Latest news with #MardiGrasIndians
Axios
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
ShortyFest and its free block party are back Monday
Trombone Shorty's ShortyFest returns Monday, bridging part of the gap between Jazz Fest weekends with a fundraiser that benefits the New Orleans star musician's foundation. Why it matters: Tickets are usually in short supply, but there's a free block party outside Tipitina's, too. How it works: The Trombone Shorty Foundation inspires young locals to get involved in the city's music traditions by offering free after-school music education, apprenticeship programs in music production and music business, and cultural exchanges. ShortyFest is its biggest annual fundraiser, says Bill Taylor, the foundation's executive director. What they're saying:"These young New Orleanians have a transformational experience where they hopefully identify what direction they want to go in their life," Taylor says. "But [we] also nurture the next generation of young, entrepreneurial creative students in the city that are hopefully going to carry on the broader culture in a powerful way in the future." If you go: The block party is free and all ages are welcome. There are performances by brass bands, a high school marching band battle of the battles and Mardi Gras Indians.
Axios
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
New Orleans takes center on Super Bowl stage
When millions of people tuned in to Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, they were treated to a New Orleans cultural spectacular during pregame. Why it matters: You didn't know "America the Beautiful" could be such a bop, did you? The latest: The performance put New Orleans' culture, and especially New Orleans' Black culture, in the world's biggest spotlight. The funky rendition of "America the Beautiful" was arranged and performed by Trombone Shorty and Lauren Daigle. Jon Batiste sang the National Anthem, and Ledisi led the performance of "Lift Every Voice" with the Spirit of New Orleans Gospel Choir. The performance also included Terence Blanchard, Harry Connick Jr., Southern University's Human Jukebox marching band, the Soul Rebels and samples from Big Freedia and Boosie Badazz. Fun fact: This was the first time in history that all pregame performers were from the game's host state. Zoom in: During the show, Mardi Gras Indians danced alongside Southern University's drum majors and Dancing Dolls. Mardi Gras Indians, or Black Masking Indians, practice a unique cultural tradition rooted in New Orleans' Black community. While its origins are somewhat murky, many say the legend honors a relationship forged by south Louisiana's indigenous communities who were brave enough to take in enslaved people when they escaped bondage in the state's early days. Today's tribes sew by hand elaborate, colorful, immaculately beaded and feathered suits, creating a new one every year. They typically wear it just twice: once on Mardi Gras Day, and another time on what they call Super Sunday, which is tied to St. Joseph's Day.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
26-year-old becomes 1st artist to create NFL logo, theme art
A 26-year-old is making history, becoming the first artist to partner with the NFL to create a special logo and theme art for Super Bowl LIX. Tahj Williams, a queen of the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians, is showcasing her Black Masking Indian culture and New Orleans culture with an intricate, hand-beaded creation of the Super Bowl LIX logo and theme art. Williams told New Orleans ABC affiliate WGNO ahead of Sunday's big game that it is "a huge honor" to be chosen to work with the NFL. "This is definitely a moment that is going to live with me forever," Williams said. The NFL said they wanted to amplify local New Orleans culture with Super Bowl LIX taking place in the Big Easy this year. "Queen Tahj's deep connection to her community and extraordinary talent made her the perfect artist for this project," Marissa Solis, NFL senior vice president of global brand and consumer marketing, said in a press release. "Her work authentically honors the cultural roots of New Orleans while celebrating the city's vibrant spirit, and we're excited to spotlight it on the Super Bowl stage and honor the communities that make New Orleans so special." NFL's coastal restoration efforts in New Orleans Both the logo and theme art feature Williams' creativity through beads in vibrant colors typical of Black Masking Indian culture, from bright pinks and rich reds to eye-catching chartreuses and verdant greens. Black Masking Indians, also known as Mardi Gras Indians, who are separate from federally recognized or state recognized tribes of Louisiana, have a strong culture of art and pageantry that has been passed down since the 1800s. The culture emerged from an exchange of traditions between African slaves and local Native American groups in the 19th century. Over the years, multiple groups, called tribes, such as Williams' Golden Eagles, have evolved to keep Indigenous, African American and Creole traditions alive. The Black Masking Indians participate in Mardi Gras each year, donning Native American-inspired suits for the celebration, according to the Smithsonian Institution. Williams has honed her beadwork craft for years and told WGNO she typically spends over 40 hours a week making her Black Masking Indian suit. "When people think about New Orleans, they think about the French Quarter -- and all of that is definitely New Orleans. But I think sometimes people forget that we have second line culture, the brass band culture, the Baby Doll culture, Skull and Bone gang, the Black Masking Indians, and I just wanted that to shine through," Williams said. Meet New Orleans artist and activist whose art chronicles and celebrates Black community Williams hopes her art can raise awareness of and inspire a new generation to keep the deep and rich stories of her ancestors and community alive. "Since [I was] a kid, this is all I've ever known. We grow up going to second lines every Sunday and can't wait, and you're sleeping next to whatever outfit you plan on wearing for that particular second line, waking up to go see the Big Chief that comes out of your neighborhood every year, and I just wanted everyone to get those feelings that I used to get as a child looking at New Orleans culture," Williams said. Williams' rendition of the Super Bowl LIX theme art is featured on digital game tickets, this year's official program cover, and at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans hotel. The Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will compete in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9. 26-year-old becomes 1st artist to create NFL logo, theme art originally appeared on
Axios
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Super Bowl LIX brings the world to New Orleans
When Jerin "Jerk" Beasley sat down to create the art that would become a limited edition collaboration with the NFL Shop, the New Orleans artist drew on the beadwork and feathers of Mardi Gras Indians. Why it matters: The resulting work, like the Super Bowl LIX logo that local artist Queen Tahj designed, threads the massive NFL event with the city that hosts it this year. And now, it all comes together this weekend on the world's biggest stage. The big picture: New Orleans has spent months sprucing up, working through a to-do list hundreds of items long. Some of that work has been controversial, like Gov. Jeff Landry's sudden moves to shuffle homeless people out from prime downtown locations. And it has done so despite inexplicable loss, becoming the site of a terror attack on New Year's Day that killed 14 people. But the city, and the NFL, pressed on. Now, New Orleans and the culture born of its struggles and its triumphs will be one of the biggest storylines that plays out on TV in front of millions of people on Sunday. Queen Tahj is among the New Orleanians who will appear in a Crescent City-saturated pregame performance, the NFL says. So, too, are Terence Blanchard, Trombone Shorty, Ledisi, Jon Batiste, Southern University's Human Jukebox marching band, the Original Pinettes Brass Band and the Spirit of New Orleans Gospel Choir. What they're saying:" Mardi Gras Indians share a day in New Orleans called Super Sunday," Beasley said, referencing the St. Joseph's Day celebration when the city's tribes step out in their full, hand-beaded and -feathered suits, singing and dancing to show off their creations. "In the NFL, they share a day called Super Sunday. ... And you know who's in the Super Bowl? The Chiefs. It all came together." Is it destiny? Beasley likes to think so. A little of that magic has always existed here in this improbable place to build a city. The bottom line: New Orleans, it's showtime. And for everyone else, welcome back to our house.
Axios
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Here's who's performing at Super Bowl LIX
Super Bowl LIX might technically be about the football, but the event brings some major star power to its music performances too. Why it matters: With the Philadelphia Eagles facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans, you can expect some epic host-city flavor. How it works: Jay-Z's Roc Nation has collaborated with the NFL on identifying entertainment since 2020 thanks to an introduction from New England Patriots owner Robert K. Kraft, the New York Times says. The final music selections all start with a list from Jay-Z, Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez told the Times-Picayune. "If it was just booking an act, that's easy," Perez said. "But it's not. It's more about when, why, who. What is the theme? What is the pulse of the times, of where we're going, of what people are listening to? We take all that into consideration." Then, it's a matter of putting puzzle pieces together, finding out who's available and how it all works together in context, she told the newspaper. Super Bowl tailgate Post Malone will perform in the official Super Bowl pregame tailgate with YouTube, the NFL announced last week. The performance will feature an appearance from New Orleans Saints Juwan Johnson too. The live show is invite-only, the NFL says, but it will stream live at 3pm on the NFL's YouTube channel. Super Bowl pregame performers New Orleans' musical legacy will be the star during the pregame performances. Jon Batiste will perform the national anthem. Trombone Shorty will pair up with Lafayette native Lauren Daigle for "America the Beautiful." And Ledisi will perform "Lift Every Voice and Sing." You should also look for Harry Connick Jr. with trumpeter Leroy Jones and trombone player Freddie Lonzo, plus the Freedom Frequency Orchestra, the Southern University Marching Band, jazz trumpeter Terence Blanchard, the Soul Rebels, The Original Pinettes (New Orleans' only all-female brass band), and the Spirit of New Orleans Gospel Choir. Mardi Gras Indians will also figure prominently in the show, the NFL says, with local artist Queen Tahj at the helm. The tradition of creating spectacular beaded suits — a new one every year — comes from New Orleans' Black community. The tradition's origins are murky, but many believe it honors the unique relationship between Indigenous tribes who cared for escaped enslaved people in the city's early history. Fun fact: Queen Tahj designed this year's Super Bowl logo, too. Super Bowl halftime performers Kendrick Lamar will round out the night's musical performances, with special guest SZA, the NFL said. The Compton native dropped his latest album, "GNX," last fall, which included SZA's contributions on two tracks: "Gloria" and "Luther." The pair are also co-headlining a 19-city tour beginning this spring in Minneapolis.
