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Top 10 Jazz Festivals in the USA

The USA is the birthplace of the magical musical genre of Jazz. Known as the first truly American art form, Jazz’s rise to global domination mirrored a young USA’s rise to be a superpower. Jazz is intrinsically intertwined with America’s history and has evolved over the years just as the nation has. As Jazz began to incorporate and mix in sounds from other genres, Jazz festivals began to relax the type of artists and artistry they featured at their events. Nowadays, Jazz festivals also include acts that inspire and have been inspired by Jazz; the only criteria for music selection seems to be an inclination towards creative ingenuity. If you thought that Jazz was dead, nothing could be further from the truth, the music genre is still popular today with many long time running music festivals as well as a few more current ones that have popped up in recent years.

Use the Discotech App to stay up to date on the most recent festival announcements!

PDX Jazz Festival in Portland, Oregon

To celebrate Black History Month, PDX Jazz Festival was founded in 2004 to honor those who made Jazz what it is today with a series of concerts and events presented over the course of two weeks. PDX Jazz Festival takes over downtown Portland for eleven days every year in February, bringing some of jazz’s greatest stars to over a dozen venues across the city. This annual festival is dedicated to preserving America’s indigenous art form by presenting internationally recognized jazz masters alongside local musicians and includes education and outreach programs that extend into Portland’s schools and neighborhoods, as well as a generous offering of free performances.

Jazz In The Gardens Music Festival in Miami, Florida

Jazz in the Gardens has easily become the city of Miami’s premiere entertainment event. Having 15 years of history under its belt, Jazz in the Gardens celebrates diversity, culture and art. Through a stellar lineup of Jazz, R&B, Soul and World Beat, the festival showcases how various genres of music interact and influence each other. This inclusive approach to the lineup manifests itself in a uniquely uplifting atmosphere. Event goers find themselves entrenched in the rich beats and musical stylings that vibrate from the stage. The event not only brings world-renowned talent to Miami Gardens, but it gives local artists the opportunity to be seen, heard and possibly discovered. Jazz in the Gardens music festival is considered by many as the undeniable “travel destination for the spring.” Jazz in the Gardens occurs annually in March and serves as the inaugural event of the highly anticipated music festival season in Miami.

Reno Jazz Festival in Reno, Nevada

Reno Jazz Festival 2013

Almost 60 years old and organized by the University of Nevada, Reno Jazz Festival is not your normal festival experience. The event has a heavy focus on education, welcoming in students, educators, and professional musicians to the university for showcases, jam sessions, competitions and awards. The event regularly draws in crowds of nearly 10,000 students and their families each year with attendees coming in from within Nevada, Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington. Though this music festival might not have the same level of intensity as some of the other Jazz festivals on this list, it provides for a variety of family friendly and musical entertainment where you are undoubtedly able to learn about the rich history and culture of Jazz and celebrate it to the fullest.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, colloquially known simply as Jazz Fest, is perhaps the most famous Jazz festival in the entire world and is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and the greater Louisiana. The Jazz Fest is used to also refer to events outside of the festival that make up this time of celebration. In the days leading up to it there are many activities for festival goers to enjoy, including many Jazz shows at unaffiliated New Orleans nightclubs. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival celebrates the unique bond between the city and the music nurtured there, and you are truly able to see how Jazz is the essence of the historic and rich city. Held from the last weekend in April into the first weekend in May, this festival is quite the tourist attraction with thousands of people coming into town to celebrate Jazz and immerse themselves in festival season. In fact, it could even be argued that outside of Mardi Gras, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is the biggest event to take place in New Orleans in the entire year.

Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee

The Beale Street Music Festival came to life in the early 1970s when the Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce developed plans for a festival, which would serve as a promotional umbrella for the numerous events Memphis hosted each May. Now this festival has transformed into a well-organized and highly budgeted month-long extravaganza for the entirety of May and has even hosted events that put the festival in the Guinness Book of World Records. In its 50 year run, the event has hosted pretty much every Blues or Jazz legend you can think of. Nowadays, the festival has broadened its scope of artists and always brings in a talented variety that festival goers always are able to appreciate.  

Jacksonville Jazz Festival in Jacksonville, Florida

The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is one of the largest free Jazz festivals in the country! Every Memorial Day Weekend since 1981, thousands of Jazz lovers from across the nation gather in Downtown Jacksonville to celebrate the music, culture and art of Jazz by the riverfront. Offering up a more traditional lineup of the biggest names in the genre, Jacksonville Jazz Festival has the feel of a street or block party, only instead of music coming out of your neighbors’ janky outdoor stereos, the sounds come from some of the most talented artists in the world doing their thing and performing their music.

Rochester International Jazz Festival in Rochester, New York

The CGI Rochester International Jazz Festival is one of the world’s leading Jazz festivals presenting legendary performers, familiar favorites, rising stars and new discoveries of talent and music from around the world. The multi-dimensional 11-day festival is held in downtown Rochester, NY, and features more than 1750 artists from around the world in over 320 shows at around 21 venues every year. Founded in 2002, the festival has grown from only being able to manage a crowd of 15,000 to now having around 210,000 festival goers attend it every year. Over its 16 years, the festival has welcomed a plethora of traditional and fusion royalty when it comes to the genre of Jazz who all know how to, of course, draw in an impressive crowd.

Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island

Established in 1954 by the Lorillards, a husband and wife pairing who were socialites in New York, Newport Jazz Festival is both older than its similarly famous sibling the Newport Folk Festival and also, reputably, the first annual American jazz festival to take place. Most of the early festivals were broadcast on Voice of America radio, and many performances were recorded and released as albums, which only goes to show the caliber of talent that was performing at the Newport Jazz Festival. These days, the event is even more impressive with artists such as Tony Allen, Herbie Hancock, and Jon Batiste as well as talented performers such as the Berklee College of Music Jazz Ensembles, Black Art Jazz Collective, and the Spanish Harlem Orchestra.

Monterey Jazz Festival in Monterey, California

Turning 64 this year, The Monterey Jazz Festival is a music festival in Monterey, California that was founded on October 3, 1958 by Jazz disc jockey Jimmy Lyons. The festival is renowned as one of the best Jazz events in the world. Annually held on the 20-acre, oak-studded Monterey County Fairgrounds, the event welcomes over 500 artists every year and offers a diverse lineup of talent from passionate newbies all the way up to living legends in the Jazz scene. 

Chicago Jazz Festival in Chicago, Illinois

A multi-venue music event open to all ages, the Chicago Jazz Festival brings Jazz music to Downtown Chicago’s beautiful Millennium Park, as well as the inside of the nearby Chicago Cultural Center. The oldest of Chicago’s free lakefront music festivals boasts an incredibly diverse lineup, with artists who range from well-established Jazz legends to influential modern masters and crucial new voices, mixing both local and internationally renowned talent in the genre’s continuing evolution. The festival also arranges a large selection of free neighborhood concerts leading up to the main show at Millennium Park every year in August. 

New Orleans city

New Orleans Nightclubs and Bars Currently Reopen After Coronavirus

There’s currently no timeline for New Orleans nightclubs and bars to reopen after coronavirus.

Check back here for the latest updates!

New Orleans Nightclubs Currently Open

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New Orleans Bars Currently Open

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Are you a nightclub owner or bar that would like to be added to this list? Feel free to email us at info@discotech.me.

New Orleans city

Top 3 Best Nightclubs in New Orleans in 2021

NOLA! New Orleans has a certain reputation. It’s a popular place for bachelor parties, for groups of friends to drink in the streets all night and find clever ways to procure a string of beads. Make sure to hit up these hot clubs and book your table on Discotech.

Apres

Top shelf Champagne and an upscale ambiance to go with it

The Aprés Lounge was NOLA’s first ultra champagne lounge– an upscale ambiance with the sexiness, elegance, and excitement that you deserve. With a top shelf sparkling wine menu, the finest mixology, and state of the art technology, they offer a new and unique evening to New Orleans.

Masquerade

An intimate lounge inside of Harrah’s Casino

For those looking for an escape into the world of luxury and privilege, experience the Ultra VIP Lounge in Masquerade. This VIP haven is designed to provide intimate moments hidden from the extravagance of Masquerade. Ultra Lounge contains a private bar for its patrons and plenty of space and over-sized couches to entertain large private parties.

The Metropolitan

An event venue with three spacious rooms

The Metropolitan is a New Orleans event and party venue located in the heart of city at 310 Andrew Higgins Dr. Featuring a variety of well-known musical artists and bands, The Metropolitan regularly hosts live performances. The venue features three spacious rooms that can be rented separately or as a whole. These rooms are filled with smoke machines, intelligent lighting, and strobes that will get the ideal party scene off to a great start.


New Orleans Nightclubs FAQ

What time do New Orleans Nightclubs typically open?

The nightclubs open around 10 PM.

What time do New Orleans Nightclubs typically close?

Most close anywhere from 2 – 4 AM.

What is the dress code like at New Orleans Nightclubs?

Guys can wear nice jeans and a form fitting plain t-shirt or a nice button down shirt. Girls can wear jeans or a comfortable but stylish dress if they prefer. Of course guys and girls can never go wrong with dressing up even more – there is no such thing as overdressing when it comes to nightclubs.

How can I book bottle service for New Orleans Nightclubs?

You can book table service using our free mobile app. Or, if you’re on desktop you can use our webapp.

How much is bottle service at New Orleans Nightclubs?

Table minimums can get pretty expensive, but every venue is different. The best way to find out is to use our app.

Top 10 Bachelor Party Cities in US

Today, we’re going to look at some of the best cities for you bachelor party. Unlike the other lists we’ve written about, this one will be a ranking and we will be start at #1 because why not. I’ve never been a big fan of scrolling all the way down to the bottom either. But what makes a great bachelor city? Is it the people? The food? The options? The clubs? Today we’re hoping to answer all these questions and more. So grab your favorite suit, extra cash and all the alcohol you can carry, and strap in. Here we go!

So how do you take advantage of the Top Bachelor Party Cities? Discotech has made finding your next wild night out easy and simple. Now you can see upcoming events, sign up for guest list and book table service directly on the free Discotech Mobile App. Or reach out to our helpline directly at 4157356716 – we can help you pick a spot for your next night out!

#1. Las Vegas

If you don’t think Las Vegas is the best bachelor party location possible, you either have never been to Las Vegas or have been there with a bunch of losers who don’t know how to have fun. Las Vegas offers anything and everything you could want or need in a bachelor party.

There are plenty of nice hotels in Vegas, but you generally want to be in one on the strip. Just don’t completely cut your budget on hotels. It’s much harder thank you think to convince a girl to come back with you to a place like Planet Hollywood or Paris. Locations off the strip just make your life a pain in the ass. Traffic along the strip sucks and the less time you waste in the back of a limo, the better.

The pool parties in Vegas are second to none. Here’s a word of advice when dealing with the pool parties and later the clubs, always pay to cut the line or sign up for Guest List. It’s totally worth spending an extra $50 a man with a VIP host to not spend an hour or more on line. If you don’t know a guy, I’m sure your friend knows a guy, or your friend’s coworker knows a guy. There are plenty of those kinda “guys” in Vegas that can help you out in this situation, but why bother. Click the online Discotech app and avoid the stress and hassle.

Once night hits, you’ll need some good food. Prime Steakhouse is my favorite of all the Vegas steakhouses because it’s specific to Vegas. Stack in the Mirage is a step down from a steakhouse, but all the waitresses make the name of the restaurant proud. In ‘N Out is reachable by taxi if you just want to stuff your face. Then you’re off to the club, where you should be getting table service at Marquee or XS (the two best clubs in Vegas). It’s really hard to find regular bars to go out to in Vegas. The best you’re going to do is something the Chanderlier Bar at the Cosmpolitan, Ghostbar at the Palms, or Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay.

Or just get drunk while you gamble because that doesn’t hurt either. We know Vegas has you covered when it comes to table gaming. It’s also the only place you’ll find a sportsbook in the United States, so you can throw down on a horse race, a championship fight, or an NFL game without having to worry about too much. Grab your clubs and fit in a morning round on your first day out there or else you won’t have the energy to do so by the end of the weekend. There’s also a good chance you end up at the Spearmint Rhino to check out some of the hottest strippers in the world.

#2. Miami

First, lets talk about location. You are going to want to stay on South Beach. Brickell is a nice area if you’re living full-time in Miami, but South Beach is where you need to be for a wild bachelor party weekend. Brickell and other areas of Miami are farther away from South Beach and you don’t want to waste your time and money going back and forth. Also, don’t overpay on the hotel. You won’t be in your room much anyway, so why spend big bucks on an elite hotel? Hotel location is important, but classiness not so much.

Now for food. When it comes to food, you want to be stuffing your hungover face with anything breakfast/lunch on the menu at Big Pink. There are plenty of renowned New York restaurants that have opened up new locations in Miami like the Dutch, Scarpetta, and BLT Steak, but if you’re not grabbing a nice steak and a big Kobe meatball at Prime 112, you’re doing yourself a disservice. You can’t forget about local favorite Joe’s Stone Crab either. If you’re drunk and looking for late night munchies, now is the time to head over to the mainland and hit up La Moon for an arepa burger.

The nightlife scene is on par with anything you’ll get in the world. A night with bottle service at LIV should be on top of your list if you like clubbing. Club Space is the place to roll to at 5 a.m if you don’t want to stop raging. Places like the Clevelander, the Delano, and Nikki Beach (specifically day party) offer plenty of fun as well.

Lastly, the weather is great but avoid Hurricane Season as it rains a lot in Miami during that time. There are also plenty of places to golf, women galore and romance at the clubs. Those are all a given when hearing the word Miami obviously. The only thing you’re missing is gambling, but you won’t care when your eyes are fixed on your computer screen on Monday morning and you’re just thinking about how awesome your weekend was. Check out the Discotech app to see upcoming events in Miami.

#3. Montreal

Montreal is not technically in the US but it’s easy enough to head north of the border if you want to hit Canada’s party town. Montreal’s basically got you covered for anything bachelor party related. Perhaps the most notable thing in Montreal is the strip clubs. You can do the regular man’s thing on Saint Catherine Street by hopping around to Club Supersexe, Chateau du Sex, or Club Super Contact. If looking for something a little higher end, head to Kamasutra for a one of a kind show. They also take things a little further if you head down towards Old Montreal on Saint Catherines and ask the right people. If gambling is another activity you wish to indugle, you can head to the Montreal Casino, which isn’t too far away. It’s just smaller than you’d want in terms of available table gaming.

Trust me, you are really going to want to be on Boulevard Saint Laurent when searching for a place to drink. A place like Tokyo satisfies all your needs with good looking girls, multiple themed rooms, and a roof area. If bottle service is more your thing, Montreal has a scene where restaurants turn into a Club/Lounge atmosphere once it starts getting late. Make sure to download or click the Discotech App to check out what’s popping in Montreal. It’s a little different than what you’re used to in America because people tend to rage out by their tables and there’s usually not one main dance floor, but that doesn’t mean you can’t meet a nice local girl to party with for the night.

#4. New Orleans

Ah, New Orleans. Home to the infamous Mardi Gras. But fourth place? Yes, fourth place. The obvious reason is Bourbon Street, which, beleive it or not, is a lot more fun on something like a big sporting event weekend than it is during Mardi Gras. While you will miss out on seeing your share of naked ladies if you pass on Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street becomes much easier to manage.

There are still plenty of people during a big sporting event weekend to keep the fun up. Plus Bourbon Street has its share of strip clubs to get your fix there as well.

The food is also top tier. You can get anything pig-related at Cochon and it will be fantastic. You will not be disappointed, whether it’s pork ribs, smoked ham, fried boudin balls, or cochon itself. Johnny’s Po-Boys will get you your po-box fix.

Need some gambling? Harrah’s Casino is conveniently located near the water and open 24 hours a day, which may or may not be a good thing. Head to the Old New Orleans Rum distillery to make a nice day trip if you can wake up in time. New Orleans is one of the most fun places to be. Make sure to click Discotech to check out all the upcoming events in New Orleans!

#5. Charleston

Ah, number five. There are a ton of things to do in Charleston. For one, there are a lot of great restaurants in Charleston because of the large migration to the area from New Orleans’ best chefs after Hurricane Katrina. Places like Husk and The Ordinary are well recognized as some of the best restaurants in the country with Oak Steakhouse recently making a best of U.S. steakhouse list as well.

Golf and beaches are also two of Charleston’s finest qualities. You are truly lucky if you can somehow get a round of golf on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island. If you can’t, you’ll still be able to find another great looking course to swing your clubs. The beaches get plenty of life, since the weather is generally good for most of the year.

There are plenty of fun bars on Bay Street and Market Street near the water or you can hit up King Street for bars closer to the University of Charleston’s campus. Neither area will disappoint.  The fun doesn’t stop when the bars close either. Thee Southern Belle strip club has a tremendous reputation and is a great place to go after hours in Charleston because you can BYOB. Regular girls even go there to hang out.

#6. Austin

One of everyone’s favorite Southern cities, Austin has a lot to offer for a bachelor party. We’ll start with the obvious – the women. There are few cities in America that can compete with Austin in terms of great looking women. Right behind the beautiful women is the barbecue, which is arguably as good as you’ll get anywhere in the country. Franklin Barbecue was recently voted the best barbecue in the country, so it’s a must-see spot on your trip.

With food and women out of the way, let’s focus on drinking. The bars on 6th street will have you satisfied or you can head over to the Warehouse District and Fourth Street if you’re looking to not hit the same spots all weekend. Need a good hangover omelet in the morning? Magnolia Café has got you covered. If music is your thing, Texas has two major music festivals that can give you your fill and are a fun thing to center a weekend around. Throw together with the generally warm weather, the potential for a University of Texas sporting event, plenty of local golf courses and you have the formula for success. Click here to see upcoming events in Austin!

#7. Nashville

There’s a good reason Nashville has the nickname of NashVegas. It’s a loved destination for travelers in the South and Midwest because it’s easy to get to and has lots to offer. The good thing about a place like this is the people you meet are for the morst part carefree and the visiting girls are very fun. I’d also recommened you get some good barbecue at Jack’s, a one of a kind meat and three or the Nashville specialty of hot chicken.

There are two main areas to get to drinking. There’s the well-known strip of bars on Broadway and a couple streets close by in the downtown area. You can also head out to the Midtown area near Vanderbilt and find plenty of places there.

I highly suggest checking out the Nashville Pedal Tavern, which is a unique and fun way to do a bar crawl and meet random chicks to hang out with. If your into shooting guns, you can do that too. The good thing about Nashville is that it’s weather-resistant, so it doesn’t really matter what time of year you check it out. The one downside is that basically every bar is country music heavy. If you’re not a fan, you might just have to bit your tongue and bear down the whole weekend. Click upcoming events in Nashville to see what’s going down!

#8 Phoenix / Scottsdale

When looking to throw it back to your youthful college days in bachelor party fashion, heading to Arizona is the best place for this type of experience . While there are a lot of scientific establishments and other boring things awaiting the average tourist in the state of Arizona, we’d not suggest those to you. Instead, you should be taking a road trip to Phoenix / Scottsdale for some brotherly bonding at adult clubs and open-till-late entertainment centers there.

Phoenix is ideal for those who do not mind getting tan and are craving a boyish road trip that would take them to wild nightclubs and unforgettable street parties. Some cool things to do while visiting include partying, golf, and river tubing. The food scene is also fantastic, as celebrated barbecue served by local restaurants and bars keep tourists coming from all over America. Click Upcoming Events in Phoenix / Scottsdale to see see what’s happening this weekend!

#9 Denver

For those who don’t know, a Colorado bachelor party is a different kind of bachelor party entirely. No clubs, no strippers, and possibly not even any women. So what’s the appeal? Depending on your group dynamics, a rugged three-day weekend of rafting, skiing/ snowboarding, hiking, beer drinking, weed smoking, outdoor adventuring and manly-bonding can actually be more memorable than the typical club-scene.

However, if you want to squeeze in the nightlife scene, Denver is home to some excellent steak restaurants and bars. However, the natural beauty and seemingly endless things to do in the gorgeous outdoor environment is really the highlight of this location. Although not known for a wild nightlife scene, Denver does host epic events and concerts. Hit the slopes or a hiking trail in the morning and then finish the day partying at one of the many bars / venues featuring your favorite musician, is not a bad way to spend a day. Click Upcoming Events in Denver to see upcoming events and concerts!

#10 New York

Last but not least, New York City. NYC certainly does have its positives. For starters there’s every type of bar imaginable and you can drink until 4 a.m. We recommend Brother Jimmys, then rink some good brews at the Standard Beer Garden, or hit a club like SL or 1Oak. The restaurants offer any cuisine a bachelor party can want whether it be pizza , burgers, barbecue, or steak.

For all the positives, this fine city has its downfalls for bachelor parties. It’s expensive, specifically with hotel rooms. You can’t do anything in New York between September and December because hotel prices will be through the roof. It also isn’t the best for strip clubs (yes, we know those matter too). To see upcoming events in NYC, click the link or download the Discotech app.

New Orleans Mardi Gras 2018 Nightlife Party Guide

Mardi Gras 2018 invades New Orleans AKA “The Big Easy” over the next seven days, and the party doesn’t stop from now until next Wednesday.   There’s no doubt that N’awlins is more of a restaurant, dive bar, and live music venue city, with the lion’s share of the year-round party action centered around the infamous French Quarter and Bourbon Street.   And during the Mardi Gras Festival itself, daytime revelry will be spotted everywhere amidst the city streets of New Orleans: parades, colorful outfits, marching bands, dance trains, bead throwing, and public processions winding their way through the main arteries of the city from dawn ’til dusk… and then there’s little to no break before the freaks (and drunks) come out at night.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans means costumes and exposed flesh everywhere!

That being said, there are also a handful of vastly underrated nightclub options in the Crescent City – opulently decorated showrooms blasting laser-tinted smoke and pulsating music, where the world’s best hip-hop and electronic music artists stop in to perform as their national tour dates wind through the American South.  To be sure, New Orleans is and always will be an ultra-casual city – think shorts, flip-flops, and t-shirts with rude sayings on them – but sometimes you just want to dress up, be more fancy, sip adult cocktails, and bob your head to a beat… amirite or amirite?   Well, we’ve found found the best spots for you to do just that, and our app will make it easy to party hard in The Big Easy.  To celebrate our in-app launch of New Orleans, we give you our top picks for the best nightlife events for visitors and locals to celebrate Mardi Gras:

Friday, February 9, 2018

Fleur De Lit 2018 @ Republic NOLA

The Friday before Mardi Gras is considered early to party in New Orleans, as most of the locals are preparing parade floats and resting up for the days to come.  That being said, there are some events to whet the tourists’ appetites for partying on Fri-yays.    Winter Circle Productions & BASSIK Present Fleur De Lit 2018: Second Annual Mardi Gras Mayhem.  This is a two-day late-night electronic music festival at the revered New Orleans nightspot Republic, with the first night featuring San Jose, CA’s up-and-coming bass-heavy artist Getter.  Backup sounds by Klutch + Kidd Love.

Time: 11:30 PM – 3:00 AM

Venue: Republic (828 S Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130)

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Boombox Cartel @ Metropolitan 

Mardi Gras may a bucket list vacation for many Americans, but for this particular 9-to-5 workday you’ll be grinding hard and sweating buckets.   Metropolitan NOLA has cobbled together a high-energy eight-hour electronic set headlined by brand-name duo Boombox Cartel.  Mexican born Producer/DJ’s Americo Garcia and Jorge Medina have quickly risen in fame among the EDM circuit and are due for a breakout 2018 in the electronic space with their unique low-end, heavy genre-blending sound. Their tracks are played all over the world by the likes of RL Grime, Diplo, Skrillex, and DJ Snake, and they have recently received shout-outs from Mad Decent, Billboard, Noisey, ThisSongIsSick, Complex, and many more. Their global tour has included sold out performances in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Asia, including festival plays at Moonrise, Global Dance, Lollapalooza and EDC just to name a few.  Now Boombox Cartel brings the boom north of the border to the land of Southern Hospitality and one of our great nation’s best annual party atmospheres.

Time: 9:00 PM – 5:00 AM

Venue: Metropolitan (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130)

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Bacchus Parade Afterparty w/ DJ Keith Scott @ Masquerade

The local organizations responsible for throwing the world-famous parades on each day of the Mardi Gras festival are called Krewes.  Each Mardi Gras Parade Krewe has a unique history and theme.   Some have been around for decades, while others have been in existence for just a few years.  The Krewe of Bacchus, a local group formed in 1968, holds its parade on the Sunday before Mardi Gras Day, drawing crowds of several hundred thousands every year. With more than 1,000 members and 31 animated super-floats, the Krewe of Bacchus is revered as one of the most spectacular krewes in Carnival history; their large signature floats, Rendezvous supper dance with Las Vegas-type entertainment, and national celebrity monarchs are just a few of the tradition-breaking moves that set the Krewe of Bacchus apart from he rest.  Bacchus, the Greek god of wine, has been portrayed in past Mardi Gras parades by fun-loving celebrities such as Bob Hope, William Shatner, Dick Clark, Andy Garcia, and Will Ferrell.  After their parade wraps up, the afterparty shifts over to Masquerade, the Vegas-style nightclub inside Harrah’s Casino, for a wild dance party featuring DJ Keith Scott, a mainstay on Louisiana hip-hop radio stations.

Time: 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM

Venue: Masquerade (8 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130)

Monday, February 12th, 2018

Steve Aoki & Grandtheft @ Metropolitan

The Lundi Gras celebration is a grand New Orleans tradition embedded into the fabric of both locals’ and tourists’ traditions of honoring carnival season.  Lundi Gras represents a series of events that take place the Monday before Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday. It has experienced a 20th century revival in New Orleans and is a must see daytime event for Mardi Gras revelers.  In the late afternoon, the Riverwalk Marketplace will host the annual Lundi Gras at Spanish Plaza with the arrival on the banks of the Mississippi River of Rex, King of Carnival; this free celebration includes fireworks and live musical entertainment.  As day turns into night, the Big Easy fireworks continue over at Metropolitan where Rex, King of Carnival yields his dominion to Aoki, King of Electronic Dance.   Brace yourself for a tough ticket but an epic time if you can squeeze your way in.

Time: 9:00 PM – 5:00 AM

Venue: Metropolitan (310 Andrew Higgins Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130)

10th Annual Lundifest f/ Waka Flocka Flame @ Republic NOLA

Southern hip-hop star Waka Flocka Flame, with mega-hits like “No Hands” and “Hard In The Paint” under his belt, is sure to be one of the highest energy sets in the 10-year history of the Lundifest.  In New Orleans tradition, the night will start out with brass versions of hip-hop hits by New Orleans natives The Hot 8 Brass Band.  Come early and stay late, because Republic’s long-time resident, DJ G, will be spinning top 40s and hip-hop classics before, between, and after all the live sets.  Performances will start shortly after the parades pass downtown, so watch the Orpheus parade nearby and walk right on over for another epic Lundifest.

Time: 9:00 PM – 3:00 AM

Venue: Republic (828 S Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70130)

Tuesday, February 13th, 2018

Mardi Gras Takeover @ Masquerade

For the past hot minute, Bernice Burgos has been making quite the name for herself.  The bartender turned “urban model” turned entrepreneur (3.7M Twitter followers!) has been turning up everywhere from your favorite artist’s music video to hip-hop morning radio stations to the gossip websites, thanks to her social media beef with Tiny Harris, wife of rapper T.I. and fellow reality TV star (4.5M Twitter followers!).  OK, OK, so reality TV may not be your cup of tea…. but rest assured, Ms. B’s presence as the marquee host for Masquerade’s Mardi Gras afterparty will explain why this venue inside Harrah’s Casino will be the “it” place of the night filled with famous/not-so-famous/wannabe-famous Instagram models, hip-hop celebrities, and known athletes such as the “Honey Badger” Tyrann Mathieu (a Lousiana State University legend) and local hero (and fantasy football god) Alvin Kamara of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.  Pony up and bottle up… because if you can’t YOLO on Mardi Gras, you probably shouldn’t YOLO ever.

Time: 10:00 PM – 3:30 AM

Venue: Masquerade (8 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130)

More events and more venues for Mardi Gras 2018 in New Orleans can be found on the Discotech app.  Have a crazy but safe weekend, make sure to where lots of purple, green, & gold, always use the buddy system around town, and make sure to stock up on those beads!