Satchmo Summerfest, the festival honoring late New Orleans jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong, returns to the old New Orleans Mint located at 400 Esplanade Ave. from August 2 to 4.
Now in its 19th year, the festival coincides with Armstrong’s birthday on August 4 and features a line-up of food, music, and special events throughout the French Quarter.
Armstrong (1901-1971) was born and raised in New Orleans and came to be one of the most influential musicians in the Jazz Age. He performed with music greats such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bing Crosby. Armstrong’s aptitude for the arts extended into acting, in which he occasionally starred in movies such as”Hello, Dolly!” with Barbara Streisand. The movie’s title song earned Armstrong a Grammy Award in 1964.
Armstrong earned the nickname of Satchmo, the origins of which are disputed.
The festival that bears his name started in 2000 and has become a summer mainstay. While the festival itself is located at This year, the festival begins August 1 with a kickoff party at the Omni Royal Hotel located at 621 St. Louis St. from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Price per guest is $65 or $110 for two guests if purchased together.
Three stages will hold live bands during the course of the festival.
Fidelity Bank Stage (located on Barracks Street)
August 2
Preservation Brass from 12 to 1:10 p.m.
Clive Willson’s New Orleans Serenaders from 1:30 to 2:40 p.m.
Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers from 4:30 to 5:40 p.m.
Cyril Neville with Omari Neville and The Fuel from 6 to 7:10 p.m.
Corey Henry and the Treme Funktet from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
August 3
New Orleans Classic Big Band with Ricky Riccardi from 12 to 1:10 p.m.
Doyle Cooper Jazz Band from 1:30 to 2:40 p.m.
Treme Brass Band from 3 to 4:10 p.m.
Big Easy Brawlers from 4:30 to 5:40 p.m.
Robin Barnes and The Fiyabirds from 6 to 7:10 p.m.
Bill Summers and Jazalsa from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
August 4
The Garden of Joy from 12 to 1 p.m.
Steve Pistorius presents the music of Louis and Papa Joe from 1:20 to 2:20 p.m.
Ellis Marsalis from 2:40 to 3:40 p.m.
Jeremy Davenport from 4 to 5 p.m.
Topsy Chapman and the Solid Harmony from 5:20 to 6:20 p.m.
Trumpet Tribute to Louis Armstrong from 6:40 to 8 p.m.
GE Stage (located on Esplanade Avenue)
August 2
Roots of Music Satchmo Sound-Off from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
The Palm Court Jazz Band from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
DinosAurchestra from 1:50 to 3 p.m.
Palmetto Bug Stompers from 3:20 to 4:30 p.m.
Charmaine Neville from 4:50 to 6 p.m.
The Original Pinettes Brass Band from 6:20 to 7:30 p.m.
Michael Ward from 7:50 to 9 p.m.
August 3
Lafayette Charter Academy Marching Band from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m.
Ecirb Müller’s Twisted Dixie from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Catie Rodgers and the Gentilly Stompers from 1:50 to 3 p.m.
Doreen’s Jazz from 3:20 to 4:30 p.m.
Troy Sawyer and the Elementz from 4:50 to 6 p.m.
Shannon Powell from 6:20 to 7:30 p.m.
Big 6 Brass Band from 7:50 to 9 p.m.
August 4
Shotgun Jazz Band from 12:15 to 1:20 p.m.
Smitty Dee’s Brass Band featuring Dmitri Smith from 1:40 to 2:40 p.m.
Tim Laughlin’s Tribute to Connie Jones from 3 to 4 p.m.
Joe Lastie’s New Orleans Sound from 4:20 to 5:20 p.m.
Leroy Jones and New Orleans’ Finest from 5:40 to 6:40 p.m.
Tonya Boyd-Cannon from 7 to 7:50 p.m.
Hilton Satchmo Legacy Stage (located on Esplanade Avenue)
August 2
Paul Kahn: Louis Armstrong and Hoagy Carmichael from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
John Swenson: Satchno and the Saints from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Jerry Roche: Louis Armstrong Returns to Europe from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Bruce Raeburn: ‘That Ain’t No Creole, It’s a …!’ from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Veronique Dorsey, Jazz Henry, and Marla Dixon Interviewed by Gwen Thompkins from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ricky Riccardi: Video Pops 1 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
August 3
David Wright and Vic Hobson from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Crossroads Quartet from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
David Sager: Pops and Mom, Sincere Flattery from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Michael Decuir: Louis Armstrong and the Artistic Debate during the Harlem Renaissance from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Deano Assunto interviewed by Sally Young from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ricky Riccardi: Video Pops 2 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
August 4
Jim Thornton: What Note Would Louis Armstrong Play from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Scott Wenzel and Ricky Riccardi: A Life in Jazz from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Tom Reney: Louis Armstrong as Cultural Hero in the Writings of George Frazier and Ralph Ellison from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Matt Sakakeeny: The Tradition of Innovation from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Nicholas Payton and Melissa A. Weber: On Louis Armstrong and Black American Music from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Ricky Riccardi: Video Pops 3 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
