Arcade’s picks: NOLA’s live music venues

Melissa Rosenthal, Staff Reporter

Are you in need of new music venues beyond the famed Frenchman Street? Music and arts culture are essential to New Orleans life and can be found throughout the city. From Bounce to Big Band to Blues to traditional Jazz, you are sure to find your ideal genre. Below are suggestions for live music spots that can make an ordinary evening one to remember. 

Czars Trinidad | Layout Editor

The Balcony Music Club (BMC) situated on Decatur Street features Brass Band tunes, New Orleans Jazz, Rock and R&B favorites in an eclectic dive bar setting. BMC highlights local artists as well as traveling acts. 

Chickie Wah Wah features live Jazz, Funk and Roots music in a small club on Canal Street. The space also has a lighted outdoor patio to enjoy those (relatively) cooler New Orleans nights. 

Looking for live music closer to campus? Look no further than Dos Jefes, located in a Tchoupitoulas Street house. The intimate locale is also a wood paneled cigar bar. Dos Jefes showcases primarily Jazz and Blues artists. 

Circle Bar is an Indie-Rock “music room” housed in an old mansion lining Lee Circle. The Circle Bar mostly hosts up-and-coming touring bands, so if you are a devotee of Indie-Rock, the Circle Bar is a must see. 

The Maple Leaf Bar is another Uptown gem known for its late night shows. Famous for its red lightning, The Maple Leaf Bar has featured notable musicians of all genres such as James Booker and Bruce Springsteen. 

Gasa Gasa located on nearby Freret Street plays contemporary bands of all genres. Named from the Japanese word describing a rustling sound in the wilderness, this space showcases music and art as Uptown’s newest venue for the arts. This arts house can be easily identified from its mural cascading across the side of the building by local artist MTO. The work depicts four musicians eager to take the stage in vivid detail. The youthful décor and comfortable atmosphere makes Gasa Gasa an ideal place for a study break. 

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