Hosted by JD & The Straight Shot With Special Guest "Mad Men’s" Jon Hamm
Masquerade Extravaganza to Feature New Orleans Music Legends: Rockin Dopsie, Jr., BeauSoleil, New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians, Greg Stafford Jazz Hounds and Many More
Special Performance by The New Orleans Hornets Honeybees, Mardi Gras Revelers, Live Animals, Fortune Tellers and More
House of Blues Event Will Benefit the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music at New Orleans Musicians’ Village
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 2010 CTAM Summit
New York, NY (October 8, 2010) – Rainbow Media, Fuse and MSG Networks present "Voodoo, Blues & ZuZus*" – a one night extravaganza celebrating the musical traditions and rich cultural heritage of New Orleans. JD & The Straight Shot, led by Cablevision’s Jim Dolan, will serve as master of ceremonies, along with special guest "Mad Men’s" Jon Hamm. All 2010 CTAM Summit attendees are invited to attend the Big Easy blowout, featuring legendary New Orleans musical icons and local flavors from some of New Orleans favorite chefs.
Join revelers, live animals and fortune tellers at House of Blues New Orleans on Tuesday, October 19, from 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. The evening’s festivities will include a costume contest and those guests who dare to don their Mardi Gras best will be eligible to win a special prize. For those who lack the gumption to wear the garb, masquerade masks and costumes will be provided. All CTAM attendees will be asked to show their CTAM Summit badges for entry into the event.
To deliver a dose of down-and-dirty blues, Rainbow Media, Fuse and MSG Networks have turned to renowned New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival producer and director Quint Davis, who has lined up an evening of New Orleans icons. Four stages of live music from Big Easy legends: Jon Cleary, Walter Wolfman Washington, Rockin Dopsie, Jr., Luther Kent, BeauSoleil, Greg Stafford Jazz Hounds, Voodoo Authentica, Lost Bayou Ramblers, TBC Brass Band, New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians and Second Line Allstars. The evening’s celebration also includes a special performance by The New Orleans Hornets Honeybees dance team.
Local eateries featured at the celebrated New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will be onsite to ensure guests fill up on famous New Orleans dishes. They include: Kajun Kettle Foods, Brocato’s Eat Dat, Ms. Linda’s Catering, Cottage Catering, Lil’ Dizzy’s Cafe, Loretta’s Authentic Gourmet Pralines and La Divina Gelateria.
"This is going to be a crazy New Orleans night. We’re thrilled to bring the cable industry together for an evening that celebrates this culturally vibrant city and features its rich heritage," said Josh Sapan, Rainbow Media President and CEO, and Mike Bair, MSG Media President. "With its support of emerging local talent and music, the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music is a terrific organization supporting the city’s ongoing revitalization efforts and we’re proud to honor their efforts and the great city of New Orleans."
To honor this celebration of New Orleans’ renewal, a donation from Rainbow Media, Fuse and MSG Networks and special guest Jon Hamm will be made to the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music at Musicians’ Village.
"I am deeply grateful to Cablevision and MSG for their continued support of New Orleans musicians," commented Ellis Marsalis. "Musicians’ Village became a reality in the Upper Ninth Ward because they so graciously provided the seed money to us way back when the city was still under water. And now they are here again five years later with more support. Thank you, thank you – you are true friends."
The Cablevision and Madison Square Garden family of companies have a cherished history of involvement with Musicians’ Village, a non-profit established as a cornerstone of the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity post-Hurricane Katrina rebuilding effort. Cablevision first teamed up with producer/director Quint Davis in September 2005, following Katrina, to organize the "From The Big Apple to The Big Easy" concerts at MSG and Radio City Music Hall. Those concerts raised nearly $9 million for Hurricane Katrina relief, part of which was used to help break ground on Musicians’ Village.
*zu.zu (zu zu) n. The Creole word for sweets or desserts.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media owns and operates some of the world’s most popular and award-winning entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, Sundance Channel, WE tv, Wedding Central and IFC Entertainment (IFC Center, IFC Films, IFC In Theaters, IFC Midnight and IFC Productions). Additional information about Rainbow Media’s multiplatform brands is available at www.rainbow-media.com.
About MSG Media
MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from MSG’s venues. MSG Media consists of the MSG Networks (MSG network, MSG Plus, MSG HD and MSG Plus HD) regional sports networks and the Fuse Networks (Fuse and Fuse HD), a national television network dedicated to music. MSG Media is also responsible for managing interactive initiatives (online, mobile, VOD and iTV) across all business segments. MSG Media is part of Madison Square Garden, Inc., (NASDAQ: MSG) a fully-integrated sports, entertainment and media business. The company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Entertainment and MSG Media, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive MSG’s overall business, which is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that MSG creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports consists of owning and operating sports franchises, including the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also features other sports properties, including the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, track and field and tennis. MSG Entertainment is one of the country’s leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Radio City Rockettes, throughout the country. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in MSG’s diverse collection of venues. These venues include Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theater, the Chicago Theater and the Wang Theater. More information is available at www.msg.com.
About the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music
The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, the 17,000 square foot facility presently under construction in the Upper Ninth Ward in New Orleans, will be the centerpiece of the Musicians’ Village. Slated to open in 2011, the Center will serve as a performance, education and community venue that will include a 150-seat performance hall, recording studios and teaching facilities for individual and group instruction, and a gathering place for the community. From music to dance, theatre to film, the goal of the Center is to harness the exceptional talents of the residents and students in the surrounding Musicians’ Village in a collective effort that will provide an invaluable resource to New Orleans.
After the shocking devastation of Hurricane Katrina, native sons, Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick Jr., along with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, conceived the New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village. The core idea behind the Village is the establishment of a community for the city’s several generations of musicians and other families, many of whom had lived in inadequate housing prior to the catastrophe and remain displaced in its aftermath. Over 70,000 volunteers have helped to construct the 72 single family homes, 10 elder-friendly apartments and toddler park that have been built in the Village.
For more information, visit us at www.nolamusiciansvillage.org.