Satchmo Summerfest 2015: The Skinny

Satchmo Summerfest 2015: The Skinny

What:
• 15th Anniversary Satchmo SummerFest, a 115th Birthday Party for Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong.
• Three days of traditional, contemporary and brass band music covering music popularized by Armstrong and contemporaries such as Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Fletcher Henderson, and Fats Waller and original compositions by presenting musicians.
• Symposiums focusing on different aspects Armstrong’s career
• Exhibitions in the U. S. Mint explaining Armstrong’s youth, ascent into popular culture.
• Food and drink from some of New Orleans favorite purveyors.

• When: July 31-August 2, 2015

• Where: The grounds of the Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Street, New Orleans
The Old  U. S. Mint:  blessedly air conditioned, bathrooms and drinking fountains inside, three floors containing Armstrong exhibits, a gift store, modern presentation room in which 6 symposiums focusing on different aspects of Armstrong’s career were offered each day.

• How: Festival set up: Two stages under pavilions on opposite sides of the U. S. Mint, each with a small portable dance floor in front of the stages and space for hundreds to sit in the shade (pretty good since the average temps were in the mid nineties each day). Great amplification set up loud enough to provide the necessary juice but well below the levels that crush your inner ear.