Tomorrow is Mardi Gras and this year The Big Easy Buffalo is bringing the party to you. The Big Easy in Buffalo is a nonprofit organization. Tod Knazuk, artistic and executive director says the series actually started in the wake of hurricane Katrina, when we were having a national conversation about the importance of New Orleans music and culture. In normal times, he says, they bring New Orleans bands into the area…any band from anywhere in Louisiana. Knazuk says they do free and low-cost public performances and while they are here, we team them up with local professional and student musicians for mentoring, professional development, music education and joint performances. He goes on to say that is what they normally do. The had a great line-up of New Orleans shows scheduled for all of 2020 and then COVID.
This year The Big Easy in Buffalo is doing Mardi Gras virtually and you can watch on Facebook. Music is up now and tomorrow, Fat Tuesday, they are going to have a Mardi Grau show with New Orleans artists.
How can people help support these bands? Knazuk says right on the live streams is information on how you can tip the bands. He says even if you are unable to tip the bands go on their Facebook pages and like and share their page. Share the videos. There a lot of ways to support the music even if you can’t support the musicians financially or directly right now.
