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Mardi Gras traditions differ regionally: You’ll find jazz-tinged New Orleans-style parades in the bayou and Cajun-coated chicken runs down south. Celebrations vary, sure, but good music never does: It’s as integral to Louisiana’s culture as the holiday is. Mardi Gras Music. No single sound defines Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is more than just a festival—it’s a cultural explosion of music, dance, and celebration. A good playlist is the heartbeat of your celebration, and we’ve compiled 70 songs to capture the spirit of Mardi Gras. During Mardi Gras celebrations, you'll hear a whole mish-mash of party music and other genres. For this Mardi Gras playlist, we've focused mainly on brass bands, rhythm and blues, jazz, and zydeco in order to capture the traditional sounds of the Bourbon Street festivities. A selection of music to get you in the mood for Mardi Gras and Carnival from the artists of New Orleans' premiere record label, Basin Street Records! Featuring Jon Cleary, Rebirth Brass Band, Dr. Michael White, Henry Butler, Los Hombres Calientes, Kermit Ruffins, Jason Marsalis, Irvin Mayfield and more. Recorded on the Ric label, Al Johnson’s “Carnival Time” hit the streets of New Orleans for Mardi Gras of 1960. While it didn’t catch on at first, today it’s a standard. That’s Mac Rebennack (Dr. John) on the piano. Everyone in New Orleans knows the essential Mardi Gras songs. The likes of “Carnival Time,” “Mardi Gras Mambo,” “Go To the Mardi Gras,” “Big Chief” and “Second-Line, Pt. 1” are Now, we relay to yet another pair of local maestros, playing in tandem and ably keeping the pace. Harrison's nimble sax weaves in and out of the expert groove laid down by the good doctor's piano. Contrary to the idealized image of Mardi Gras in the public mind, Carnival time often requires a lot of time simply hanging out with your people. With the YouTube Music app, enjoy over 100 million songs at your fingertips, plus albums, playlists, remixes, music videos, live performances, covers, and hard-to-find music you can’t get anywhere else. The Essence of Mardi Gras Music. Historical Roots: From Brass Bands to Today’s Hits; Mardi Gras music traces its origins to the lively streets of New Orleans, a melting pot of cultural influences. Brass bands, a cornerstone of Mardi Gras music, set the stage for a tradition of celebration that spans genres from jazz to R&B, zydeco, and beyond Yes, there are several famous Mardi Gras music festivals you should check out! The New Orleans Jazz Fest showcases diverse American music with over 5,000 musicians. Family Gras offers free concerts and local art, perfect for families. NOLA Funk Fest celebrates the unique sounds of funk and Mardi Gras music. Friday, Feb. 28 – Tuesday, March 4 – Le Festival de Mardi Gras à Lafayette – Cajun Field, Lafayette.Carnival rides and games, live music, food vendors, and parades roll through the festival The 15th Mardi Gras Columbia Festival takes place on Saturday, March 1, 2025 (12-7pm) at City Roots urban farm in Columbia, SC. ⚜️. 🪅 The event will feature: 18 local bands playing live across 3 stages throughout the festival (lineup below!) $10 festival entry (free for kids 12 and under) — tickets available at the door Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers headline 4th Mardi Gras Music Festival! Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers headline the first big event in 2022 for the City of Casselberry with its Mardi Gras Music Festival on Saturday, February 26, 2022 from 6-9 pm. Dopsie hails from one of the most influential Zydeco families in the world and has performed all over and debuted his band at the Le Festival de Mardi Gras is a carnival with rides, food and live music. Parades roll through festival grounds Krewe of Allons 'Kick-off' Parade starts at Pontiac Point to Cajun Field at 6:30 pm The annual Mardi Gras Festival kicked off at Cajun Field tonight, bringing five days of celebration with a lineup of food, music, and entertainment. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. Panama City Beach Mardi Gras and Music Festival January 30 - 31, 2026. Combine the excitement of an authentic Mardi Gras celebration with the spectacular views of our emerald green water and sugar-white sand, and you're in for a real treat at the Panama City Beach Mardi Gras and Music Festival on January 30-31. This all-ages, ticketed mambo boasts a selection of live music, as well as Mardi Gras-themed food and drink options. Flo Rida, a well-known American rapper (with a great name), is headlining the big celebration. Learn more by visiting the Pensacola Mardi Gras official website. Panama City Beach Mardi Gras and Music Festival – Panama City Beach Come join the fun on Saturday, March 1, 2025 in downtown Aransas Pass for the Saltwater Mardi Gras festival. This family-friendly event offers a variety of activities. Attendees can browse local vendor booths, enjoy live zydeco music, savor cuisine from food trucks, explore the kids zone, and participate in the gumb SoMa Little Rock held a parade to celebrate Mardi Gras today on South Main Street in Little Rock, followed by a street festival with live music and vendors.Chri Mardi Gras Parade & Festival. Next date: Tuesday, March 04, 2025 | 03:00 PM to 09:00 PM. Experience a grand celebration with food, drink, music, and a parade featuring over 50 unique, colorful floats. Please no pets, no coolers. The event is from 3-9:00 pm. The parade begins at 7:00 pm along Douglas Avenue, from Beltrees to Skinner.
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