Preservation Hall Ball Benefit Concert Set for NOLA This October

Preservation Hall Foundation is pleased to announce the Preservation Hall Ball benefit gala at The Civic Theater, a newly restored Bowery Presents venue in the burgeoning Central Business District of New Orleans, Friday, October 3rd, 2014.

Grammy-winner and New Orleans icon Allen Toussaint will join Preservation Hall Jazz Band at The Civic to debut their joint "Oh Yeah!" national tour, which will depart for 40 shows across the country the following week.

Singer-songwriter and folk icon Ani DiFranco, in addition to Oakland, California based experimental world fusion and electronic music group Beats Antique, and New Orleans resident Alexander Ebert, lead singer and songwriter of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, will also perform and join The Preservation Hall Jazz Band for a night of unique musical collaborations and entertainment, with more guests artists to be announced.

Pre-Sale Wednesday, August 13th -
-Tickets On-sale Friday, August 15th-

All proceeds from the Preservation Hall Ball will directly benefit The Preservation Hall Foundation. The Preservation Hall Foundation's mission is to protect and perpetuate music education programs for underprivileged children in the greater New Orleans area. The foundation sponsors a wide array of community programs ranging from school field trips, master classes, free community performances, and private lessons. More information on programs and how to get involved here.

The Preservation Hall Ball will pay tribute to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's first resident pianist and touring band leader "Sweet" Emma Barrett. The concert will mark the 50th anniversary of "Sweet Emma and Her Preservation Hall Jazz Band," the legendary performance at Minneapolis' Guthrie Theatre, which was recorded and released by Preservation Hall Recordings in 1964.

"Sweet Emma and her Preservation Hall Jazz Band toured at the crux of the Civil Rights Movement following the passage of the Civil Rights Act. Her impact should not be forgotten so we're taking this opportunity playing with another New Orleans piano giant, Allen Toussaint, to commemorate her tour and the live recording" says Ben Jaffe, Creative Director of Preservation Hall.

In addition to the show at the Civic Theater, a special patron package will be available to Foundation donors. Patron pass holders are invited to a special after show event at Preservation Hall and will be treated to an exclusive open bar with light appetizers. Patrons will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with Preservation Hall Jazz Band and leave the showcase with a limited edition coffee table book and vinyl re-release of the Sweet Emma recording.

Pre-sale tickets for Preservation Hall Ball go on sale this Wednesday, August 13th at 1pm ET. General on-sale begins Friday, August 15th at 10am EST. Tickets available at the Preservation Hall box office and online.

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