New Orleans Artists to play NJ and NY for Mardi Gras

AUGUSTA, NJ (01/21/2016)(readMedia)-- Mardi Gras Day comes early this year, on Tuesday, February 9, and Michael Arnone and his Krewe have been working hard for months to present Michael Arnone's 27th Annual Crawfish Fest, June 3, 4 and 5, 2016. This year's festival features 23 artists playing 28 sets of music on four different stages, plus four music workshops.

New Jersey Stage Magazine named Crawfish Fest Best Annual Musical Festival in NJ in 2015. Each year the festival brings to the Northeast a full dose of rich and colorful Louisiana adornment, from world class music and homemade cuisine, born out of generations of Louisiana tradition, to colorful masks and beads. Cajun and Zydeco dance lessons are also taught for free in the festival's Dance Hall.

If you want an early taste of the fun during Mardi Gras Season, Grammy nominated Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, who headlines the Pavilion on the festival's Saturday afternoon, will be at The Hall at MP in Brooklyn on February 24. Crawfish Fest newcomers, Flow Tribe will be at The Hall at MP on February 12. Samantha Fish, whose explosive first appearance during a camper's set at Crawfish Fest last year, will be following up with a set on the Pavilion stage this year, and will be at the Cutting Room in New York City on February 12.

Alexis P. Suter and Ministers of Sound returns to Crawfish Fest this year for a Sunday morning Gospel set and will be at the Orpheum Theater in Tannersville, NY on February 13. The Zydeco Revelators open the Friday night camper's music this year and will be at Rancho Cantina in Emerson, NJ on February 9.

Although not on this year's Crawfish Fest lineup, keep an eye out for our festival alumni. Dr. John, who has a two night stay at The Hall at MP in Brooklyn on February 5 and 6. John Gros will be at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ on February 18 and Brother Joscephus and the Love Revolution will be at Mexicali Live with a special New Orleans menu on February 6. Buckwheat Zydeco will be at the Newton Theater in Newton, NJ on March 4th.

To complete your special Mardi Gras, order Michael Arnones's Jambalaya Mix from the Crawfish Fest Online Store. You will enjoy the same taste that Arnone creates from scratch at the Crawfish Fest. Enjoy New Orleans King Cakes in your office or home. Here are a few of Michael's favorite spots to order them from Cajun Grocer. Haydel's Bakery, Randazzo's, and Gambino's Bakery.

Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest is great fun for families that like to have a good time. World class music is only one element of the weekend, as the festival has always been known for a fantastic variety of Louisiana cuisine. All the dishes are priced at $10 or less and bring to New Jersey the great food dishes that are hard to find elsewhere in the Northeast. Michael's Krewe will be serving tons of Boiled Crawfish, Pork Sausage and Chicken Jambalaya, Oyster, Shrimp, Hot Roast Beef or Catfish Po-Boys, Crawfish Etouffee and Red Beans and Rice (available with smoked pork sausage and without. New Orleans native and former owner of Oddfellows Rest, Liz Stirling will serve Char-Grilled Oysters, Grilled Alligator Sausage and Fried Green Tomatoes. For those with a less adventurous palate, John Pascale will be serving grilled portabella mushroom on a wheat bun, southern fried chicken, burgers, hot dogs and fries.

Breakfast from the Buckner Family from Louisiana will be available for sale to the campers from 6-10 AM on Sat. and Sun. and includes your choice of delicious beignets, scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, and grits. The Buckner's will also be serving desserts all day long. Michael invited his buddy Chef Andre' du Waal from Andre's Restaurant to prepare pulled pork on a roll, shrimp and grits, BBQ'd shrimp and crab remoulade. Dave Rosenstrauch will be back with his family to serve ice cream and New Orleans Style sno-balls. Liberty Concessions will be on site offering a chicken Caesar wrap and their famous fruit smoothies.

Michael Arnone brings back the funky Meters to headline this year's festival, featuring 2 original Meters, Art Neville and George Porter Jr. These two men were at the very epicenter of funk since the mid 1960's, playing on many of the funk and R&B records that inspired generations of musicians and they will be closing the Main Stage on Sunday night. Closing the Main Stage on Saturday are NJ rockers From Good Homes. New Orleans very own, Cowboy Mouth are back again this year. Crowd favorite Marcia Ball will play 2 sets this year. They brought kids from the audience up on stage with them in their last two Crawfish Fest appearances, sending the Crawfish Fest faithfuls into a frenzy and giving the kids a once in a lifetime experience.

Crawfish Fest has always provided a wide variety of many of the styles of music heard regularly in New Orleans and around Louisiana. Covering brass band music this year is perennial fan favorites Bonerama on Friday night and Brass-A-Holics on Saturday. Supreme funky MC Sam Williams, with Big Sam's Funky Nation will keep campers and King Crawfish Krewe ticket holders on their feet on Saturday night following the award winning blues of Mike Zito and the Wheel.

A rare treat for people outside of New Orleans is the chance to see Mardi Gras Indians in their spectacular handmade suits. Fest goers will get that chance on Saturday when Cha Wa takes the stage. Papa Mali returns to Crawfish Fest for the first time since 2007 and fest favorites Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes also return. Quimby Mountain Band will open the Pavilion Stage on June 4th.

The Dance Hall is in fantastic hands this year with Amanda Shaw, Nathan and The Zydeco Cha-Chas, Grammy nominated The Revelers and David Greely Trio. Two fabulous up and coming New Orleans bands will make their Crawfish Fest debuts this year, King James and the Special Men and Naughty Professor.

The Master Workshop Stage will host George Porter Jr., Jon Cleary, Marcia Ball and 1TBA

Our Food and Trade Expo will be held in the Mini-Pavilions adjacent to the Pavilion Stage on June 4th and 5th. Expect the Expo to be informational with product sampling. Exhibitors include Michael Arnone's Jambalaya Mix, Livingston Parish Visitor's and Convention Bureau, Louisiana Cookin' Magazine, Bourbon Street Bar & Grille, Tipitina's Foundation, Relix Magazine, Festival Artists CD Sales. Many of the sets heard at Crawfish Fest are recorded and can be purchased from Digital Soundboard Fest Recordings.

You can explore a host of unique ways to experience Crawfish Fest including the newly developed Chef's Table or by purchasing a King Crawfish Krewe VIP ticket as well as purchase single Saturday/Sunday, 3 day camping tickets, by visiting our website Crawfish Fest

Rebel the Road Hog, which is a life size fiberglass pig created by local airbrush artist Art Frisbie is a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork produced for and to be raffled by The New Jersey State Fair. The winner will be drawn at our Crawfish Fest on Sunday. All proceeds will benefit the fairgrounds improvements fund. Raffle tickets are available at the Sussex County Fairgrounds or on their website.

Thanks to our 2016 Sponsors. Bud Light, Twisted Tea,, WFDU-FM, WNTI-FM, DonQ Rum, Crystal Hot Sauce, Service Electric Broadband Cable, Jagermeister and and Holiday Inn of Budd lake.

Contact Michael for Sponsorship or Food and Trade Expo opportunities. It's not too late.

Posted Thursday January 21, 2016 at 05:03 am by Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest
Last Updated Tuesday February 09, 2016 at 02:08 pm