Tremé 200 Bicentennial Celebration and Mahalia Jackson International Rejoicin' in the Park Lineup Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:       
Media Contacts:
Toni Rice
504.460.0411
trice@soulofneworleans.com

Glenda McKinley English
504.915.1552
glenda@gmcadvertising.com

Tremé 200 Bicentennial Celebration and
Mahalia Jackson International Rejoicin' in the Park Lineup Announced
Featuring Musical Tributes to Rebirth Brass Band and the Late "Uncle" Lionel Batiste

September 21, 2012 (New Orleans, LA)-The New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network and the Youth Inspirational Connection announced the much-anticipated schedule of events for the Tremé 200 Bicentennial Celebration and the 25^th Annual Mahalia Jackson Rejoicin' in the Park Festival. The weeklong celebration is scheduled for October 17-21 and features a lecture series, evening concerts, a Club Crawl, the first ever United Second Line, a Gospel Jazz Mass, and community tributes to Rebirth Brass Band and the late "Uncle" Lionel. All events will take place throughout the Greater Tremé Neighborhood (see complete schedule below).

"Tremé is the birthplace of every thing iconic New Orleans, whether it's food, jazz, architecture or soul. It all started here," said Toni Rice, president of the New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network and co-producer of the festival. "We've put together a powerhouse combination of events that will allow people to explore the expansive breadth and depth of the community," she added.

 This year also marks the 25^th anniversary of the Mahalia Jackson International Rejoicin' in the Park Festival. "It just makes sense to combine the weekend events," said Rev. Lois Dejean, veteran producer of Rejoicin' in the Park and co-producer of the Tremé 200 Celebration. "Our collaboration with Tremé will allow us to celebrate the spiritual core of the neighborhood in a big way as we come together to celebrate the history and influence Faubourg Tremé continues to have on New Orleans," she added.

Drawing music and culture lovers from New Orleans and surrounding areas, the Tremé 200 Celebration will culminate in a festival on Saturday, October 20 with the brassiest bands and gospel music's finest on two stages at Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park. The festival will close out Sunday, October 21 with a Jazz Mass at historic St. Augustine Church and a Tremé United Second Line.

Artists for this year's festival include Kermit Ruffins, the New Orleans Gospel Soul Children, Brass-A-Holics, Doreen Ketchens, James Williams and the Crown Singers, Will Bassett and Friends, Zack Landry, Corey Henry and Tremé Funktet, the UNO Orchestra, Donnell Russell and many more, with Oliver Thomas hosting the Tremé Celebration stage. 

The celebrations, lecture series and festivals are free to the public with food and drink vendors present at each location (locations of the Club Crawl may charge admission).

Tremé 200 Celebration Schedule
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
6:00 p.m. Opening Press Conference - Tremé Community Garden

Wednesday, October 17, 2012
11:00 a.m.  & 5:00 p.m. Panel: The Street is Like Our Front Room: Family, Culture & Tradition in Tremé - Perseverance Hall
Facilitator: Lolis Elie

5:00 p.m. Candlelight Block Party - Robertson, Dumaine and St. Philip Streets. Performers: Tremé Brass Band, Judah Clan DJs

Thursday, October 18, 2012
11:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. Panel: Let Me Do My Thing: Music, Musicians & Living a Treme' Life
Facilitator: Kermit Ruffins

5:00 p.m. Tremé 200 Bar Hop & Treasure Hunt - Kermit's Speak Easy, Candlelight Lounge, Basin Street Lounge, Mother-in-Law Lounge, Sidney's Saloon, Bertha's Place, Seale's Lounge, Lil' Dizzy's and Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club

Friday, October 19, 2012
10:00 a.m.  Bridging The Gap - Congo Square
A day dedicated to seniors and the physically and mentally challenged.
Performers: New Orleans Public High School Choirs

11:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. Panel: How A Neighborhood Shaped the World: Treme' in Global Perspective - Perseverance Hall
Facilitator: Freddie Evans

2:00 p.m. Panel: Rejoicin' in Tremé: The Spiritual Legacy in Music - Perseverance Hall
Facilitator: Dwight Webster

6:00 p.m. Brass Under the Bridge: Rebirth Tribute - Lemann Park
Performers: Rebirth, Dirty Dozen, Hot 8, Original Pinettes, Baby Boys

Saturday, October 20, 2012
11:00 a.m.  Rejoicin' in the Park Concert - Armstrong Park
Performers: James Williams & the Crown Seekers, Sold Out, Kelly & Kelly, Collage 3, Gospel Soul Children, Life Center, Watson Memorial Youth Choir Asia B. B. Choir Edana Richardson, Nu Nayze from Baton Rouge and Friends and Gospel Diva Lois Dejean.

12:00 p.m. Tremé 200 Concert - Armstrong Park
Performers: Kermit Ruffins, Brassaholics, Doreen Ketchens, Corey Henry & Tremé Funktet, Chuck Perkins & Voices of the Big Easy, The UNC Orchestra
Host: Oliver Thomas

Sunday, October 21, 2012
10:00 a.m. Jazz Mass - St. Augustine Church

12:00 p.m. Tremé United Secondline - Greater Tremé Route
Performers: Black Men of Labor, Treme Sidewalk Steppers, Baby Dolls, Dumaine Street Gang, Revolution, Calendar Girls, Popular Ladies, Tremé Brass Band, TBC, Hot 8 and Stooges Brass Band

Sponsors for the Tremé 200 Bicentennial Celebration include Caesars, Entergy New Orleans, City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, Criminal Sheriff's office, and Louisiana Office of Culture, Recreation and Tourism

To see the full lineup, visit http://www.treme2012.com.

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