Dance on over to the French Quarter Festival on Sunday, April 14, 2024 from 1:30-2:30, and join me for a Crescent City concert for children at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park at the 419 Decatur St location in the beautiful courtyard with plenty of dancing room for the whole family. Free!
WTUL Radio Kids Show 91.5FM
Tune to the WTUL Kids Show on WTUL 91.5 FM on Saturday, April 13 beginning at 9:00 AM where I will be an on-air guest singing some of my songs, reading some of my books and chatting with awesome DJ LizzE for the WTUL Marathon!
https://www.wtulneworleans.com/stream-wtul
Children's Music Series Dates Announced!
Jazz Fest Performance Date Announced!
It’s official! We will be performing in the Kid’s Tent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Sunday, May 5, 2024! The time will be announced later. Get your tickets now, we will be happy to see you!
Family Music Series Continues into 2024!
I am delighted to announce that my Free Family Music Series at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park will continue in 2024! Families, school groups and I have long enjoyed getting together once per month at the Visitor’s Center for a cultural immersion into the Louisiana music that is both entertaining and educational.
Join me on the first Thursday of each month (unless noted) from 11:00-11:45 AM at 916 N. Peters Street, in Dutch Alley in the French Market/French Quarter. There are paid parking lots near the venue, but the closest one is the River Lot behind Cafe du Monte.
Here are the dates:
January 4, February 1, March 14 (second Thursday), April 4, May 2, June 6, July 11 (second Thursday due to holiday), no show in August, September 5, October 3, November 7 and December 5, 2024.
Feeling the Festival Vibe! Newsletter
What, when, and where? I hope to see you there!
Pack up the kiddos and boogie on over to the Kids Tent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Sunday, April 30, 2023 between 2:15-3:00 for some Louisiana tunes for children!
Joining me again this year is three-time Grammy winner (and hubby) Scott Billington! There will be plenty of fan favorites and new songs in this toe-tapping, two-stepping féte for the whole family.
I mentioned in my last newsletter that I have a new book coming out this fall with illustrator Heather Stanley through Pelican Publishing, and as promised, I am revealing the cover to you, my subscribers, first! Heather and I have two other books together (Petit Pierre and the Floating Marsh and Mademoiselle Grands Doigts), and in this book, she really captured the boldness and wildness of my Cajun tall tale My Parrain is the Loup Garou.
CDs Have Arrived!
The physical CDs for my Jumpin' Jitters, It's Halloween album, of slightly spooky, mostly silly holiday songs for children, have finally arrived!
"Johnette Downing is a New Orleans treasure, and Jumping Jitters shows why she is so beloved - a super fun, spooky fais-do-do that kids and adults will enjoy! And if you're anything like me, you'll want to listen to it year-round!"
—DJ LizE, The Kid's Show, WTUL New Orleans 91.5fm
Upcoming events
April 30 at 2:15-3:00, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Kids Tent, New Orleans Fairgrounds
May 4 at 11:00-11:45, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, 916 N. Peters, French Market
May 22-26, Arts Learning for Massachusetts, School Concert Tour
June 1 at 11:00-11:45, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, 916 N. Peters, French Market
June 3 at 2:00-4:00, Book signing, Barnes & Noble Metairie, Veterans Blvd., Metairie, LA
June 6-8, at 10:00 and 2:00, Livingston Parish Libraries, LA
June 16 at 10:00 and 2:00, LaSalle Parish Libraries, LA
June 21 at 10:00 and 2:00, St. James Parish Libraries, LA
July 6 at 11:00-11:45, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, 916 N. Peters, French Market
July 7-8 at 10:00 and 2:00, Ascension Parish Libraries, LA
July 12 at 6:30-7:15 PM, Hamilton-Wenham Library, Hamilton, MA
August 4 at 9:45-10:30, Nantucket Atheneum, Garden, Nantucket, MA
I was grocery shopping yesterday when a young man came up to me and asked if I was Johnette Downing. His mother, Ms. Fontenot, was a client who hired me for decades to perform for her summer camp in New Orleans. The young man said he remembered being in the audience of my concerts when he was a young camper there. He then told me that I had just performed at HIS son's school. Ms. Fontenot, her son, and her grandson may have no idea how much it means to me to know that I was part of three generations of their lovely family in some small way.
Thank you all for allowing me to experience this one precious life with you and your families. - Johnette
Family Music Series at the New Orleans Jazz Park begins Thursday, Oct 6!
New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Family Music Series Returns!
I am ecstatic to say that my monthly Family Music Series at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park in the French Market is returning beginning October 6, 2022 from 11:00-11:45 AM indoors at 916 North Peters St in Dutch Alley! This monthly concert series provides culturally immersive programs for children, school groups, play groups and families about the rich musical heritage of the region from jazz to zydeco with interactive songs like “Who Got the Baby in the King Cake?,” “Today is Monday in Louisiana,” and “Give Me That Zydeco.” This toe-tapping, hip-shaking program is free and takes place the first Thursday of each month at 11:00 AM.
Come join me in a fun fete for families in the French Market!