The Big Easy In Buffalo Inc

The core of our activity is our presenting season. We bring six to 12 bands or solo performers from Louisiana to the Greater Buffalo area for free or low cost public concerts. We build the season to represent a diversity of musical genres, bands at different stages of their careers, those who have never been part of our series before, or performers we can present in a new or different way (solo versus full band, different musical partners, holiday shows, storyteller formats, and the like). As often as possible we use a local band to open for the Louisiana headliner. While the bands are in town we try to pair them with local professional or student musicians for activities. Examples are master classes or Q& A sessions with students. With local pros we ask the NOLA artists to listen to their set and provide feedback, talk with them about furthering their music or careers, and bring them onstage to jam. While we first and foremost look for some of the best musicians and bands Louisiana has to offer, we also look for artists with cultural relevance. The common theme is that we seek artists who are willing and able to engage the community both through their music and their message. When our ability to bring artists in from Louisiana was impacted by COVID, we launched a free live stream series with local bands that has now become part of our ongoing programming as a “cultural connections” quarterly series, bringing together bands of different genres and experiences to perform in a collaborative manner. 

Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has connected Louisiana performers to the Greater Buffalo community by bringing bands from Louisiana to town for free and low cost public concerts, and pairing them with local professional and student musicians for mentoring, professional development, or music education sessions.