The Best Live Music Clubs in the Quarter
House of Blues, NOLA by Jeff Shewan
The live music scene in the French Quarter is a feast with many courses, and one that caters to many different appetites.
Looking for Dixieland jazz? Got it. Want to hear Cajun and zydeco rhythms? They come direct from the bayous to Bourbon Street nightly. Maybe you can’t make up your mind between rocking out at a club or cooling down with an intimate acoustic set. Don’t choose – you can easily walk from one venue to another to enjoy a variety of music in one evening.
What follows is a primer on some of the top venues delivering this nightly musical cornucopia.
Kerry Irish Pub (331 Decatur St., 504-527-5954) lives up to its Celtic billing with some of the best-poured Guinness stout in town and a welcoming atmosphere. There’s no cover charge for the nightly live music, which includes traditional Irish, alternative country, bluegrass and rock.
The eclectic variety of music hosted by the Dragon’s Den (435 Esplanade Ave., 504-949-1750) matches the exotic setting in this singular club. Located at the edge of the Quarter above a Thai restaurant, the intimate space creates a seductive atmosphere with lustrous red hues, Far East décor and a wrought iron balcony over the tree-lined avenue. Look for all manner of music and a young, very local crowd.
The front room of One Eyed Jack’s (615 Toulouse St., 504-569-8361) looks like a swanky bordello from New Orleans’ gilded past, while the main performance hall is one of the most unique rooms in the Quarter. A horseshoe-shaped bar overlooks a stage big enough for touring rock bands and even 1950s-style burlesque shows.
The highly-successful House of Blues (225 Decatur St., 504-529-2583) opened its New Orleans venue more than 10 years ago, and it has grown into the French Quarter destination to hear nationally touring acts. In addition to the main stage, the club often has music in its restaurant or patio bar, as well as the more intimate concert hall in the adjacent House of Blues Parish, which hosts many local performers.
Although it’s technically just past the Quarter in the Marigny, Buffa’s (1001 Esplanade Ave., 504-949-0038) has long been a character-laden outpost of great New Orleans music. The lineup here can range from soulful jazz crooners to piano masters stroking the ivories. It helps that the bartenders pour strong drinks and the kitchen is open 24/7.
