NEW ORLEANS – A new paradigm in live music was desperately needed in the fall of 2020. So, Manon Mashburn and Maria Bazan stepped in to fill the void with their Soulburn NOLA concert series. Soulburn Vol. 1 featured six gigs across three months in a spacious Irish Channel backyard. The concept provided work for underemployed musicians and hospitality workers and raised funds to support shuttered nightclubs in need during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Operating under strict licensing restrictions from the city of New Orleans, Soulburn NOLA provided a safe and conscientious setting for outdoor live music consumption. All seating was assigned, and pods were vigorously maintained. Appropriate social distancing was the norm and mask-wearing was de rigueur. Temperature checks were dutifully executed at the gate, and attendee information precisely gathered to allow for possible contact tracing. Soulburn NOLA can proudly proclaim that there were zero instances of Covid transmission across all gigs.
It can also safely be stated that all attendees and organizers had fun! Just look at this lineup of local talent that kicked out the jams: Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters, Honey Island Swamp Band, Johnny Sketch’s Bandicoot featuring Sage Rouge, The Quickening, The Tanglers, and Desert Nudes.
The proceeds from Soulburn were donated to three beloved local music clubs. Here’s a breakdown:
Tipitina’s, $1,200
Maple Leaf, $1,300
Kermit’s Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge, $2,200
A concert series as spell-binding and generous as Soulburn of course required the contributions of the local business community. Soulburn NOLA would not have been possible without generous in-kind donations and permits from the following:
Bernard Productions
Café Atchafalaya
Seven-Three Distillery
Urban South Brewery
City of New Orleans One Stop Permits and Licensing
Empire Deli
Frenchy Gallery
Mashburn Consulting LLC
NOLA Brewery
The next Soulburn NOLA is a one-off celebration for St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, March 13, featuring Walter “Wolfman” Washington and the Roadmasters, Colin Davis and the Night People and Mike Doussan and Co. For tickets, please email Soulburnnola@gmail.com.
Soulburn NOLA Vol. 2 is anticipated to kick-off in mid-April, with several gigs scheduled during the traditional French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest weekends. To learn more, visit facebook.com/groups/soulburnnola.
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