Overcompensating for missing fest?

[frangooch]

Missing my first fest in a while this year (family vacation to Sicily), so I've been stocking up on other musical events as a sort of next-best-thing strategy. Nothing beats fest, but this list ain't bad (unless you think of the money I spent to get 'em):

March 11-15--trip to NOLA. Looks like Dirty Dozen, The Trio, Amanda Shaw, Bonerama, Fatien Ensemble. Maybe one or two changes. Unfortunately will miss the Threadhead event.

March 26--Los Lobos at Bimbos 365

April 1--Springsteen at HP Arena

April 3--JJ Cale at Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz

April 13--Leonard Cohen, Paramount Theatre, Oakland

April 26--John Prine, Warfield

Post Sicily: Clapton/Winwood and Diana Krall so far.

How'd I do?

[Amy Winette]

Not bad at all! :)

[jerseygirl67]

Missing my first fest in a while this year (family vacation to Sicily), so I've been stocking up on other musical events as a sort of next-best-thing strategy. Nothing beats fest, but this list ain't bad (unless you think of the money I spent to get 'em):

March 11-15--trip to NOLA. Looks like Dirty Dozen, The Trio, Amanda Shaw, Bonerama, Fatien Ensemble. Maybe one or two changes. Unfortunately will miss the Threadhead event.

March 26--Los Lobos at Bimbos 365

April 1--Springsteen at HP Arena

April 3--JJ Cale at Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz

April 13--Leonard Cohen, Paramount Theatre, Oakland

April 26--John Prine, Warfield

Post Sicily: Clapton/Winwood and Diana Krall so far.

How'd I do?

that is very cool. But, honestly, I am so sorry for you. You HAVE to go to Italy!!!!! How brutal!!!!
Just bring home some good homemade Limoncello please!!!
HAVE FUN!!!!!!! I am very jealous!!!

[almarco]

Missing my first fest in a while this year (family vacation to Sicily), so I've been stocking up on other musical events as a sort of next-best-thing strategy. Nothing beats fest, but this list ain't bad (unless you think of the money I spent to get 'em):

March 11-15--trip to NOLA. Looks like Dirty Dozen, The Trio, Amanda Shaw, Bonerama, Fatien Ensemble. Maybe one or two changes. Unfortunately will miss the Threadhead event.

March 26--Los Lobos at Bimbos 365

April 1--Springsteen at HP Arena

April 3--JJ Cale at Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz

April 13--Leonard Cohen, Paramount Theatre, Oakland

April 26--John Prine, Warfield

Post Sicily: Clapton/Winwood and Diana Krall so far.

How'd I do?


dunno I am have a hard time feel bad for ya ...have a blast!

[stlbarb]

no Bon Jovi?

[mrSteve]

Missing my first fest in a while this year (family vacation to Sicily), so I've been stocking up on other musical events as a sort of next-best-thing strategy. Nothing beats fest, but this list ain't bad (unless you think of the money I spent to get 'em):

March 11-15--trip to NOLA. Looks like Dirty Dozen, The Trio, Amanda Shaw, Bonerama, Fatien Ensemble. Maybe one or two changes. Unfortunately will miss the Threadhead event.

March 26--Los Lobos at Bimbos 365

April 1--Springsteen at HP Arena

April 3--JJ Cale at Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz

April 13--Leonard Cohen, Paramount Theatre, Oakland

April 26--John Prine, Warfield

Post Sicily: Clapton/Winwood and Diana Krall so far.

How'd I do?

nice list, would love to see JJ Cale.

[MusicRoadMan]

Wow... plenty of wine and pasta and get to see Clapton, Winwood, Cale and Bruce also.... I would miss fest too.... Good Job, Man

[mightyradgumbo]

That sounds like a nice next best thing list to me...throw in the trip to Italy and it almost tops missing fest ;)

[frangooch]

no Bon Jovi?

Nor Britney.....

[billytherhino/nyc]

where in sicily!?!?!-palermo,taormina,siracusa,even mt etna-some great cities and towns-been there a few times-cant say enough great things about the place and the peoples-very warm and then some-they even have brass bands!
rome is like new york city 2000 years ago only with prettier people who care even less than new yorkers.thats alot of 'tude....didnt notice much tude anywhere in sicily except for taormina. dont forget to check out the blood oranges/ juice/gelato.love me some blood oranges.

i think they even used to call the french quarter little palermo for a spell...

missing the fest and nola sucks,but the missing it makes u get back for sure.
now you truly know what it means....

pace billy tr

ps-great classic music list

seeing the wolves in a week in nyc

[Corona]

Fran, that's a great list and going to Italy is definitely not something to pass up. Never been to Sicily cuz we're from the north but would love to make that trip one day. Have a great time and hopefully you'll post a couple of pics for us when you get back!

[frangooch]

where in sicily!?!?!-palermo,taormina,siracusa,even mt etna-some great cities and towns-been there a few times-cant say enough great things about the place and the peoples-very warm and then some-they even have brass bands!
rome is like new york city 2000 years ago only with prettier people who care even less than new yorkers.thats alot of 'tude....didnt notice much tude anywhere in sicily except for taormina. dont forget to check out the blood oranges/ juice/gelato.love me some blood oranges.

i think they even used to call the french quarter little palermo for a spell...

missing the fest and nola sucks,but the missing it makes u get back for sure.
now you truly know what it means....

pace billy tr

ps-great classic music list

seeing the wolves in a week in nyc

Hey Billy,

I'll be there for 3 weeks and will try to see it all. Houses rented in Siracusa, Cefalu, and Scopello (Trapani). Definite side trips pland to Erice, Taormina, and Agrigento. Trapani is where my ancestors are from. Never been there and may never come back -in which case I'd miss more fests!;-)

[Belle]

Missing my first fest in a while this year (family vacation to Sicily), so I've been stocking up on other musical events as a sort of next-best-thing strategy. Nothing beats fest, but this list ain't bad (unless you think of the money I spent to get 'em):

March 11-15--trip to NOLA. Looks like Dirty Dozen, The Trio, Amanda Shaw, Bonerama, Fatien Ensemble. Maybe one or two changes. Unfortunately will miss the Threadhead event.

March 26--Los Lobos at Bimbos 365

April 1--Springsteen at HP Arena

April 3--JJ Cale at Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz

April 13--Leonard Cohen, Paramount Theatre, Oakland

April 26--John Prine, Warfield

Post Sicily: Clapton/Winwood and Diana Krall so far.

How'd I do?

You got an amazing replacement with the trip and the shows. I can't do fest this year for other reasons but if you can you should do Crawfish Fest...for me it is like cubes highlighted...time to rest and relax...food is New Orleans style and you have time to visit with Threadheads. Not the whirlwind of fest but it is so...good.

Can you join us?

[frangooch]

Belle,

That's a nice offer, thanks.. Checked the website and it does sound like a blast.

However, I'll still be in Sicily. Next time ;-)

[McGregor]

I've done the same thing. I think I may be spending as much as if we were going to NO which makes me an idiot. I have 5 shows on the agenda.

I'm going to try and come down for Sat, 5/2 and stay Sunday to see either Neil/Radiators, then a night show and leave early Mon. A little bit of nawlins is better than no'nawlin's

[stlbarb]

I've done the same thing. I think I may be spending as much as if we were going to NO which makes me an idiot. I have 5 shows on the agenda.

I'm going to try and come down for Sat, 5/2 and stay Sunday to see either Neil/Radiators, then a night show and leave early Mon. A little bit of nawlins is better than no'nawlin's

assuming you're driving, this might work (metairie is not a good location without a car):
you can get the the Sheraton Metairie for $82+ tax for saturday (&/or friday). other nights are 119+. some kind of odd sale. i'm hoping to pursuade them into the lower rate for sunday night.
its on their site, and its prepaid, non refundable. but its hard to get a decent rate for just saturday/sunday. and parking downtown or the 1/4 is difficult or pricey.

[McGregor]

assuming you're driving, this might work (metairie is not a good location without a car):
you can get the the Sheraton Metairie for $82+ tax for saturday (&/or friday). other nights are 119+. some kind of odd sale. i'm hoping to pursuade them into the lower rate for sunday night.
its on their site, and its prepaid, non refundable. but its hard to get a decent rate for just saturday/sunday. and parking downtown or the 1/4 is difficult or pricey.

thanks for the info. You can't imagine the trouble I've had trying to find a room for one or even 2 nights. Unreal. In this economy? take my money for god's sake! HA

[stlbarb]

thanks for the info. You can't imagine the trouble I've had trying to find a room for one or even 2 nights. Unreal. In this economy? take my money for god's sake! HA
alot of hotels have minimums during fest, and for good reason. otherwise saturday night would sell out quickly and folks looking for whole weekends would be left hanging.
metairie is actually very convenient for us. we're staying sat night (already booke) and going to southport for the subdudes that night. we'll either have a designated driver or cab back (we can get a ride there) and we can squeeze one more in.
i'm hoping to get sunday night for less than the current 119 rate, otherwise its back to our friends house in Abita Springs.

it may be possible to get a hotwire or priceline deal for sat-mon, but i wasnt willing to take the gamble. and we dont really need to stay downtown/qtr.

[Amy Winette]

I'm pretty pleased with our $89 Omni rate! I've been getting Hotwire emails announcing a hotel price "drop" for fest -- $180-$215 for 4 star (um, that's a bargain?) I assume better deals will come along a bit later . . .

[Orleansnj]

I'm pretty pleased with our $89 Omni rate! I've been getting Hotwire emails announcing a hotel price "drop" for fest -- $180-$215 for 4 star (um, that's a bargain?) I assume better deals will come along a bit later . . .

Amy - that's a ridiculously good rate for the Omni - nice work !

And yes, the 180-215 is not a baragin - that's standard rates on a lot of the hotel sites !!!! Yikes !!!! (even at Fest).

[stlbarb]

I'm pretty pleased with our $89 Omni rate! I've been getting Hotwire emails announcing a hotel price "drop" for fest -- $180-$215 for 4 star (um, that's a bargain?) I assume better deals will come along a bit later . . .

you should be very happy. nice price - especially for a nice hotel. :D

i think folks looking for daze between, or 4-5 nights over a weekend will still see some good rates via priceline/hotwire.
its hard to book only 1-2 weekend nights without paying full rate.

[Amy Winette]

We're booked whole enchilada, 11 nights

[Jordan]

Other ideas in New Orleans (which really means, "What I'm jealous about missing")
March 11 - Tin Men at dba at 7
March 12 - Geno Delafose @ Rock & Bowl; or The Trio @ Maple Leaf; or Kermit @ Vaughn's
March 13 - Ingrid Lucia and Grayson Capps @ dba or Billy Iuso @ Le Bon Temps
March 14 - John Boutte @ dba at 7pm then Bonerama

As far as jealousy goes -- the rest of your schedule looks pretty sharp too.

[McGregor]

alot of hotels have minimums during fest, and for good reason. otherwise saturday night would sell out quickly and folks looking for whole weekends would be left hanging.
metairie is actually very convenient for us. we're staying sat night (already booke) and going to southport for the subdudes that night. we'll either have a designated driver or cab back (we can get a ride there) and we can squeeze one more in.
i'm hoping to get sunday night for less than the current 119 rate, otherwise its back to our friends house in Abita Springs.

it may be possible to get a hotwire or priceline deal for sat-mon, but i wasnt willing to take the gamble. and we dont really need to stay downtown/qtr.

I've stayed in metarie before for fest and my only complaint was getting a cab to venues. Getting back was easy. Getting to fest is really easy. Cheaper. etc

But we did sit outside our hotel one night for 90 minutes (at least) waiting on someone to pick us up, missed almost half of a Rads show.

[Fred (Texas JF Fanatic)]

Missing my first fest in a while this year (family vacation to Sicily), so I've been stocking up on other musical events as a sort of next-best-thing strategy. Nothing beats fest, but this list ain't bad (unless you think of the money I spent to get 'em):

March 11-15--trip to NOLA. Looks like Dirty Dozen, The Trio, Amanda Shaw, Bonerama, Fatien Ensemble. Maybe one or two changes. Unfortunately will miss the Threadhead event.

March 26--Los Lobos at Bimbos 365

April 1--Springsteen at HP Arena

April 3--JJ Cale at Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz

April 13--Leonard Cohen, Paramount Theatre, Oakland

April 26--John Prine, Warfield

Post Sicily: Clapton/Winwood and Diana Krall so far.

How'd I do?

frangooch, you passed this year but next year the test will be given in NOLA.
Enjoy the shows