AUGUSTA, NJ (01/24/2012)(readMedia)-- Just because you are not celebrating Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") in New Orleans this year on Feb. 21st, that doesn't mean you can't celebrate!

Michael Arnone, Louisiana native and Creator/Producer of the 23rd Annual Crawfish Fest in Sussex County on June 1, 2 and 3, advises New Jersey residents, "Every Mardi Gras party needs a King Cake, beads and traditional Jambalaya. These party-starting ingredients can take your guests to New Orleans without leaving the state."

Arnone recommends ordering a King Cake and Mardi Gras Beads from a traditional New Orleans bakery such as: Haydel's Bakery or Gambino's Bakery. Arnone's Jambalaya Mix can be ordered in the Crawfish Fest Online Store and is the next best thing to Arnone's "made from scratch" Jambalaya he serves at the Crawfish Fest.

Originally, King Cake was a simple dough ring with a small amount of decoration. Bakers inserted a tiny baby (made of plastic, porcelain or even gold) into the cake and whoever received the cake slice with the baby had to continue the festivities by hosting the next King Cake party. Today, King Cakes still include a tiny baby but they are more festive. On top of the oval the rich Danish dough is covered with sweet sugar toppings in traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold and the cakes are often filled.

Several of our 2012 Crawfish Fest Musicians and other New Orleans Artists are scheduled to perform in the New Jersey/New York/PA area during Mardi Gras Season:

• The Malone Brothers(1/27) Boulton Center, Bayshore, NY& (1/28) at City Winery, NYC

• Glen David Andrews Band (2/5-6) at Club Helsinki, Hudson, NY

• Terrance Simien (2/11) at Ciccone Theater, Paramus, NJ

• Johnny Sketch and The Dirty Notes (2/11) at Mexicali, Teaneck, NJ

• Marcia Ball and BeauSoleil (2/18) Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ

• Bonerama and Kermit Ruffins (2/18-19) at Hiro Ballroom, NYC

• Soul Rebels and Brother Joscephus (2/18) at Mayo Theater, Morristown, NJ

• Curley Taylor (2/24) at Holy Saviour Club in Norristown, PA

• Galactic (2/25) at Terminal 5, NYC.

Michael Arnone's 23rd Annual Crawfish Fest, 23rd will be held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, in Augusta, NJ on June 1, 2 and 3. For more info or to purchase Tickets, visit crawfishfest.com.You can Install our Crawfish Fest iPhone App and Droid App or join our Facebook Page

Each year, Michael Arnone's goal is to out-do himself with a lineup of amazing talent featuring a potpourri of Louisiana styles including Cajun, Zydeco, brass band, funk, blues and gospel. He reached the goal this year by presenting some true legends: Rock 'n Roll Hall-of- Famer Dr. John "hisself" (with more than twenty albums and five Grammy awards) headlines on Saturday and Galactic (about to release their tenth album, Carnivale Electricos) headlines on Sunday.

Grammy winner Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience will play two sets on Saturday, anchoring a strong Cajun and Zydeco lineup, including Amanda Shaw and the Cute Guys, Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, Feufollet and also the Dog Hill Stompers. Free dance lessons are provided from 11:00-12:00 on Saturday and Sunday in the News 12 Dance Hall.

NJ legends From Good Homes will reunite to play on the Main Stage for a two-hour set on Sunday at Crawfish Fest, marking a return to northwest NJ where the band formed and gained so much success in the 1990's. Ivan Neville, son of New Orleans Legend, Aaron Neville, brings in his scorching hot funk band, Dumpstaphunk, to the Camper's and King Crawfish Krewe only on Friday night. Dave Malone of the Radiators and his brother Tommy Malone of the subdudes will play two sets with their new band, The Malone Brothers. A new recently formed New Orleans band, The New Orleans Suspects make their Crawfish Fest debut featuring Mean Willie Green, from the Neville Brother's, Reggie Scanlan of the Radiators, Jake Eckert and Kevin Harris of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and CR Gruver of Outformation. Brass fans will be happy to see Bonerama return as well as New Orleans' legends, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Grammy Winner blues favorite, Marcia Ball will play two sets. Alexis P. Suter, nominated for Best Blues Soul Female Artist at the Blues Music Awards brings her eight-piece band in on Friday night. For some low down funky R&B, Crawfish Fest will feature World Famous Walter "Wolfman" Washington and the Roadmasters, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes and the Stanton Moore Trio. MC extraordinaire, Glen David Andrews will tear up the Jager Pavilion Stage on Saturday and the Honey Island Swamp Band will close the Campers and King Crawfish Krewe festivities on Saturday night.

Crawfish Fest has long featured a Gospel band to open the main stage on Sunday, and this year the honor goes to Tony Smith and the You Know How We Do Crew. One other new feature of this year's festival will be several musicians' workshops each day, featuring drummer Stanton Moore of Galactic and several members of Feufollet, with two more slots TBA over the weekend.

All in all, the lineup for this year's Crawfish Fest is setting a new high standard.

Event sponsors include Bud Light, News 12 New Jersey, Jägermeister, 84RV.com, WFDU-FM, WNTI-FM, Crystal Hot Sauce, DonQ Rum, Black Beard Spiced Rum, Residence Inn by Marriot, ITC Promotions & Printing and Suburban Camping.

Posted Tuesday January 24, 2012 at 08:05 am by Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest
Last Updated Tuesday January 31, 2012 at 05:01 am