music, incorporating the soulful sounds of R&B into contemporary zydeco music and dance. The son of esteemed accordionist Delton Broussard, young Jeffery began his musical journey on the drums in his father’s legendary band, the Lawtell Playboys, who were themselves innovators, adding some R&B and a funkiness to this traditional roots music. During this time, Jeffery was exposed to some of the great Creole fiddle players, including the king of the zydeco fiddle, Calvin Carriere. He has retained those precious melodies and songs he heard at home, at social gatherings and on the bandstand. And with the creation of the Creole Cowboys, and as one of Louisiana’s newest Creole fiddle players, he captures the essence of this rich musical heritage.

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Mardi Gras Gumbo Party for Tennessee Equality ProjectMemphis, Tennessee  Mardi Gras is fast approaching and the Tennessee Equality Project is proud to host its 5th Annual Mardi Gras Party and 3rd Gumbo Tasting Competition this Sunday. TEP invites Mardi Gras and gumbo fans to attend the event, taste all the great gumbos and vote in the People’s Choice Awards for the best gumbo in Memphis. Funds raised in the competition will benefit TEP to advance and protect the equality of LGBT people and their families in Tennessee. Are you ready to compete? Gather your friends, form a team and enter your best gumbo in TEP’s toast to the season. Last year’s returning champs are just waiting to be dethroned! Seafood, non-seafood and vegetarian gumbo entries are encouraged. Find complete details and registration form for your gumbo team here.

Saltbox’s Crawfish BoilSan Diego, California  Chef Simon Dolinky is throwing an inaugural Crawfish Boil at SummerSalt, the Palomar Hotel’s rooftop lounge and pool deck. This all-you-can-eat affair will cost $20 and features a live brass band and Abita beer kegs.

Monday, February 11

Courir de Mardi Gras Gumbo PartyMobile, Alabama  Join Mobilians on Bikes in their First Annual Mardi Gras fun community event. The Capitain (Parrish Walker) will invite all ticket holders to her mansion for a cajun-style gumbo party with zydeco music and homemade gumbo by Jeb Shrenk. Festivities begin at 1:00 P.M. with a costumed door-to-door ride to “beg for lagniappe” at member homes. After some begging and clowning around you can join the MOB as they ride to the next house. Next, stick around for the big Chicken Chase at 2:00 P.M. Costumed riders chase the Bayou Chicken through the streets of Midtown Mobile until he is caught for the pot. This will be a new MOB tradition for Mardi Gras, and you don’t want to miss the joie de vivre!

NOLA Mardi Gras Prix Fixe Dinner with beer/wineNew York, New York  In honor of Mardi Gras, Jimmy’s No. 43 will be celebrating N’Orleans style with their NOLA Mardi Gras Prix Fixe Dinner. The all-seafood (no meat!) menu will include: Baked Oysters with Creole Aioli paired with Thiriez Blonde (bottle); N’Awlins-Style BBQ Shrimp – sauteed head-on shrimp, finished with spice, creating a “bbq sauce” in the pan-served with crusty bread for dipping – paired with Theillier La Bavaisienne; Crayfish Gumbo paired with Dieu du Ciel Corne du Diabel; House Shrimp and Grits (no bacon!) paired with Bretagne Sant Erwann (bottles); and for dessert Caramel bread pudding paired with Dieu du Ciel Solstice d’Hiver on draft! They’ll also have a French/Quebec beer to pair with each course (or wine substitute). Shelton Brothers Importers will provide French beer, with American cider or wine also an option.

FAT TUESDAY! Tuesday, February 12

ART Mardi Gras CelebrationBuffalo, New York  Going on the sixth-year of revelry, join American Rep Theater in celebrating the traditional end of Carnival season as all “Laissez Les Bon Temp Roule”! The yearly Fat Tuesday celebration is ready to roll as ART/WNY is bringing you another evening of revelry, Bubba’s hurricanes, gumbo, music and steaming bowls of rice & beans.

Fat Tuesday: Mardi Gras FeastLos Angeles, California  Shake your beads! Slip on your mask! Rustle your tail feathers! Urban Dinner Socials are serving up a feast New Orleans style, serenaded with traditional songs by a son of that city — the good minstrel Featherbeard — at HM157 in Lincoln Heights on Fat Tuesday. They’re making their favorite New Orleans foods for Fat Tuesday, a.k.a. Mardi Gras, the last day of feasting before Lent begins. They’ll even have a king cake — tradition holds that if your slice has the hidden prize, you’ll be crowned king or queen.

Mardi Gras MayhemSeattle, Washington  M. Incroyable has spent the last few Mardi Gras raging through the voodoo jazz classics with his PECULIAR PRETZELMEN in Hollywood, but this year he brings his mighty L’ORCHESTRE D’INCROYABLE to Seattle for a night of devilish dancing and wild abandon. Expect only madness, mayhem, and merriment. Music all night by L’Ochestre d’Incroyable and tantalizing burlesque by: La Petite Mort, Holly Bordeaux and Karmen Sutra.

Image courtesy of ElephantJournal.com.