Meeting groups looking to take in some live tunes and let their hair down will be hard-pressed to find a better locale than Louisiana. The Bayou State pulsates with musical offerings, from colorful Cajun zydeco to jumpin’ jazz to some serious blues—as well as vibrant venues that are all about having a good time and leaving the boardroom behind.
New Orleans
For starters, we checked in with industry veteran Bonnie Boyd, president of BBC Destination Management—and a New Orleans native—who has her finger firmly on the pulse of the city’s music scene.
“Irvin Mayfield’s Club on Bourbon [Street] in the Royal Sonesta is a must, and of course Preservation Hall, the ‘granddaddy’ of jazz venues on St. Peter next to Pat O’Brien’s, cannot be missed,” Boyd says. “Then there is Snug Harbor, one of the best loved clubs on Frenchmen Street—just below the ‘Quarter’—for rhythm ’n’ blues and the funky New Orleans sound.”
Boyd adds that Frenchmen Street boasts many additional worthwhile musical venues, and to definitely consider the House of Blues on Decatur Street.
Jennifer Day-Sully, director of communications and public relations with the New Orleans CVB, echoes Boyd’s recommendation of Snug Harbor, calling it “a refined cabaret-style club perfect for an intimate, upscale event,” and had other intriguing suggestions as well.
“Tipitina’s Uptown is truly a New Orleans music scene staple,” she says of the renowned club and its large, flexible space. “One of the club’s claims to fame is their beloved Cajun Fais Do Do every Sunday evening, where locals and visitors alike come to enjoy Cajun and Zydeco music and some of the best two-stepping around.”
St. Tammany Parish
Part of the appealing region known as Louisiana’s Northshore, St. Tammany Parish offers diverse options for groups seeking tempting tunes, according to Tanya Leader, vice president of sales for the St. Tammany Parish Tourist and Convention Commission.
Groups can enjoy jazz beneath the stars at the annual concert series held by Pontchartrain Vineyards, dine inside or out at Palmetto’s on the Bayou while taking in some of the frequently hosted live music, or head to the Covington Trailhead—site of endless live performances with its amphitheater, campanile and bandstand. Another popular option is Ruby’s Roadhouse in Mandeville, a quirky enclave of good times that hosts bands from near and far.
“There is always something exciting to do here that will enhance your group experience,” Leader says.
Jefferson Parish
Dubbed the “Gateway to New Orleans,” Jefferson Parish is also the portal to plenty of unfettered musical fun. And groups will encounter that and more at the Bayou Barn.
Visitors can host their own event, attend one of the many hootenannies hosted by the Bayou Barn, feast on creole cuisine, or just drink and dance the night away. As if that weren’t enough, the hive of activity even provides canoe and kayak tours through the swampy Jean Lafitte Historic National Park, alive with gators, snakes and countless bird species.
Baton Rouge
In the state capital, Baton Rouge CVB’s Communications Coordinator Christina Zito points to a few promising possibilities among the city’s lively musical repertoire.
“For a taste of traditional South Louisiana, make Boutin’s a part of your visit,” Zito says of the colorful roadhouse establishment that immerses guests in Cajun cuisine as well as tunes. With a large oak dance floor and live music every night except Sunday, it truly is a center of local fun—and even offers special group tours and hosts private parties of up to 300.
As for beckoning blues joints in the “Red Stick,” Zito recommends Teddy’s Juke Joint, a mecca for up-and-coming new stars, and Phil Brady’s, the city’s oldest blues bar.
She also suggests the Manship Theatre (at the Shaw Center for the Arts) as an ideal setting. The venue hosts plenty of its own live shows—Arlo Guthrie and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band are two headliners coming in 2012—and also offers a variety of possibilities for groups to host their own shows and concerts.
Lafayette
In the state’s south-central cradle, Lafayette is a hub of Cajun-Creole culture along the Vermilion River. Groups gathering here will discover a pair of dining spots where the tunes are as tasty as the spicy fare.
“Randol’s Restaurant & Cajun Dancehall was made famous by the locals of Acadiana who wanted to dine on fresh seafood while watching dancers stomp and twirl around the large dance floor to the melodic beats of the local Cajun and Zydeco bands,” says Karen Primeaux, director of convention marketing for the Lafayette CVB.
Another rollicking restaurant is Pont Breaux’s, referred to as “gumbo for the soul” by Primeaux for its tasty eats, hot tunes and funky setting.
Lake Charles
Mentioned in the classic song Up On Cripple Creek by The Band, it’s only natural that Lake Charles would showcase plenty of its own catchy melodies. Whether groups are rocking out at one of the 75-plus annual fairs and festivals, such as the pirate-themed Contraband Days in May, now in its 55th year, or hanging out at one of the inviting nightspots, memories are sure to be made.
The high-ceilinged Happy Hippie, in the historic downtown, is a handsome haven of hopping hits, and Sha Sha’s of Creole is also an excellent choice—whether groups are hungry for live music or mouthwatering Cajun cuisine. The downhome dining spot has an expansive bandstand area, frequent live music and some of the most authentic eats around.
“Sha Sha’s offers a taste of the Southern-most of Southern cooking straight from Creole, Louisiana,” says Tico Soto, sales director for the Lake Charles CVB. “And it’s a great time whenever live Cajun bands take to the stage.”
Shreveport/Bossier City
In Louisiana’s Northwest corner, a pair of extraordinary festivals and a popular bar with eclectic tunes offer a tempting trio for groups looking to get in the groove.
Mudbug Madness, held in late May, is a tasty four-day tribute to the crawfish—but also shows off some of the best zydeco musicians in the world.
“In northern Louisiana, festival music can be pretty rough, but Mudbug Madness just gets this so right,” says Chris Jay, social media and public relations manager for the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, referring to the festival’s penchant for drawing living zydeco legends like Wayne Toups and Geno Delafose. “This music has an extremely up-tempo, dance-floor-ready sound that just gets people out on the dance floor.”
Jay also suggests a night out at Chicky’s Boom Boom Room, with music ranging from reggae to big band.
Monroe/West Monroe
In northeast Louisiana, the neighboring communities of Monroe and West Monroe—known as the Twin Cities of the region—offer a pair of promising possibilities for planners.
“Enoch’s Irish Pub and Cafe is known for the eclectic mix of live music played on its stage each week,” says Sheila Snow, communications director for the Monroe-West Monroe CVB. “This Old World pub with a Louisiana attitude is located in the heart of Monroe—and is famous for its hamburgers as well as its music.”
For some fresh-air fun filled with toe-tapping tunes, Snow suggests the Landry Vineyards Outdoor Concerts in West Monroe.
“Throughout the year, the vineyard offers concerts on Saturday from a hillside stage featuring all types of music such as country, bluegrass, jazz, R&B and more,” she explains.
Alexandria/Pineville
In the heart of the state, much of the musical fun takes place in a rollicking tavern known as Finnegan’s Wake, which hosts plenty of talented musicians—with a definite focus on authentic Irish and Scottish bands.
“It’s just a funky little Irish pub that’s perfect for a group to unwind after a big day of meetings,” says Jimmy Williams, director of sports marketing and special events for the Alexandria-Pineville CVB. “There’s really a Greenwich Village or Sunset Boulevard feel to it—just very bohemian and laid-back.”
Williams also highly recommends the rocking G.G. Shinn, a legendary local whose Hot Damn Band showcases ’60s and ’70s hits at the G.G. Shinn Club and other venues in the region.
