NEW ORLEANS – Today, Preservation Hall and New Orleans & Company are excited to announce a 60th Anniversary benefit gala concert will be held at 9 PM CT on Friday, October 8, 2021, at The Orpheum Theater. All proceeds from the event will fund the Preservation Hall Foundation’s mission to “Protect, Preserve and Perpetuate New Orleans music and culture.” Tickets will go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. CT on Friday, July 23, 2021, at https://bit.ly/PresHall60th.
“New Orleans is a city of musical royalty. Many of the Hall’s musicians performing today can trace their family history back to the birth of jazz. Preservation Hall was established to honor these important African American families and their gift to the world,” said Ben Jaffe, Preservation Hall Creative Director & Board Chairman and son of Preservation Hall Founders Allan and Sandra Jaffe.
To mark its 60th Anniversary and celebrate the triumphant resilience of New Orleans music, Preservation Hall will produce a star-studded event to raise funds for the Preservation Hall Foundation. The show will feature four generations of Preservation Hall musical masters that are the continuous link to the source of American music the Hall was established to celebrate, alongside the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, members of the Preservation Hall collective and a wide range of renowned speakers and surprise musical guests reflecting on the important legacy, history and influence of the iconic venue.
Jaffe added, “To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Preservation Hall, we are honoring these musical torchbearers, who embody this time-honored tradition. These musicians not only represent New Orleans they are the world’s guardians of the significant and precious tradition that is passed down from one generation to the next.”
For years, Preservation Hall has hosted Midnight Preserves, a late-night benefit concert for the Preservation Hall Foundation held every year during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The series welcomes prominent, surprise guest artists from a variety of genres and origins alongside the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for intimate midnight concerts. Past guests included Robert Plant, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Irma Thomas, Jimmy Buffett, The Head and The Heart, Dave Grohl, Jon Batiste, My Morning Jacket, PJ Morton and others
While guest artists are not announced until they reach the stage, collaborations with both chart-topping and international artists ensure audiences remember the aura of these performances for a lifetime. 60th Anniversary gala concertgoers can look forward to the same stature of special guest as past Midnight Preserves shows.
“The music of our city runs through our blood and Preservation Hall has been inspiring musicians and individuals for the last 60 years. It is the people of New Orleans who create the culture, and as a company and community partner, we focus on ensuring that the tourism industry benefits all residents,” said Stephen Perry, New Orleans & Company President and CEO. “The work that the Preservation Hall Foundation does to support our musicians aligns directly with our goal of always nourishing and sustaining the culture of our city. We are proud to partner with them on this great event to celebrate this monumental anniversary and commend the work they do throughout the year.”
Preservation Hall re-opened its hallowed doors for live concerts on June 10, 2021, 60 years to the day the Jaffes opened the historic French Quarter venue at 726 Saint Peter Street. The Hall had been shut for the 15 months prior due to COVID-19 restrictions.
For the benefit gala show, doors will open at 8 PM CT and the show will begin at 9 PM CT. The event will be produced by Winter Circle Productions. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/PresHall60th or preshallfoundation.org.
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