Stomping all over New Orleans

The Ponderosa Stomp is spreading its wings and now starting to take over the whole week between the two New Orleans Jazzfest weekends. As well as the Stomp itself, there are a series of gigs during the week, featuring artists such as Little Freddie King, Eddie Kirkland, Dennis Coffey and Chuck Brown.

But the most interesting gig is the Swamp Pop Throwdown at the Cabildo in Jackson Square on May 3 with the Little Band o' Gold plus special guests Rod Bernard, Lazy Lester, Tommy McClain and Warren Storm. According to his son Shane, Rod - hitmaker in 1959 with This Should Go On Forever - is making his first appearance in New Orleans since appearing at Jazzfest in 1984. He vowed never to perform at the festival again - too hot, too many people and too much traffic - but he's making his return at this Stomp spin off.

The Stomp itself has a line up of half-forgotten greats of the 50s and 60s, including Barbara Lynn, Roy Head, Dave Bartholomew (now in his late eighties), Jean Knight, Roky Erickson (of the 13th Floor Elevators), Augie Meyers, Grace Broussard (of Dale and Grace), Dale Hawkins, Bobby Rush, Willie Tee and Al Johnson plus many others. It's at the House of Blues on May 2.