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Live Music

 • Bourbon Street - upper Bourbon has been given over to catering to hard drinking out of towners, and this part of the street has a number of music venues (not named here) whose owners make their money off them, with loud mediocre bands hired cheaply. None the less, despite what some say it is still possible to find New Orleans jazz on Bourbon Street.
 • Jazz Parlor Storyville 125 Bourbon 410-1000
 • Maison Bourbon at 641 Bourbon sometimes does (though as often doesn't) have decent bands, as many good local Dixieland players for the moment lacking a better gig often wind up here. As the doors are open to the street, you can listen a bit from outside, judge for yourself whether they have a band you'd enjoy on a given day, and walk on by or go on in as appropriate.
 • Fritzels at 733 Bourbon, 561-0432, has good house bands in the evenings, and is often the venue for out of town and out of country musicians versed in the New Orleans style to play.
 • Donna's Bar & Grill 800 N. Rampart (at the corner of St. Ann, on the edge of the Quarter): Donna's is a center of the modern New Orleans Brass Band style that combines the old jazz with such influences as funk and hip hop, producing a style that's up to date while still distinctively and uniquely New Orleans. Donna's attracts a mixed clientele of downtown New Orleanians, college students, and in-the-know visitors.
 • Funky Butt Excellent new jazz/blues venue in a neighborhood to be careful in at the edge of the Quarter.
 • House of Blues 225 Decatur. The New Orleans branch of the corporate chain presents national talent and a gospel brunch on Sundays.
 • Margaritaville 1104 Decatur - see mention above at Eat
 • New Orleans Jazz Park 916 N. Peters; often has free live music Weekend afternoons and sometimes other times;
 • O'Flaherty's Toulouse Street back from Decatur. New Orleans' top place for Irish music. Danny O'Flaherty leads the fun house band, alternating with local and visiting groups playing the music of the Emerald Isle.
 • Preservation Hall 726 St. Peter (between Bourbon & Royal): Traditional Dixie jazz that you'll pay $40 a concert anywhere else. Here for only $8. Talk about atmosphere! Listen to real jazz and nothing else (no booze, no bathrooms). You'll have to stand in line, and it's cheap. Music starts at 8pm and runs until midnight. The band plays several 30 minute sets and your ticket is valid all night.
 • Palm Court Cafe Those who prefer their old style New Orleans jazz in a somewhat more upscale atmosphere where dinner and drinks are served should be sure to visit this place at 1204 Decatur street in the lower Quarter. Some of the same musicians who play Preservation Hall play here on other nights, along with other top local classic style jazz greats. The owner's husband runs the Jazzology record company, featuring the world's largest independent label catalogue of trade jazz, so you can pick up Cd's by your favorites from Bunk Johnson to current Dixielanders while you're here.
 • Tipitinas The older more famous one is uptown, but the French Quarter branch presents fine music as well