New Orleans Music Tour

Overview

Explore the world’s richest musical city, starting with the legendary Preservation Hall. Visit the site of the Old French Opera House and stroll through the Tango Belt and May Bailey’s before arriving at the Treme section. Stroll through the Tango Belt to the New Orleans Musicians Tomb in St. Louis Cemetery #1, the use of which was donated by the musical dynasty Barbarin Family for free burial to musicians. From the cemetery you will check out the remains of Storyville (including Frank Early’s Saloon where “Pretty Baby” was written), turn-of-the-century red light district whose parlors presented King Oliver, Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet and more during the time when jazz was born. From Storyville, venture into Louis Armstrong Park, Congo Square, the only place in North American where pure West African religious ritual and musical traditions were performed.

City: New Orleans

Sat 21 Sep

Other dates

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Starting at $25.00

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Sat 21 Sep

Starting at $25.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Local guide

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

What To Expect

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

Stroll through the Tango Belt to the New Orleans Musicians Tomb in St. Louis Cemetery #1, the use of which was donated by the musical dynasty Barbarin Family for free burial to musicians. The first burial to take place was of Lloyd Washington of the Ink Spots on October 23, 2004.

Storyville District

From the cemetery you will check out the remains of Storyville (including Frank Early’s “My Place” Saloon where “Pretty Baby” was written), fabled turn-of-the-century red light district whose parlors presented the likes of King Oliver, Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet and many more during the time when jazz was born.

Louis Armstrong Park

From Storyville, check out the Basin Street Station and then venture into Louis Armstrong Park, the location of Congo Square, historic site of African slave gatherings, the only place in North American where pure West African religious ritual and musical traditions were performed.

Congo Square

Congo Square is considered the wellspring of all New Orleans music and consequently so much of the world’s most popular song. It is also the site of the first New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (1970) and the Municipal Auditorium. After leaving Armstrong Park, enter the building which housed the legendary J&M Studios which created the “New Orleans Sound” with such New Orleanians as Professor Longhair, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Guitar Slim, Shirley & Lee, Lloyd Price, Ernie K-Doe, Allen Toussaint, Clarence “Frogman” Henry and visitors including Little Richard, Ray Charles, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Learn the origins of New Orleans Bounce Music and check out the world’s greatest street musicians who are carrying the flame to this very day.

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews (24)

Pioneer291765

Jun 2019

Interesting and entertaining - examined the thesis that Bamboola lies at the heart of all popular music from early 1900s to the present day. We enjoyed it very much and learned a few things.

968pamelar

Mar 2019

This was the first tour we did on the first day of our 4-day visit in NOLA. There were only 4 of us and I wondered why...I think the title sounds bland as opposed to other music tours in NOLA. However, the time period was right for this one and not the others so off we went. I’d been expecting a bit more historical info, and more on the jazz greats who were born or lived here, but the concentration was only in the last 70 years or so and covered more “popular” music than jazz. I enjoyed the music selections played by our guide, and he had obviously planned out the tour to be able to access them easily and right away on his portable devices.

Johnna T

Oct 2018

Dave is a musician in New Orleans and he is very knowledgeable about its history. We learned a lot about NOLA’s music as well as it’s general history. I would definitely recommend this tour.