Page 46 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2024 Digital Edition

Blues cruises provide the unique opportunity for artists to play together in never-before-seen collaborations! Here are (l to r) Eden Brent, Gracie Curran, Dawn Tyler Watson,
Deanna Bogart, Ana Popovic, Shemekia Copeland, Danielle Nicole, Kelley Hunt & Tony Braunagel jamming at the LRBC Returnee Party. Photo by Ÿ Joseph A. Rosen

Cruiser David S. Walker perhaps sums it up best: “Each LIVE told us the French Quarter wasn’t actually that far, so
Blues Cruise is so good and so refreshing that I like to say I’ll we walked! While singing Fats Domino’s “Walkin’ to New
be on every LRBC unless I am dying or already dead. The Orleans,” we found ourselves 20 minutes later in the French
Blues Cruise is a seven-day escape from the real world and Quarter, surrounded by Voodoo souvenir shops, colorful
into blues heaven.” bluescruise.com Mardi Gras masks and music pumping out of every corner.
Included in The Big Easy experience was a visit to the
The Big Easy Cruise world-famous Tipitina’s club, where we enjoyed a special
By Kaati Gaffney and Leslie Morgan exclusive performance by funk band Galactic, featuring
We’ve been friends since high school, and it was so fun to Anjelika Jelly Joseph. Later, we shuttled back to the ship to
sail together on The Big Easy Cruise (produced by StarVista make sure and get great seats for the special Tedeschi Trucks
LIVE) in November 2023, with stops in New Orleans and show in the big theater (and to enjoy the midnight buffet!).
Cozumel, Mexico. As the cruise name suggests, it’s centered What a treat to ditch the heat and crowds of a land-
around New Orleans – both on board and when docked based music festival for a seven-day luxury cruise vacation
for 24 hours in “The Big Easy” itself. We were intrigued by with live music on multiple stages around the clock, featured
the variety of music being offered: brass band, R&B, swamp guest speakers and workshops, theme nights and world-
pop, Cajun, zydeco, jazz and blues – and we were not class amenities and service. Leslie says, “All-in-all, it was a
disappointed! fantastic New Orleans vacation, both on and off the ship.”
Performances on board featured Little Feat, Tab Benoit, bigeasycruise.com
Samantha Fish, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Leo Nocentelli from
The Meters, Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea
Tuba Skinny, John Boutté, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco By Jacque Duhame
Twisters, Irma Thomas and so many more! New-to-us musical The Keeping the Blues Alive (KTBA) at Sea cruise, hosted
gems included Anders Osborn and the Mardi Gras Indian by Joe Bonamassa and produced by Sixthman, features “the
band called Cha Wa – both from New Orleans. It was biggest blues rock party at sea.” The cruise benefits Joe’s
delightful to get a taste of so many musical flavors. Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, dedicated to furthering
When we docked in New Orleans, many other passengers music education for students, teachers and musicians – all
called their taxis and Ubers, but the staff from StarVista against the backdrop of the Caribbean sea.

44 Blues Festival Guide 2024