Donna's on Rampart Mardi Gras Line up

"Way down yonder in New Orleans/In the land of dreamy scenes/There's a garden of Eden/You know what I mean.”----Louis Armstrong

"Mardi Gras is the love of life. It is the harmonic convergence of our food, our music, our creativity, our eccentricity, our neighborhoods, and our joy of living. All at once"--Chris Rose

A true New Orleans Staple in the world famous Treme neighborhood the birthplace of Louis Armstrong, Donna's on Rampart located at 800 Rampart Street directly across from the Louis Armstrong park Sign has reopened and open for business. Formerly known as Donna's Bar & Grill, the venue closed its doors last summer with a sign on their door which simply stated "GONE FISHING". Being a New Orleans music institution, it was a matter of time before Donna's reopened and we are glad to have it back. Many New Orleanians can recount joyous times shared at Donna's while listening to New Orleans Brass Bands, Jazz and Funk just to name a few. I have personally heard from various folks how happy they are that the venue has reopened. Holding true to what it was once was, Donna's on Rampart has been hosting a variety of New Orleans sounds such as the Royal Players Brass Band, Joe Krown Trio featuring Walter Wolfman & Russell Batiste, Bo Dollis Jr. and the Wild Magnolia's as well as new up and coming musicians such as Rex Gregory (jazz) and Mario Abney (Jazz/Funk). The venue also has food nightly for those ravenous dancers and musicians alike provided by VJ's Cafe at Congo Square serving up delicious meals such as Red Beans & Rice, George Porter Jr's Fried Chicken (arguably the best chicken in town) and Jambalaya & Potatoe Salad.

This weekend leading up to one of the biggest weekends in our city, Donna's on Rampart is boasting an impressive line up full of talented musicians. Every night offers a different feel so if you are into Brass Band, Funk, Jazz or just simply good music Donna's on Rampart is your late night destination after all the parades have rolled into the convention center. Take a stroll through the French Quarter and down Rampart street to 800 Rampart (corner of St. Anne) for some stellar music, great food and friendly bartenders.

The Mardi Gras 2011 music line up beginning today (March 3, 2011) is as follows:

March 3, 2011 at 10 p.m.-Royal Players Brass Band
March 4, 2011 at 10 p.m.-Soul Project (Funk/New Orleans Blues)
March 5, 2011 at 10 p.m.-Illumnasti Trio with James Singleton, Mike Dillon followed by the Dead Kenny G's with Mike Dillon, Skerik and Brad Houser
March 6, 2011 at 8 p.m.--Bob French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band
March 7, 2011 at 8 p.m.--Kevin O'day and Friends
March 8, 2011---CLOSED, HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!!

Donna's on Rampart can be found on the Internet at http://www.donnasonrampart.com and on Facebook under Donna's on Rampart. For information you can contact the Crew at Donna's at Main Line: 504-304-6340
Concert Line: 504-875-4978.

For Booking information or to leave us your Press Kit please stop by the venue any night Thursday through Sunday and ask for Venessa Williams.

See you at Donna's

Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler!

"Mardi Gras is bars and restaurants changing out all the CD's in their jukeboxes to Professor Longhair and the Neville Brothers, and it is annual front-porch crawfish boils hours before the parades so your stomach and attitude reach a state of grace, and it is returning to the same street corner, year after year, and standing next to the same people, year after year--people whose names you may or may not even know but you've watched their kids grow up in this public tableau and when they're not there, you wonder: Where are those guys this year?"-Chris Rose

"New Orleans is the only place I know of where you ask a little kid what he wants to be and instead of saying "I want to be a policeman," or "I want to be a fireman," he says, I want to be a musician".--Alan Jaffe

Pisces Party 2011 Benefits Haiti's Youth

"Pisces are creative people.Pisces always make great friends and soulmates. Pisces are extremely loyal and caring. Pisces often possess uncanny intuitive or psychic abilities"

"The arts, marketing, music, teaching, drama, healing arts...these are all fields in which Pisces can find expression. Their imagination, attunement to humanity, and remarkable intuition endow them with enviable gifts of insight and creativity."




Many born within this sign tend to gravitate towards the Arts because of our love for beauty and all things spiritual and ethereal which can be best achieved through some medium in the Arts. Famous Pisces folks include: MichaelAngelo, Copernicus, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elizabeth Taylor, Kurt Cobain, Fats Dominoe, Johnny Cash, Quincy Jones,Liza Minelli, Albert Einstein, Queen Latifah, Jack Kerouac, Nat King Cole, Anais Nin, Drew Barrymore and Bruce Willis just to name a few. Not bad company to be included in.

On Tuesday March 1st, 2011 beginning at 8 p.m. at the Blue Nile on Frenchmen Street, all Pisces and Pisces Lover's/Friends are invited to Celebrate the qualities of this last sign of the Horoscope. I am purposely choosing to ignore that new horoscope! This being the First Annual Pisces Party the event will be one not easily forgotten! At only a $5.00 cover charge, the event is sure to leave you satisfied.

The Party includes an all star Pisces Band including Sam Price on Bass (from Honey Island Swamp Band & Otra), Eric Bolivar on Drums (Bonerama, Anders Osborne), Greg Hicks on Trombone (Bonerama), John Bagnato on Guitar (from the N.O. Heritage School of Music), Kristina Morales (Jazz vocals) and Loren Murrell (vocals and Guitar). This is just the core group of musicians not counting many special guests invited to share the stage with this amazingly talented group of artists who are all generously donating their time to a very worthy cause and just because it's sure to be a good time.

Proceeds from the Pisces Party 2011 will go to benefit the Haitian Youth Music Relief (www.haitianyouthmusicrelief.org) Fund led by Haitian Loyola Professor Dr. Jean Montes. This organization was featured on the front cover of the Gambit a few weeks ago and the idea was born to incorporate them into the party. The Haitian Youth Music Relief Fund gathers donations, music instruments, music books and supplies for the youth in Haiti. Due to the devastation caused by the massive Earthquake, Haiti is still trying to recover needing their basic needs met such as housing, food and shelter however there are a few things like the arts which will make all of Haiti feel like Human Beings again. Music always has the power to transform the soul by providing sheer joy in the form of musical notes. In New Orleans we take music very personal realizing all too well exactly what our brothers and sisters in Haiti are going through after struggling to recover from our own natural disaster.

As stated in their website; "A musician's instrument is a means of expression, a tool for connecting with others, and an old friend in times of tragedy. Music is a healing energy like no other and we can join together to provide this type of "medicine" to help heal the children who are suffering in Haiti." Again a sentiment understood best in a city like New Orleans known for making the best out of our worst times with the help of music.

The event will also include food donated by various Pisces folks, games and of course King Cakes since it is after all also Carnival time! Be part of a wonderful party benefitting an even greater cause. Someone once told me that part of our lot in life is to help others as much as we can because we are ALL ultimately connected. I believe in this to my core and what a better to extend a helping way than through music.


"Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion."-- Jack Kerouac

"Reality is something you rise above."-- Liza Minnelli

"Dreams are necessary to life."-- Anais Nin