The 2024 concert calendar for music, comedy and festivals in New Orleans looks to be especially busy. Some nights, such as April 13 and April 24, boast shows at multiple theaters and arenas.
Most announced concerts are in the first half of the year, so the list will only grow longer. Here is a working list of options for spending your disposable income in 2024.
LEANNE MORGAN
Jan. 5, Saenger Theatre
The local stop of comedian Leanne Morgan’s aptly named Just Getting Started Tour is the first major show of 2024 in New Orleans.
BRIAN REGAN
Jan. 14, Orpheum Theater
A fixture on late-night talk shows and a co-star of the Amazon Prime series “Loudermilk,” stand-up comic Brian Regan is on a near-constant tour of theaters.
Elvis Costello, left, and Charlie Sexton perform with the Imposters on the Gentilly Stage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday, May 6, 2022. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS
Jan. 16, Orpheum Theater
The “other Elvis” has lifelong affinity for, and association with, New Orleans music, especially via his collaborations with the late Allen Toussaint. For the 7-0-7 Tour, Costello’s Imposters will be augmented by Texas guitarist and longtime Bob Dylan sideman Charlie Sexton.
NEIL DeGRASSE TYSON
Jan. 23, Saenger Theatre
The astrophysicist and author gives a talk called “The Cosmic Perspective” at the Saenger, communicating the wonders of the cosmos.
Drake performs at a sold-out Smoothie King Center in New Orleans as part of his Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour on Monday, Sept. 24, 2018.
DRAKE with J. COLE
Jan. 29-30, Smoothie King Center
Originally, superstar rapper Drake planned to kick off the It's All a Blur Tour with 21 Savage at the Smoothie King Center on June 16, 2023. The New Orleans date was pushed back to Sept. 20, then called off. He’ll try again on a new leg of the It's All A Blur Tour, now subtitled Big As the What? Instead of 21 Savage, he’s sharing the bill with J. Cole. Previously purchased tickets will be honored on Jan. 29. A second show was added on Jan. 30. As usual, Drake is using an in-the-round configuration, with a high-tech stage set in the middle of the arena floor. At press time, resale tickets were available for close to face value, especially for Jan. 30. Upper-level seats are in the $150 range. Face value for lower-bowl tickets runs as high as $882. A standing-room-only floor ticket is $400 plus fees.
Don Henley of The Eagles performs at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Saturday, Nov. 19. The show included a performance of the entire 'Hotel California' album and other hits.
EAGLES with STEELY DAN
Feb. 17, Smoothie King Center
The Eagles’ The Long Goodbye: Final Tour is finally moving into its final phase, now that founding drummer and vocalist Don Henley, longtime bassist and vocalist Timothy B. Schmit and guitarist/vocalist Joe Walsh are all 76. Steely Dan is the opening act. Both bands are missing a critical member. For the Eagles, of course, its Glenn Frey; Vince Gill is his able stand-in. Steely Dan guitarist Walter Becker died in 2017; his co-founder, vocalist/keyboardist Donald Fagen, has kept the band going. Perhaps because the Eagles were just in town in November 2022, tickets are still available. The “cheap seats” in the upper balcony start at $145 plus fees.
Ali Wong
ALI WONG
Feb. 17, Mahalia Jackson Theater
The comedian, writer, producer and actress mines comedic gold from her personal experiences.
MATT RIFE
Feb. 17, Saenger Theatre
The comedian will perform two separate shows, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., as part of his ProbleMATTic World Tour.
BRETT GOLDSTEIN
Feb. 23, Mahalia Jackson Theater
The British comic is best known for playing the brash, foul-mouthed Roy Kent in the acclaimed Apple TV series “Ted Lasso.” Goldstein is also a writer and executive producer of the show, and creator of another Apple series, “Shrinking.”
STEVIE NICKS
Feb. 28, Smoothie King Center
The 75-year-old Fleetwood Mac singer had planned to perform at the Smoothie King Center in early 2023, only to first postpone, then cancel, that show due to at least one COVID case within the tour. For her make-up date in February, lower-bowl tickets, including those with only a side view of the stage, start at $195 plus fees.
Olivia Rodrigo plays the Smoothie King Center on March 2, 2024.
FANLOVE TOUR
March 1, UNO Lakefront Arena
The roster of rappers, bands and deejays for the Fanlove Tour includes That Girl Lay Lay, Young Dylan, WanMor, Papa Jay, Breez Kennedy, D Sturdy, Citi Limitz, Rocco Lupo, deejays Amira & Kayla and Sophia Rocks, and emcee Kayla Nicole.
HA*ASH
March 1, Orpheum Theater
Sisters Hanna Nicole and Ashley Grace formed the Latin pop duo Ha*ash in Lake Charles in 2002. They’ve since toured extensively and released a half-dozen albums, including 2022’s “Haashtag.” They bring the Mi Salida Contigo Tour to the Orpheum.
JOHN CRIST
March 2 , Orpheum Theater
The stand-up comic is on the road for his Emotional Support Tour.
OLIVIA RODRIGO
March 2, Smoothie King Center
Pop star and actress Olivia Rodrigo’s 57-date GUTS Tour stops at the Smoothie King Center on March 2 with opening act Chappell Roan. Tickets sold out quickly but are available for a substantial mark-up on secondary ticketing sites.
Nicki Minaj
BANDA MS
March 3, Smoothie King Center
Within hours of Olivia Rodrigo’s crew loading her gear out of the Smoothie King Center, the crew of award-winning Mexican banda group Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga, aka Banda MS, will load in as part of the Tour Nueva Década.
DANNY BARKER BANJO & GUITAR FESTIVAL
March 6-10, New Orleans Jazz Museum
The 10th-anniversary celebration of the late jazzman’s legacy involves two stages on the grounds of the Old U.S. Mint and events at other locations.
KATT WILLIAMS
March 9, UNO Lakefront Arena
The comedian returns to New Orleans with his Dark Matter Tour.
BURNA BOY
March 14, Smoothie King Center
Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer Burna Boy is touring for his current “I Told Them” album. Ticketmaster’s site indicates that only the Smoothie King Center’s floor and lower bowl will be used — and that hardly any tickets have been sold at press time.
PAT METHENY
March 16, Orpheum Theater
The legendary progressive jazz guitarist is playing solo for his Dream Box Tour.
WE THEM ONE’S
March 17, Smoothie King Center
The comedy tour’s roster includes Mike Epps, Deray Davis, DC Young Fly, Lil Duval, Mojo Brookzz, and Tip Harris, not all of whom will apparently be at every show.
NICKI MINAJ
March 18, Smoothie King Center
The rapper, who headlined opening night of the 2022 Essence Festival in the Superdome, arrives with her Pink Friday 2 Tour at the Smoothie King Center on a Monday night. Tickets start at $76 plus fees.
Jim Gaffigan introduces a performance by Little Big Town at the 60th annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2018, in New York.
JIM GAFFIGAN
March 18, Saenger Theatre
The self-deprecating family-man comic brings his Barely Alive Tour to the Saenger the same night Nicki Minaj is at the Smoothie King Center.
DAVID SPADE
March 23, Orpheum Theater
The comedian who specializes in sarcasm is out on the Catch Me Inside Tour.
A.J. CROCE
March 24, Joy Theater
A.J. Croce sings and plays the songs of his late father, Jim Croce, during the Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary Tour.
CONGO SQUARE RHYTHMS FESTIVAL
March 23-24, Louis Armstrong Park
The free festival involves brass bands, Mardi Gras Indians, funk, African dance, an art market, food and other examples of African-derived cultural expression.
LEDISI
April 5, Mahalia Jackson Theater
The New Orleans-born contemporary R&B and soul singer won acclaim for her “Ledisi Sings Nina” tribute to Nine Simone. Raheem DeVaughn opens for Ledisi.
HOGS FOR THE CAUSE
April 5-6, UNO Lakefront Arena grounds
Band of Horses, Shane Smith & the Saints, the Record Company, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country and Tanner Usrey headline the 16th edition of the fundraising festival. More than 90 teams compete to smoke and barbecue a wide array of pork delicacies; proceeds support families dealing with pediatric brain cancer.
ZACH WILLIAMS
April 6, Mahalia Jackson Theater
The contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter draws on elements of Southern rock and country. His tour in support of his current “A Hundred Highways” album also features Riley Clemmons.
Texas country singer Parker McCollum.
ONE HALLELUJAH TOUR
April 9, Saenger Theatre
Can’t wait for Jazz Fest’s Gospel Tent? The One Hallelujah Tour presents Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Jonathan McReynolds, Erica Campbell, Israel Houghton and Jekalyn Carr.
DR. JORDAN B. PETERSON
April 11, Saenger Theatre
The best-selling author, psychologist, professor and podcaster is on a speaking tour dubbed We Who Wrestle With God.
PARKER McCOLLUM
April 11, Smoothie King Center
The Texas-based country singer-songwriter, whose ever-growing hit list includes the bottom-of-the-bottle rumination “Handle On You” and the regretful “Pretty Heart,” hits the SKC for the Burn It Down Tour. Tickets start at $31 plus fees; only the floor and lower bowl will be utilized.
THE LOVE HARD TOUR
April 12, Smoothie King Center
The night after Parker McCollum, The Love Hard Tour arrives at the SKC with contemporary R&B artists Keyshia Cole, Trey Songz, Jaheim and K. Michelle. The SKC will be in its reduced capacity configuration.
BIG EASY BLUES FESTIVAL
April 13, Smoothie King Center
The annual Big Easy Blues Festival, which until this year was at the UNO Lakefront Arena, moves to the Smoothie King Center for that venue’s third consecutive concert night. Also billed as the Blues Is Alright Tour, the event includes Tucka, King George, Lenny Williams, Pokey Bear, Lebrado, J-Wonn and West Love.
BROTHERS OSBORNE
April 13, Saenger Theatre
The hardcore country duo rolls into the Saenger for the Might As Well Be Us Tour.
NIKKI GLASER
April 13, Mahalia Jackson Theater
The comedian is out on The Good Girl Tour.
KOUNTRY WAYNE
April 13, Orpheum Theater
The Georgia-born comic “Kountry” Wayne Colley, whose digital sketches have amassed a vast online following, hits New Orleans during his King of Hearts Tour.
FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL
April 11-14, Woldenberg Park, Jackson Square, Old U.S. Mint and adjacent streets
A springtime tradition since the mid-1980s, the free French Quarter Festival now draws hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors to the Mississippi riverfront and nearby streets with a lineup consisting almost entirely of south Louisiana musicians, ranging from rock to hip-hop to funk to jazz.
ADAM ANT
April 19, Fillmore
The 1980s hitmaker’s Antmusic 2024 tour with the English Beat visits the Fillmore for a reserved-seat show.
PARSONS DANCE with the ALLEN TOUSSAINT ORCHESTRA
April 20, Mahalia Jackson Theater
The Parsons Dance company’s performance concludes with a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the work “Whirlaway,” set to a soundtrack of Allen Toussaint compositions as performed by his son Reginald Toussaint and the Allen Toussaint Orchestra.
Singer Ledisi performs as Essence Festival kicks off its 25th anniversary with a multi-artist tribute to both Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 5, 2019.
BIG EASY COMEDY FESTIVAL
April 20, UNO Lakefront Arena
The lineup includes Sommore, Lavell Crawford, Bill Bellamy, Tony Roberts and Teddy Carpenter.
BAD RELIGION and SOCIAL DISTORTION
April 23, Fillmore
It’ll be a night of loud guitars at the Fillmore courtesy of two punk-ish rock bands.
MARIAH THE SCIENTIST
April 23-24, Joy Theater
The up-and-coming contemporary R&B singer from Atlanta does back-to-back nights at the Joy.
THE FLAMING LIPS
April 24, Saenger Theatre
The night before the opening of the 2024 Jazz Fest, the contemporary psychedelic rock ensemble performs its acclaimed 2002 album “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots" in its entirety.
DAVID SEDARIS
April 24, Orpheum Theater
The author and humorist, whose most recent works are “Happy Go Lucky” and “A Carnival of Snackery,” presides over an evening of readings, recollections, a Q&A session and a book signing.
BIANCA DEL RIO
April 24, Mahalia Jackson Theater
The ever-colorful Del Rio’s Dead Inside Comedy Tour comes to town.
NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL
April 25-May 5, Fair Grounds
The 53rd edition of Jazz Fest opens with a first-weekend “Locals Thursday” on April 25. On the second Thursday, May 2, the Rolling Stones will try once again to perform at the Fair Grounds. The rest of the 2024 lineup will be unveiled in January.
JJ GREY & MOFRO
May 2, Saenger Theatre
A couple hours after the Rolling Stones sign-off at the Fair Grounds, swamp-blues guitarist JJ Grey & Mofro plug in at the Saenger, with local guitar-slinger Samantha Fish opening.
TESKEY BROTHERS
May 3, Saenger Theatre
The Australian blues-rock band, fronted by Josh Teskey on vocals and Sam Teskey on guitar, his the Saenger during Jazz Fest.
Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny arrives at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021, in Los Angeles
BAD BUNNY
May 7, Smoothie King Center
As one of the world's most successful Spanish-language acts, Bad Bunny required fans to preregister to buy tickets to his 2024 Most Wanted Tour. At least in New Orleans, that probably wasn’t necessary — more than two months after tickets went on sale, thousands of seats for the in-the-round show are still available at face value. Promoter Live Nation says the Puerto Rican-born Bad Bunny will focus on his early, explicit trap songs.
DWIGHT YOAKAM
May 9, Orpheum Theater
The king of California country cool dispenses twangy guitar and a high-lonesome voice at the Orpheum.
ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN
May 11, Joy Theater
Singer Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant bring their Songs to Learn & Sing Tour to the Joy.
BAYOU BOOGALOO
May 17-19, Bayou St. John at Orleans Avenue
You can buy a ticket to either walk or float into this annual springtime celebration of music and food on the banks of the bayou.
CODY JOHNSON
May 31, Smoothie King Center
A Texan who rode bulls at rodeos and worked in a prison, Cody Johnson is at the vanguard of the latest wave of cowboy country music traditionalists; he scored a huge hit with “Til You Can’t.” He brings his Leather Tour to New Orleans with special guests Chris Janson and Drake Milligan. Tickets start at $45 and are going fast.
ORCHESTRA NOIR
June 1, Orpheum Theater
The popular Atlanta-based Orchestra Noir synthesizes elements of classical, jazz, blues, hip-hop and R&B in a celebration of Black cultural contributions in a show dubbed “Y2K Meets 90’s Vibe, Vol. II.”
LUIS MIGUEL
June 12, Smoothie King Center
One of the world’s most popular Latin artists, Luis Miguel was heavily influenced by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra but continues to sing only in Spanish. A Mexican citizen, he sings pop, mariachi music, bolero, romantic ballads and more. Tickets start at $61 plus service charges.
A general view of the audience during day 2 of the 2023 ESSENCE Festival of Culture at the Caesars Superdome on Saturday, July 01, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE
July 5-7, Caesars Superdome
The 30th anniversary Essence Fest will take over the Superdome for three nights of concerts this summer. The mix of contemporary R&B and hip-hop may be revealed in whole or in part by the end of January; the announcement’s exact timing tends to fluctuate.
ZACH BRYAN
July 25, Caesars Superdome
Country singer-songwriter Zach Bryan broke the Smoothie King Center's all-time concert attendance record with more than 17,000 attendees on May 20, 2023. For his upcoming The Quittin Time Tour, he graduates to the Caesars Superdome with opening acts Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit and Levi Turner. Tickets start at $65 plus fees.
Taylor Swift performs during "The Eras Tour," Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
TAYLOR SWIFT
Oct. 25-27, Caesars Superdome
Perhaps you’ve heard: the most popular artist on the planet plans to spend an unprecedented three nights at the Superdome the weekend before Halloween during the 2024 extension of her record-breaking The Eras Tour. Tickets sold out immediately, but if you’re willing to pay a premium, or get lucky with one of the charitable raffles offering Swift tickets, you can still score seats.