Top 5 nightlife events this weekend
Feb. 17-19, 2012
Mardi Gras weekend is crawling with amazing parades and concerts. Although Baton Rouge has an interesting Friday night show and a terrific Saturday afternoon parade, New Orleans is definitely the place to party. So, after indulging in the revelry of the Spanish Town parade, pack your things and head to the Big Easy for the biggest party of the year.
Bass Drum of Death
If you can’t get to New Orleans for the entire weekend, there are still some pretty cool happenings in the Baton Rouge area. Bass Drum of Death will be at Spanish Moon this Friday, Feb. 17. They bring in a grungy-rock vibe to the stage that feels cool and edgy. Behind the scenes, they can get a little outrageous as seen on their internet blog on Tumblr, where hilarious pictures and random videos take over the pages.
Check out Bass Drum of Death Friday, Feb. 17, at 9 p.m, at Spanish Moon. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Krewe of Endymion
This is the Mardi Gras parade to attend. You may have to leave the Spanish Town parade a little early, but it’ll be worth it. Centered in the heart of uptown New Orleans, the Endymion parade has been around for years and has been called, “the largest non-military parade in the world.” This year’s theme is “Happily Ever After,” and the Grand Marshall is Adam Levine of Maroon 5. Special guests include popular country stars Big and Rich and Gretchen Wilson. Make sure you get to witness the parade that encompasses the entire mood of Mardi Gras. Check out their 2012 Mardi Gras preview on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9szZAb1IwZs.
The Endymion parade starts at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19. For parade routes, visit http://www.mardigrasparadeschedule.com/krewes/endymion/.
Better than Ezra’s Krewe of Rocckus
Join the famous rock band Better than Ezra as they host their second annual Krewe of Rocckus event at the House of Blues in New Orleans. This anticipated event will last the entire Mardi Gras weekend and the 3-day package includes concerts, celebrity brunches, private parade viewing stands, and even a cruise! If that wasn’t enough, the special guests at this event include Tonic and Ed Roland from Collective Soul. Each band has had numerous Top 10 hits, including Tonic’s “If You Could Only See,” which can still be heard on the radio today.
Concerts start at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, starting around $35. Packages can be found at http://www.kreweofrocckus.com.
Krewe of Bacchus
Although this parade takes place on a Sunday night, don’t let it fool you. It’s one of the best parades of the Mardi Gras season. The king of Bacchus XLIV is Will Ferrell and this year’s theme is “Bacchus Salutes the Louisiana Bicentennial.” That’s right, Louisiana celebrates its 200th year of Statehood this year, and Bacchus is all about joining the celebration. Don’t miss the signature floats of this parade, including the famous Bacchagator and King Kong.
The parade starts Sunday, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. For parade routes, visit http://www.kreweofbacchus.org/.
New Orleans Bingo! Show
Head out to One Eyed Jacks on Sunday night to end this weekend with an entertaining bang! The New Orleans Bingo! Show is a unique spectacle that is totally worth the late Sunday night. This isn’t just a band performing a concert; it’s a complete theatrical show including risqué dancers, clowns, black and white silent films, and more. The New Orleans Bingo! Show has a bohemian feel and is an innovative way to enjoy music. Check out their videos on Youtube to see just how awesome their shows truly are.
The show starts at 9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 19, at One Eyed Jacks. Tickets can be found on www.ticketmaster.com for $15.