SOUTH ORANGE, NJ (04/01/2008)(readMedia)-- Fans of the Annual Crawfish Fest will want to take note of new additions to this year’s annual event—Michael Arnone’s 19th Annual Crawfish Fest—which will be held Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 1 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ.

“Fans of The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival® and those who already know about and love the Crawfish Fest, should mark their calendars now and start making plans to attend this year’s Crawfish Fest,” said Michael Arnone, who created New Jersey’s own version of a Louisiana backyard party 18 years ago that got bigger and bigger.

Arnone says in addition to an outstanding musical line up, there are a few new additions to this year’s other Crawfish Fest events and offerings, including new sponsors, tickets, food items, Louisiana arts and crafts, and Arnone’s new Jambalaya Mix for those who can’t wait for Crawfish Fest to roll around each year to taste great Louisiana jambalaya!

2008 Sponsors

2008 Sponsors include Bud Light, News 12 New Jersey, Delta Music Experience, Ketel One Vodka, Jagermeister, WNTI-FM, WFDU-FM, Crystal Hot Sauce, Monster Energy, WSUS-FM, WNNJ-FM, 84RV.com, and ITC Promotions.

“We are thrilled to have these terrific sponsors take part in helping to bring Crawfish Fest to the music and food lovers in this area,” said Arnone. “Their support allows us to make this show better and better each year for our guests.”

Music Line Up

This year's music lineup is the strongest list in the festival's history, covering New Orleans funk, R&B, rock, Cajun, Zydeco, and brass band styles along with great blues and jam band special guests who will perform on four stages. The special Friday evening performance will be on the intimate Delta Music Experience Stage that is limited to campers and King Crawfish Krewe ticket holders only. Headlining that show is the Radiators, the greatest rock band in New Orleans history: the Radiators who are currently celebrating its 30th anniversary. Donna The Buffalo, the wildly popular jam band steeped in Appalachian country music, reggae and Cajun roots, and boogie-woogie piano king Mitch Woods join the lineup. The Radiators are playing at the highest level of their career this year and are sure to make this date a night to remember.

Saturday performance venues include the Main Stage, Delta Music Experience Stage and Craft Pavilion, the barn-like Dance Hall with its 2,400 square foot wooden dance floor, and the Kids Stage that features music and storytelling. Legendary kings of New Orleans funk, the funky METERS, tops Saturday's bill. Funky Meters’ George Porter Jr. was OffBeat’s Best of the Beat nominee. Porter plays bass and Meters co-founder Art Neville plays keyboards. Also billed on this monster day of music are two sets from guitarist/vocalist Tab Benoit, a Best of the Beat nominee in the blues category; Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band, nominated for Best Zydeco Band at the OffBeat awards, and two more sets from Donna The Buffalo as well as music from Louisiana legends Guitar Shorty, Roddie Romero & the Hub City All Stars, Mitch Woods and The Rocket 88's, Leroy Thomas and The Zydeco Roadrunners, Little Freddie King and Swingset Mamas. Little Freddie King tore up the South By Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas earlier this year, prompting Variety to exclaim, "The self-proclaimed king of New Orleans 'gut bucket blues,' Little Freddie King, was 60 minutes of primal energy full of stripped down, ragged guitar playing and Chuck Berry-inspired stage antics."

Topping Sunday's lineup is one of the greatest composers and bandleaders in New Orleans’ history, Allen Toussaint, who will lead a big band through his classic compositions. The bill also includes Bonerama, the innovative brass/rock band, widely regarded as the future of New Orleans music. The all-trombone front line swept the nominations for Best Trombonist in this year's Best of the Beat awards. This is the first time in the awards’ history that Best Instrumentalist nominees Mark Mullins, Craig Klein and Rick Trolsen came from the same group. Bonerama's sousaphone player Matt Perrine was also nominated in his category. Sunday's show also features The Nappy Brown Orchestra; New Jersey avant-bluegrass sensation Railroad Earth (fresh from working on a new album); more Zydeco from Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band, Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Roadrunners and Louisiana's answer to Tina Turner, "Zydeco sweetheart" Rosie Ledet; the incredible "sacred steel" multi-guitar sound of the Lee Boys; another blistering set from Little Freddie King; and more enlightened kids music from Swingset Mamas. Arnone says, "This will be our biggest production ever, with 36 musical sets on 4 stages over 3 days."

New for 2008: The King Crawfish Krewe and Tipitina’s Foundation Ticket New for 2008, the festival producer has introduced the King Crawfish Krewe Ticket, which includes three days of Crawfish Fest admission, your own private pavilion with a buffet on Saturday and Sunday, cash bar and a private covered viewing grandstand next to the main stage with a private executive restroom for ($450.00). You can upgrade this ticket to include camping for $500. The Tipitina's Foundation Benefit Ticket will include a two-hour buffet, cash bar, private pavilion and festival admission on Sunday, June 1 for $125.00

Guests 2-years of age or older must buy a ticket for the King Crawfish Krewe Package or for the Tipitina’s Foundation Benefit. With all other tickets, children under 14 are admitted free with parent.

New Food Items for 2008

The crowds will be pleased that two of the best dishes made famous at The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be available at our Crawfish Fest. John Ed Laborde of Panaroma Foods from Marksville, La. will serve up his well known Crawfish Bread, Sausage Bread, Shrimp Creole, BBQ’d Shrimp and Crawfish Cakes. Laborde says, “I am happy to be back in New Jersey and am delighted to bring my favorite New Orleans cuisine to Crawfish Fest fans!” Biker Bob Guilbeau of Prejean’s Restaurant in Lafayette, La. will simmer his famous Duck, Pheasant and Andouille Gumbo for hours and hours. "Our secret family recipe has been making Jazz Fest and Cajun enthusiasts happy for over a decade and we're looking forward to bringing this dish to the Crawfish Fest for the first time," smiles Biker Bob.

“We will have the most extensive Louisiana and New Orleans menu that we have ever had,” adds Arnone. “Our festival crowd looks forward all year to the five tons of live Louisiana crawfish boiled by the Crawfish Krewe in the custom-made stainless steel crawfish rig.”

Guests can also taste the Crawfish Pie, Crawfish Etouffee, Grilled Alligator Sausage, Crawfish, Oyster, Shrimp or Catfish Po-boys, Chicken/Sausage Jambalaya, Southern Fried Chicken and the other great dishes that include BBQ'd pulled pork sandwiches and Crawfish Mara. The Raw Oysters on the Half-shell are back! Vegetarian dishes include Fried Mixed Veggies, Onion Rings, and Grilled Portabella Mushrooms on wheat buns and Red Beans with Rice. Chefs will be rolling out the Beignets and serving coffee, Pecan Pie and other LA treats. Refresh yourself with a fruit cup, fresh squeezed lemonade, snowballs or ice cream. Ice-cold adult beverages will be available, too.

Now Available: Crawfish Fest Jambalaya Mix

If you are hosting your own Louisiana style backyard party or can’t wait until spring for the Crawfish Fest, Michael will ship his much anticipated Jambalaya Mix to get your own party started. Arnone says the Jambalaya Mix took a year to formulate from the made-from-scratch jambalaya recipe cooked at the Crawfish Fest by Vincent (70-year old Daddy) Arnone for the last 18 years. It can be ordered by the case online from www.crawfishfest.com. Just add your own sausage or shrimp for a real Louisiana meal in about 20 minutes.

Louisiana Crafts

Returning favorites include The African Art Trader and Ashley’s French Market. This year, Rosetree Glass Studio and Gallery of New Orleans joins us as a featured craft vendor.

Camping Facilities Expanded

Camping facilities include three distinct campgrounds that include Camp Madisonville for RV guests, Camp Baton Rouge for the family crowd and Camp New Orleans for adult party animals. Campgrounds are open for arrivals on Friday, May 30, 10AM until 9PM and again on Saturday morning from 8AM until 11AM. To secure your preferred campground, visit the Crawfish Fest online store to reserve space. The 3-night/4-day camping tickets are ($125.00) in advance per person 14 years or older. Kids under 14 years old camping with a parent are free. Learn more about Friday night’s six hours of music just for the campers and our two new VIP tickets, the King Crawfish Krewe and The Tipitina’s Benefit Ticket, the music, food and festivities by visiting our website, www.crawfishfest.com.

Advance Tickets Now Available for Purchase Online

All Advance Tickets are now available online on our website. Single Day ($30), Group ($25, a group is a minimum of 10 adults per day) and Sat/Sun 2-day combo tickets ($55.00). Tickets are good for the day purchased only. Free parking, no pets, no recording devices and all sales are final.

ABOUT MICHAEL ARNONE AND CRAWFISH FEST

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Arnone found he missed his down-home backyard cookouts when he started working in the area in the 1980s and decided to throw “a little crawfish boil in New Jersey." His private parties have evolved into a summer institution as the annual kick off to the summer for many folks. Crawfish Fest is held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, located off Interstate Route 80 at Exit 34B, just one hour west of Manhattan and 30 minutes from the Pennsylvania Poconos. For more information about tickets, entertainment, food, crafts and lodging, visit www.crawfishfest.com

Note to Editors:

Chef interviews are available by e-mailing Michael Arnone michael@crawfishfest.com.

Hi Res Artist Images can be found at http://www.crawfishfest.com/Press%20Releases.htm

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Posted Tuesday April 01, 2008 at 06:00 am by Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest