Crawfishfest to celebrate New Orleans
AUGUSTA — GRAMMY Award winners, New Orleans music legends and authentic Louisiana home cooked cuisine await festival goers at Michael Arnone's 28th Annual Crawfish Fest, June 2, 3, 4, 2017 on the beautiful environs of the Sussex County Fair Grounds in Augusta.
This year's festival features 24 artists playing on four different stages, plus music workshops presented by 2-time GRAMMY winner Terrance Simien, beloved New Orleans keyboardist John Gros, the John Ginty Band, fresh off the release of their 3rd album Rocker (February 17), and Brandon "Taz" Niederauer, the 13 year-old star of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway production of School Of Rock.
Some of the biggest names in New Orleans music head up the list of talent at this year's festival, including Sunday Night main stage headliner Anders Osborne, who follows GRAMMY winners Rebirth Brass Band. Headlining the Pavilion Stage on Sunday night is GRAMMY winner Charles "Horn Man" Neville. Fan favorite blues guitarist and singer, Tab Benoit takes over the Main Stage on Saturday ahead of the headliner, The Fabulous Thunderbirds Featuring Kim Wilson, and Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience will headline the Pavilion.
A favorite thing about Jazz Fest in New Orleans is that a day of music outdoors is backed up by a night of music in the clubs. Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest has similar special treats for fans that purchase camping tickets or King Crawfish VIP Krewe tickets by putting on three sets of music at night on Friday and Saturday just for them. These sets are at the Pavilion Stage and in the Dance Hall, giving fest-goers an intimate experience to go with their festival days. This year's sets include The New Stew (featuring Corey Glover from Living Color, Roosevelt Collier from The Lee Boys and Yonrico Scott from Royal Southern Brotherhood), Little Freddie King, Henry Butler's Jambalaya Band, Feufollet, Darcy Malone and The Tangle, and Mason Ruffner. Camping options range from tent camping to RV spots with hookups.
Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest has always been known for a fantastic variety of Louisiana cuisine. All the dishes are priced at $12 or less, and bring to New Jersey the great food dishes that are hard to find elsewhere in the northeast. The Crawfish Fest will be serving Jambalaya, Boiled Crawfish, Po-Boys (oyster, shrimp, catfish or hot roast beef), Crawfish Etouffee, Red Beans and more.
Breakfast is available for campers to purchase from 6-10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and the full menu includes Beignets and more.
The Dance Hall is in fantastic hands again this year with Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Feufollet and the Saturday headliner Kevin Naquin and The Ossun Playboys. There are free dance lessons in the Dance Hall on Saturday and Sunday at 11:00am. Krystal A Livingston will take you to Church with a Gospel set on Sunday morning in the Pavilion.
Funk, R&B and Rock and Roll are always big features at Crawfish Fest. This year you can hear Maggie Koerner, who recently spent nearly two years as the soulful front woman of Galactic, long time festival favorite John Papa Gros Band, Alexis P. Sutter Band, Nick Moss Band, John The Martyr. A couple of new genre addition to the lineup are Americana and Bluegrass played by Brooklyn based Yarn and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre band Cabinet.
Be sure to visit our Food and Trade Expo held during the fest.
The Chef's Table is a great way to sample our menu. 3 seatings each day will be served.