They’re some men you know they’re straight Some crooked as a barrel of snakes —Bo Carter, “Your Biscuits Are Big Enough For Me,” 1936

A warm day today and our luck has run out. The humidity is back.

A very different morning is on the agenda. Our good friend Bryce has invited us to the spreading of his mother’s ashes at Louis Armstrong Park. A few years back Bryce had done the same thing for his late father. They were both huge ‘Pops’ fans and it is time to reunite his parents. We met at the allocated spot (Louis Armstrong Statue) and Bryce spoke lovingly of his mum and dad. Also in attendance was the legendary New Orleans singer, Paul Sanchez, who sang two beautiful songs. ‘A Kiss To Build A Dream On, and ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’. We all then partook in a shot of vodka! What an honor it was to be there.

Give me a kiss to build a dream on
And my imagination will thrive upon that kiss
Sweetheart, I ask no more than this
A kiss to build a dream on

Give me a kiss before you leave me
And my imagination will feed my hungry heart
Leave me one thing before we part
A kiss to build a dream on

And when I’m alone with my fancies, I’ll be with you
Weaving romances, making believe they’re true

Oh, give me your lips for just a moment
And my imagination will make that moment live
Give me what you alone can give
A kiss to build a dream on

When I’m alone with my fancies, I’ll be with you
Weaving romances, making believe they’re true

Oh, give me lips for just a moment
And my imagination will make that moment live
Oh, give me what you alone can give
A kiss to build a dream on

Off we went into the Quarter to get some breakfast before heading to the Fest. We finished up on Royal Street at a cafe that I had not seen before, Cafe Vampire. I talked Wendy and Bernie into giving it a crack. Our waitress had implanted vampire teeth! The food was great and the decor fitted the name. Our napkins were folded in the shape of bat wings and the knives and forks were crossed.

https://nolavampirecafe.com/#

We were at the Fest at 11:30. Word is on the street that the crowd will be down due to the forecast of dodgy weather and no big-name acts. I started off at the Lagniappe Stage for Ingrid Lucia. Ingrid could be described as a Cabaret-type singer. What was eye-opening is she had the most outrageous and scantily clad fan dancer on stage. Of course, I was there for the music.

I decided to stay at the same stage for the next band. Sam Price and the True Believers. I know Sam as the bass player from the Honey Island Swamp Band. His band did not disappoint. Funky and Groovy all at the same time. They have a debut CD coming out and I will definitely buy it.

Sam Price and the True Believers

As we headed to the Blues Tent a guy walked past us wearing a Western Bulldogs T-shirt. My immediate reaction was to call out ‘Go Doggies’. He looked a little quizzical at me. As soon as he spoke I knew he was an American. He explained that his brother works in Melbourne and he had sent him the shirt after the 2016 Grand Final.

We made the Blues Tent and saw Sue Foley in action. WOW, what a set of Texas-style blues and boogie. The crowd went wild as she rocked the house. Bernie was high-fiving people he had never met. I have to now say that Sue Foley has taken the baton as Best of the Fest.

Sue Foley

I headed over to the Fais Do Do to listen to Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway. Molly is a young performer playing a very traditional style of Bluegrass. Another great set of music.

The last act back at the Blues Tent is Eric Gales. A very gifted left-handed guitarist and singer who is often compared to Jimi Hendrix. He fuses Blues and Rock. He is wearing more gold than Tutankhamun and his gold wristwatch is massive. He has a serious attitude. The Blues Tent for some reason is not full. He tells us, “Tell all the people you know who are not in the Blues tent that they f*cked up”. An interesting dude who sort of lectured us a little too much on why we white people can’t really understand the blues! I still enjoyed the show.

Eric Gales

Our Uber driver was an interesting guy to talk to. He is recently retired from the New Orleans Police Force (29 years). He was a mounted officer who worked Bourbon Street. I told him Cara was in the force. He said ‘God Bless You’ and then told her to take her badge to the station on Royal st where they will give her a cloth patch.

We got home and had Hoff and Bernie’s food they had made at yesterday’s cooking class. Very tasty indeed. Cara and Taylah are off to meet up with Skye to explore the music clubs on Frenchman Street.

We head out to Midway Pizza for the second time. Same waitress who greets us as regulars