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• Where To Meet Father Christmas In Newcastle And Gateshead
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Where to meet Father Christmas in NewcastleGateshead

Father Christmas is terribly busy at this time of year, and we know how important it is to get your Christmas list in before the big day. If you are looking for Christmas events to enjoy as a family in Newcastle then look no further! Experience a brilliant day out in Newcastle and meet the big man himself too! We have managed to locate Santa’s sleigh to find out where you can meet Santa in NewcastleGateshead this Christmas.

The Santa Experience at Life

Have a magical time at the Life Science Centre this Christmas as you journey to the North Pole and explore the wonders of what Santa sees when he takes to the sky on Christmas Eve, in a captivating planetarium show. What Santa Sees is a new immersive animated show produced by Life’s in-house team. Look up in the magical domed theatre and be transported to a twinkling wonderland, following Santa and his reindeer across the night sky.

Once you have watched Santa fly across the globe, why not head to the outdoor ice skating rink at Life and carry on the festive fun!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Life Science Centre (@scienceatlife)

Santa's Grotto at Matfen Hall

Ho ho ho! Get ready for a jolly good time at Santa's Grotto at Matfen Hall on select weekends throughout December for a festive experience like no other! Bring your little ones to meet Santa Claus himself in his enchanting grotto. Watch their eyes light up with joy as they share their Christmas wishes and receive a special gift from Santa. This magical encounter will create lasting memories for the whole family and can be booked here. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Matfen Hall (@matfenhall)

Afternoon tea with Santa Claus at Hotel du Vin

Hotel du Vin in Newcastle will host Father Christmas for a delightful Festive afternoon tea experience on Sunday 10  December from 1pm - 4pm. Indulge in a delightful afternoon tea spread, complete with an array of scrumptious treats and delicious beverages. Your children will have the opportunity to share their Christmas wishes with Santa himself and receive a small surprise gift.  Book now to secure your place for an afternoon of festive family delight.

Breakfast with Mrs Claus at Seven Stories

Santa’s supper club at fenwick.

Until December 23rd, book now to enjoy a delicious two-course Santa's Supper Club  at Fenwick’s Arthur’s Restaurant with an accompanying meet and greet with old Father Christmas. Santa’s elves will be waiting for you at Arthur’s Restaurant before taking you to your table for a delicious two-course dinner for kids of all ages. Little ones will receive an elf hat to wear and can enjoy a spot of colouring while they feast on festive specials. Once children have finished eating they will then be invited up by the elves for an extra special picture moment with Santa and an early Christmas surprise. Accompanying adults will get a glass of festive fizz on arrival.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Fenwick (@fenwickofficial)

Winter Wonderscape at Metrocentre

Immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas at Metrocentre and enjoy two wonderful festive experiences; a magical journey to the North Pole and a meeting with Father Christmas! Step into a world of wonder where the festive season sparkles through an interactive, immersive projection experience. Party with the elves to all the Christmas classics in Exhibition Square and meet Santa in the Grotto Experience.  Book your tickets here.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Metrocentre (@metrocentre)

Breakfast with Santa at The Vermont Hotel

Santa and his elves have arrived at The Vermont Hotel and are waiting for a visit from your little ones! Enjoy a breakfast buffet, followed by entertainment from Santa's jolly elves, plus a visit to Santa's Grotto.  Santa is staying at the hotel till Christmas Eve, so you better book ahead so you don’t miss him. Find out more and book here. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Vermont Hotel (@vermontnewcastle)

Visiting NewcastleGateshead this Christmas?

Are you visiting NewcastleGateshead this festive season? Take a look at how to spend 48 hours in NewcastleGateshead this Christmas here. 

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Visiting the FREE Santa's Grotto at intu Metrocentre | All You Need to Know

Opening Times and Queue

Santa's Grotto Setting

Experience with Santa Claus

Your Free Playmobil Gift

Sounds like a perfect evening! We had a great time at the metro centre Santa too and I agree the gifts are great, especially considering it's free. I've had much worse gifts at paid for events! I would say we went at opening on a morning at the weekend and the queue was reasonable. I'll share this today at 4pm.

We visited this grotto a couple of weeks ago. We visited on a weekday lunch time and did not have to wait too long. The Santa we seen was brilliant with the little ones and my two truly believed he was real x

We visited after school on a Tuesday and queued for 30 minutes. Really good idea to have some PS3 for the kids while waiting. Important to know that children under 18months won't get a gift. We got a fireman for James and a boat with driver for Noah, plus a brilliant experience with a talented Santa --- and can't believe it was free!

I think children under 18 months old do receive a gift, it's just not Playmobil (at least that's what it says on their website). I can't believe it is free either :-)

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We loved it,totally worth a visit we went on a Sunday lunchtime and still only queued 35 minutes!

Thank you for this post Sam! After reading it, we visited the MetroCentre today with our little baby and stopped by Santa's grotto, we waited for about 40mins before seeing Santa. He was such a lovely Santa, and was so good with my little 11 month old. And she left with a pack of bath toys which I wasn't expecting! So great - and it was free! Thanks for the info about it, we would never have visited otherwise! X

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Sign up and win a luxury hamper from the body shop, christmas at intu metrocentre.

Yippee! Christmas is on its way, and might we say, we're so excited!

We're ready to get into the festive spirit here at intu Metrocentre. There is nothing like walking into Town Square and seeing our incredible Tree of Light; visiting Santa in his FREE grotto or joining in with all the Christmas Entertainment over the festive season.

Come and play this Christmas at intu Metrocentre

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Which Azores island is perfect for you?

Apr 15, 2024 • 8 min read

The islands that make up the Azores each have a unique draw, from impossibly picturesque hiking trails to lively festivals © Westend61 / Getty Images

Sandra has recently returned from her native Azores, where she was researching the upcoming Pocket Azores guidebook, out in October 2024. Here she shares her local knowledge of the archipelago to help you choose the best island for your trip.

Famous for hiking trails and lagoons, inactive volcanoes and whale watching, the Azores  naturally appeal to the outdoorsy. But these islands are also rich with a unique cuisine, exceptional wines, vibrant cultural events and traditional celebrations.

The Azores keep growing in popularity as a tourist destination, but some islands remain off most travelers’ radar. Sure, a lot of this archipelago’s appeal comes from its beautiful landscapes, where nature is practically untouched yet not entirely out of reach. But the landscapes change from island to island, sometimes within the same one, which is why “seen one, seen them all” doesn’t apply here. Read on to find the perfect islands for your Azores adventure.

1. Santa Maria

Best island for summer festivals  

Dubbed “the sunny island” by Azoreans, summers here see plenty of glorious days of beach weather – an oddity by Azores standards. But the promise of morning-to-evening days spent soaking up the sun and the salt of the ocean isn’t the only reason why travellers flock here during the summer months. On my early morning and practically empty flight to Santa Maria, on a late-January weekday, most of my fellow passengers were locals returning home or going on a business trip.

In mid-July, the village of Anjos welcomes blues fans to the three-day festival Santa Maria Blues . Then, at the end of August, Praia Formosa becomes the epicenter and main stage of Maré de Agosto , Portugal’s oldest music festival, turning 40 in 2024.  Marienses (Santa Maria residents) certainly know how to put on a memorable show. 

Read more:  All you need to know for your first trip to the Azores

2. São Miguel

Best island for things to do 

The largest island, São Miguel gets the most tourists and has frequent flights from various destinations two to five hours away. For many visitors it's a good compromise between spending time on a remote island but without feeling like you’re too far away from home.

Here, you can spend the morning discovering lagoons in Sete Cidades , then while away the afternoon soaking in a thermal bath heated by an underground volcano in Furnas. In the evening you can sample international cuisine and discover local artists at O Quarteirão, a neighborhood in the historic center of the island’s capital, Ponta Delgada. 

And on one of those pesky rainy days, when sightseeing goes out the window, stroll around the shopping center or catch a movie. 

Read more:  How to get the most out of the Azores without renting a car

3. Terceira

Best island for culture 

Terceira has a certain majestic quality – perhaps a trace of its former life as the heart of the Portuguese Kingdom. The celebration of local heritage is strong here, from the dozens of carefully kept, colorful​​​  impérios (small temples built to display symbols of the Cult of the Holy Spirit) that dot every village and town on the island, to the cobblestoned streets of Angra do Heroísmo’ s historic center, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Portugal . 

The island has birthed notable intellectuals, artists and writers. But there is room for less highbrow cultural manifestations, including the sarcasm-riddled song and dance shows called Bailinhos during Carnaval, and the live music and street parades during Sanjoaninas  in June.

4. Graciosa

Best island to visit with family  

Graciosa is one of the least touristy islands. On the surface, the second smallest island in the archipelago seems to have little to do – by comparison with the rest, of course. But this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve doesn’t need to flaunt deep lagoons and waterfalls to get your attention. 

In half a day, you can drive around the island and hit all the must-see spots, and locals will state this fact to you. But it’s perfect if you’re traveling with younger kids who get fussy on long drives. The road trip includes spotting a whale-shaped rock off the coast, entirely molded by nature. You can even take them on an adventure, walking down a stone spiral staircase into the heart of Graciosa’s inactive volcano, Caldeira (or Furna do Enxofre). 

The island is also home to burro da Graciosa , an endangered species of donkey that has been rescued, protected and bred by a local nonprofit organization. Anyone can visit the farm to see the donkeys from afar, or pet them if they come closer to the fence. 

Local tip: Graciosa is famous for its red-roofed, Dutch-style windmills. Most of them are no longer operational and have been turned into short-term rental houses by their owners. 

5. São Jorge

Best island for hiking 

Whether you arrive on the island by sea or by air, São Jorge resembles the scaly back of an enormous dragon fast asleep in the middle of the ocean. On this long and narrow island, most towns and villages are wedged between the sea and steep cliffs on volcanic ground that slid down the coast and formed fajãs (coastal plateaus). 

Even though some of these fajãs can be reached by car, being able to get to them as locals did in the old days, via official trekking trails, makes São Jorge the best island for hiking.

Local tip: Given the island’s rough terrain, all official trails on São Jorge range from moderate to hard, which require some hiking experience. Trekking boots and poles are recommended for a safe and comfortable hike.   

Read more: Discover the 7 best hikes in the Azores

Best island for local heritage 

Called “the mountain island” for being home to Portugal’s highest peak, Pico is also historically a land of whale hunters and winemakers. 

Watching whales took over from hunting them in the mid-1980s, with plenty of former hunters teaching whale-watching companies all they knew about the mammals and how to track them. You’ll see the former industry presented at museums and old processing factories. Today, whale-watching tours have become one of the most popular activities on Pico. 

Producing wine from vines that grow on volcanic soils, sheltered from the wind and the ocean by basalt rock walls, proves that picoenses  (Pico residents) are ingenious. The winemaking industry is currently reaping the fruits of a renaissance on the island, with the Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture becoming recognized by UNESCO in 2004. 

Local tip: Regular, year-round ferry rides connecting Faial, Pico, and São Jorge – also known as the “Triangle Islands” – mean that island-hopping between the three is easy. While the tendency is to stay on Faial (partly because of flight frequency), Pico is a better island to use as a base – Madalena on Pico is a 30-minute ferry ride from Horta on Faial; São Roque on Pico is 50 minutes from Velas on São Jorge. 

Island with the best beaches 

On most islands in the Azores, natural swimming pools outnumber sandy beaches, and Faial is no exception, with five beaches to its seven natural pools. The cool Atlantic waters (sometimes even in the summer) also don’t exactly pinpoint the islands on the map of best beach destinations. Nevertheless, Faial’s stretches of sand are worth visiting.

Praia do Almoxarife is hands down the beach with the best view. Imagine lounging on the black sand or taking a dip while looking across the water at Portugal’s highest peak, Mt Pico. 

Praia de Porto Pim is a local favorite within walking distance of Horta city center. The proximity to an urban area doesn’t taint the beach-going experience at all, and the bay is like a shelter. 

Best island for untouched nature 

Most people who visit Flores believe that this is the most beautiful island in the Azores, comparing it to such destinations as Hawaii, Switzerland, and Ireland.  

The evergreen island has dozens of waterfalls cascading down vertiginous cliffs into the ocean or into ponds of fresh water, seven lagoons nestled in the pits of collapsed volcano craters and a rugged coast hiding caves and tales of pirates – and only a handful of these delights are within human reach.   

Local tip: When the weather turns unexpectedly on Flores, locals have a fun saying: “Here today, tomorrow in Flores.” Granted, stressed travellers may miss the irony in this tidbit of local wisdom when they begin to foresee the domino effect of cancelled flights. If you’re staying three days on Flores, give yourself some leeway and plan for two extra days of traveling time – don't book connecting flights for the same day you plan to arrive on or leave Flores.

Best island to relax 

With no noise, no traffic (well, hardly any cars, for that matter), no pollution, and no fuss, Corvo, the smallest of the nine islands, is perfect for unplugging and recharging.   

Walking the maze of narrow cobblestoned streets that cut through impossibly close houses and patios that once protected corvinos (Corvo residents)   from harsh winds and pirate invasions does make you believe that if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. And these islanders have been making a life here for four centuries. 

Local tip: Most people hop here on a boat from Flores, do a quick tour around town and visit the volcano Caldeirão. But to fully experience life on the most remote island in the Azores, plan your trip to account for a one-night stay (at least) on Corvo.

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'Rust' movie armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed sentenced to 18 months

"Rust" armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was sentenced to the maximum penalty of 18 months in prison in a Santa Fe, New Mexico, court Monday for the killing of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter last month.

The judge referred to Gutierrez-Reed's lack of remorse before she handed down the sentence.

"Your attorney had to tell the court you were remorseful," she said.

Following the sentence, she said, "You were the armorer who stood between a safe weapon and a weapon that could kill someone. [But] for you, she would be alive."

Prosecutors sought the maximum penalty of 18 months in state prison.

In an interview following the sentencing New Mexico special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey said the prosecutors “respect the judge’s decision.”

“It’s been a difficult case. ... But taking responsibility I think is critical in the criminal justice system and that was something that unfortunately was lacking from Miss Gutierrez,” Morrissey said.

At the start of the sentencing hearing, Morrissey said she reviewed Gutierrez-Reed’s phone calls from jail to inform what sentence length to recommend to the judge. Morrissey said that the calls made by Gutierrez-Reed “tell us who she really is,” that she does not take responsibility for Hutchins’ death and that she “chooses to place blame on the witnesses that testified against her, me, you.”

In an interview following the sentencing Morrissey said that when she heard those phone calls she experienced "compassion fatigue."

"The state has approached this prosecution from a standpoint of compassion for Miss Gutierrez for her age for her lack of experience. And my compassion came to an end," Morrissey said.

Gutierrez-Reed, who was dressed in a khaki prison uniform with a long-sleeve white T-shirt underneath, wiped away tears as Hutchins’ agent, Craig Mizrahi, read a victim impact statement to the court during the sentencing hearing.

"Rust" director Joel Souza, who was also injured during the incident, read a victim impact statement virtually. He said the last two and half years have been “difficult to put into words” and that “I want everyone damaged by Ms. Reed’s failures that day to find peace. ... I want the pain to go away. ... She had a talent for life, she was a touchstone for all who knew her and those of us who were lucky enough to have shared in her fleeting time on this planet were better for it.”

Hutchins’ mother spoke in a video recorded in her native Ukraine. She sobbed as she recalled her life without her daughter, saying, “It’s extremely difficult without her.”

“There are no words to describe. Time does not heal,” she added.

The prosecutors concluded their presentation with a slideshow of photos of Hutchins set to Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here."

Gutierrez-Reed was crying as she addressed the court asking for probation, saying that "my heart aches for Hutchins and her friends and family."

She added that Hutchins "will always be an inspiration" and that her "heart goes out."

“I beg you, please don’t give me more time,” Gutierrez-Reed said.

Following Gutierrez-Reed's conviction, the judge ordered the 26-year-old to be held in police custody pending her sentencing. She was found not guilty of tampering with evidence.

In recorded jail phone conversations with her mother, boyfriend and her attorney’s paralegal, Gutierrez-Reed called jurors “idiots” and “a--holes” while complaining about the length of time it took them to deliberate, according to a recent filing by prosecutors.

Also in the phone calls , she said that she would not testify in actor Alec Baldwin’s upcoming criminal trial if subpoenaed and that she wants him to go to jail , too.

The almost two-week criminal trial centered on the shooting on the “Rust” film set in 2021, when Baldwin held a prop gun  that fired a live round of ammunition, killing Hutchins, 42. The bullet also injured Souza.

During the prosecution’s closing arguments, special prosecutor Kari T. Morrissey told the jury that Gutierrez-Reed “was negligent, she was careless, she was thoughtless.”

But Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney, Jason Bowles, said the prosecutors had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Gutierrez-Reed was responsible for taking live rounds onto the set and alleged that Baldwin was ultimately responsible for Hutchins’ death.

He also doubled down, saying “What caused her to pass was Mr. Baldwin going off-script and pointing the weapon.”

Bowles added that “the only ultimate act is the pointing of that weapon. Ms. Gutierrez wasn’t in the church, she didn’t point that weapon, she didn’t pull it.”

Baldwin, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter, is set to stand trial in July.

Chloe Melas is an entertainment correspondent for NBC News. 

Dana Griffin is an NBC News correspondent.

Sumiko Moots is an NBC News booking producer.

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Micro Center Returns to the Bay Area with New Santa Clara Store

Later in 2024, Silicon Valley gets its own Micro Center store.

To be located at 5201 Stevens Creek Blvd , the new store will cater to a region celebrated for its technological innovation and savvy consumers. This will be the 29th Micro Center location nationwide, joining other recent openings in cities like Charlotte , Indianapolis, and soon, Miami.

Santa Clara customers can expect a range of high-performance computing systems, AI hardware, and more. Additionally, the store will feature a Knowledge Bar, offering expert tech support and authorized service to ensure a satisfying customer experience.

Defying retail trends by continuing to invest in brick-and-mortar stores allows Micro Center to provide a hands-on shopping experience, expert advice, and immediate product availability, setting us apart from online-only retailers.

As part of the grand opening, Micro Center will offer exclusive discounts and promotions, including a coupon to receive a free 128 GB flash drive. For more information about the grand opening and to sign up for updates, please visit the Micro Center Santa Clara page . 

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Free Santa's Grotto at Metrocentre opening times and how to take part

intu Metrocentre has opened its free Christmas Grotto and is offering a free PLAYMOBIL gift to all children who visit Santa before Christmas

• 16:34, 22 NOV 2016
• Updated 12:41, 6 DEC 2016

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Children from across the North East can enjoy a unique free Chistmas Grotto experience at intu Metrocentre .

The shopping centre has teamed up with preschool toys manufacturer PLAYMOBIL to offer children the chance to meet some larger than life PLAYMOBIL figures alongside Santa himself.

The grotto, situated in the lower Qube, underneath intu Metrocentre’s giant Christmas tree, is one of eight being launched in partnership with PLAYMOBIL at intu shopping centres across the UK.

Helen Atkinson, marketing manager at intu Metrocentre, said: “Thanks to intu’s nationwide scale and consumer facing brand, we’ve been able to team up with one of the world’s best known toy manufacturers to make our Christmas grotto a must-visit destination for families in the North East over the festive season. We can’t wait for children to see what we have in store.”

Santa and Mrs Claus are also running some very special signing sessions at the Grotto for children with hearing impairments who can communicate using sign language. The sessions will take place from 10 am unti11 am on Sunday 27 November and Sunday 4 December – a truly memorable way for children to join in the festive fun.

As each visit lasts five minutes, places for signing sessions are limited and must be booked in advance at intu.co.uk/metrocentre/events/signing-santa to avoid disappointment.

Jamie Dickinson, PLAYMOBIL Marketing Manager, said: “We’re really excited to be taking this opportunity to visit intu shopping centres throughout the UK, and bringing children a special PLAYMOBIL experience this Christmas.”

Santa’s Grotto will be open Monday – Friday 10am – 8pm; Saturday 9am – 7pm; Sunday: 11am – 5 pm; Christmas Eve: Closes at 4pm. Every child who visits Santa and his elves will leave the free Grotto with a PLAYMOBIL gift.

For more information visit intu.co.uk/metrocentre/events/santas-grotto .

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Travel | travel: how to visit new orleans during the annual jazz & heritage festival.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival provides an overflowing musical feast each day for two weekends, Thursday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. But the city doesn’t fall quiet when night descends and the fairgrounds close. Nighttime in New Orleans is always bright with music, but it never sounds fuller and sweeter than those 11 nights during the festival, which this year goes from April 25 through May 5.

Keith Abel, who gives music-related walking tours in the city, emphasizes that the special shows go nonstop, from the first night of the festival to the last. For the opening night, he recommends the Threadhead Cultural Foundation’s free concert in the New Orleans Botanical Garden. And each day you can leave the festival and walk two blocks to a street party called Sauvage Fest.

The final Sunday at 1 p.m. will feature a street naming, complete with a second line band, honoring influential piano player Professor Longhair. (It starts at the Old Caledonia Inn on Rampart Street and goes to 1738 Terpsichore Street.) “That’s so New Orleans,” Abel says. And after the festival’s finale, head to Papa Mali’s Poylester Birthday Party for a tribute to David Lindley featuring The Iguanas, Alvin Youngblood Hart and others at the intimate Chickie Wah Wah’s. “It’s as big as my house,” Abel says.

Members of Cha Wa perform at d.b.a. on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, in New Orleans. (Photo by Amy Harris, Invision/AP)

Festivalgoers are seen in the rain at the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Ivan Neville of Dumpstaphunk performs at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, on Sunday, May 1, 2022, in New Orleans. (Photo by Amy Harris, Invision/AP)

George Porter Jr., from left, Zigaboo Modeliste, Ivan Neville, Ian Neville, and Tony Hall of the Foundation of Funk performs at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday, April 26, 2019, in New Orleans. (Photo by Amy Harris, Invision/AP)

George Porter Jr. performs at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, on Saturday, April 30, 2022, in New Orleans. (Photo by Amy Harris, Invision/AP)

Production engineers record the band Galactic for a video stream concert, inside an empty Tipitina’s music club in New Orleans. (Photo by Gerald Herbert, Associated Press)

Bass player George Porter Jr., a longtime fixture on the New Orleans music scene and a founding member of the influential funk band the Meters, poses at the Maple Leaf Bar in New Orleans, Thursday, April 20, 2023. (Photo by Kevin McGill, Associated Press)

But there are dozens of clubs and theaters featuring performances by the musicians in town for the festival. George Porter Jr., the bass player for the Meters who now has his own band, explains that many New Orleans acts spend much of the year on the road because local clubs’ exclusivity requirements make it difficult to earn a living at home — but those requirements vanish during Jazz Fest so the venues are packed each night with visiting stars and local legends.

“There’s lots of gigs to be had for a lot of cats,” says Ivan Neville, son of Aaron Neville of the Neville Brothers and leader of Dumpstaphunk. “Everyone comes to play shows, which gives people so many different choices and different types of music. This is the most amazing fun-filled, musically enriching, soul-feeding 11 days, man. There’s nothing like it.”

He says the first super jam was organized years ago by Zigaboo Modeliste, the Meters’ drummer, for a Thursday night show at 2 a.m. at the old Howlin’ Wolf location (another club, The Republic, is now there). “There was a line around the block of people waiting to get in,” Neville recalls. “That was something to behold and led to promoters bringing together different configurations of musicians for super jams during Jazz Fest.”

Porter says most tourists just think Bourbon Street is New Orleans, “but the bands there just play the top hits so why even bother — that’s music you can hear anywhere in the world. You’ve got to get off Bourbon Street to clubs like the Maple Leaf Bar or Tipitina’s to really hear New Orleans.”

Neville’s favorite club is Tipitina’s, which has survived for nearly 50 years — the members of the band Galactic bought it in 2018 to help keep it alive — but he says visitors should also check out Chickie Wah Wah, Howlin’ Wolf, DBA and Blue Nile.

“If you’ve never been here you’ve got to experience everything you can,” he says. “You should eat at Jacque-Imo’s which is right next door to the Maple Leaf Bar and then go in there.”

With so much to choose from, perhaps the easiest way to build a schedule is to focus on four members of New Orleans musical royalty: Porter, Neville, Galactic, and Trombone Shorty … If you can keep up with them:  Porter, who is 76, will be playing 21 shows across that span, although in a concession to age he says this is the first year he’s not playing a show that starts after 1 a.m.

“He’s inspiring, if not insane,” says Robert Mercurio, Galactic’s bass player, who is plenty busy himself — playing with Galactic, with FiyaPowa (which includes Galactic drummer Stanton Moore, Neville and other members of Dumpstaphunk), and with Dragon Smoke. That band, which rarely plays outside Jazz Fest, features Mercurio, Moore Neville and Eric Lindell. They play on the home turf of Tipitina’s on the Tuesday between wekeends but Mercurio says they started years ago at a place called The Dragon’s Den off Frenchman Street which he recommends as “a really cool room.”

These days, of course, Mercurio is mostly playing at Tipitina’s, which is “a cultural center for New Orleans music lovers,” he says, which means the band feels tremendous responsibility as owners.

“People here view it as their bar, we are just stewards. Playing here was always magical but since we took over that feeling just has been elevated. Some stages just feel like a cold shower where you’re just constantly trying to find that right temperature. But the second we step on stage at Tipitina’s it’s like we’re just soaking in a beautiful warm bath.”

While Mercurio doesn’t get to see many other shows during these eleven days —“I’m either eating, sleeping, rehearsing or performing” — he sees plenty of other musicians. “Tipitina has a loose side door — you never know who is going to stop by and play,” he says, adding that, “we  stretch out and jam a little more than normal here.”

Neville says that all these musicians in all these configurations frequently choose songs they know so they can rehearse on their own. “If you do your homework you can show up for soundcheck knowing what’s going on,” he says. Still, part of the thrill is knowing things won’t always go smoothly in these jam sessions. “There’s still a bit of an edge, which adds to that feeling of spontaneity. Sometimes the fun is knowing there could be a train wreck happening … although hopefully I’m not involved in any of those train wrecks.”

While most of the best shows are in clubs, where there’s time for bands to jam and room for fans to dance, the one worthy theater show is Trombone Shorty’s eighth “Treme Threauxdown” at the Saenger Theater on Saturday, April 27.

With the deaths of many of New Orleans’ elders in the last decade (Alan Toussaint, Art and Charles Neville, and Dr. John), Shorty has, to some extent, become the face of the city’s music scene, deftly blending jazz, funk, soul, hip-hop and rock — all with a great balance of virtuosity and showmanship.

Shorty, whose real name is Troy Andrews, attracts an endless list of stars to the Threauxdown, which has featured Galactic and Dumpstaphunk but also Mavis Staples, Dr. John, Joan Jett, Gary Clark Jr, Usher, and Steve Miller as announced guests, plus spontaneous additions like Jon Batiste and Wyclef Jean. Among the guests announced for this Threauxdown are Paul Janeway from St. Paul & The Broken Bones, Big Freedia, and Marcus King.

“If I was visiting from out of town I wouldn’t go to the big theater shows because what makes New Orleans is the unique vibe in the bar and club scene,” says Mercurio. “Troy’s ‘Threauxdown’ is the only theater show I’d go to because he gets these great special guests — a cavalcade of stars — so it’s not a show you’ll ever see anywhere else. “

Andrews also hosts Shorty Fest at Tipitina’s on April 29, which, in addition to a concert featuring his band and Galactic offers a free outdoor “Cultural Block Party,” with performances by local brass bands and Mardi Gras Indians as well as food trucks.

Meanwhile, Neville has lined up at least dozen shows, at both theaters and clubs, beyond his official Jazz Fest gig. On April 29, he’ll join Soulive’s Eric Krasno and Anders Osborne for the first day of the NOLA Crawfish Festival, which runs outdoors at a club called The Broadside for three days between the Jazz Fest weekends.

“It’s a different little thing,” Neville says. “There’s jambalaya and crawfish and it starts in the afternoon and goes into the night. You can come get some crawfish and listen to music and then go back out.”

On the middle Wednesday, he’s bouncing to three different shows and on Saturday May 4 that FiyaPowa gig with Mercurio and Moore starts at 2 a.m. (which technically makes it May 5, but in New Olreans no one is counting). Neville will also take part in “Rejuvenation 50: A Celebration of the Meters,” at the Civic Theatre on May 2 sharing the stage with George Porter among others. Along the way he’ll also be jamming with everyone from Government Mule to Chuck Leavell, the keyboardist for the Allman Brothers and the Rolling Stones, to soul and gospel legend Irma Thomas to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Neville’s schedule is so busy that in the middle of our conversation he starts reorganizing his set lists on his phone and later he loses track of which gig is where.

“But I know I’ll be playing somewhere that day,” he says with a laugh. “You can look it up.”

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