Festival New Orleans

Monday October 6, 2008

Free Festival at The O2
Celebrating New Orleans Music and Culture
24 - 25 October 2008

The unmistakable sounds, sights, tastes and styles of New Orleans are set to descend on The O2 for the Festival New Orleans to coincide with the New Orleans Saints' official NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Wembley Stadium.

A city steeped in history, New Orleans is famed around the world for the wealth and diversity of its cultural heritage. 'The Big Easy' has a deserved reputation as a party town, where the residents and visitors know how to have a good time and let their hair down. It is this spirit of energetic exuberance that The O2 will embrace.

As well as performances from over 20 bands and musicians direct from New Orleans including Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Kermit Ruffins, Marcia Ball, BeauSoleil, The Rebirth Brass Band, John Mooney and Buckwheat Zydeco, the free undercover two day event will feature Louisiana food demonstrations, the Mardis Gras Indians and a host of authentic New Orleans attractions, including a recreation of the French Quarter's famous Bourbon Street.

Since opening in June 2007 The O2 swiftly confirmed its position as the world's most popular music venue and is ideally suited to host this extraordinary celebration of New Orleans culture, the first festival ever to be held at the venue. Using all the venues and the full extent of the facilities on offer, The O2 will present music, performance arts, dancing, traditional New Orleans style cuisine and more besides across three stages and one performance area. The venue itself incorporates a 20,000 seat arena, the 2,350 capacity indigO2 venue, the brand new Matter music venue, an eleven screen Vue cinema, twenty bars and restaurants, and much more. The venue attracts up to 50,000 visitors a day, depending on what is on the entertainment schedule.