Welcome to the WWOZ Blog! This is where 'OZ staff and beloved show hosts post news, thoughts, information, and of course, music.

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Video: WWOZ's Virtual Groove Gala

Fri, 09/04/20

Our virtual Groove Gala was a smashing success last night! Shoutout to everyone who joined us live as we streamed on our website, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch. If you missed it, here is the stream as it aired last night! Thanks to all of our brand new and renewing members ... Read more

In Memoriam: Sylvester Francis

Tue, 09/01/20

Sylvester Francis, founder and proprietor of the Backstreet Cultural Museum, died Tuesday, September 1, 2020. Francis officially opened the Treme museum at 1116 Henriette DeLille Street in 1999. But its origins can be traced back to the 1970s when he paraded with the Gentl... Read more

Interview: Leon Anderson, Jr., president of Valley of Silent Men

Sat, 08/29/20

This Sunday would've been the start of the 2020-21 second line season, kicking off, as always, with the Valley of Silent Men parade. This week on Takin' It To The Streets, Action Jackson gets on the phone with Valley of the Silent Men President Leon Anderson Jr. to talk abo... Read more

Rhythm Room 08/28/20

In Memoriam: Big Queen Kim "Cutie" Boutte

Sun, 08/23/20

Scenes from Big Queen Kim "Cutie" Boutte's funeral service on August 22, 2020 in New Orleans. She became an ancestor on August 11, 2020, at age 55, after being caught by stray gunfire from a shooting during a funeral repass. Kim was an honored Big Queen of The Spirit of FiY... Read more

Interview: Robert Starks of Original Big Nine

Sun, 08/23/20

COVID-19 has impacted the New Orleans cultural communities deeply. This week on Takin' It To The Streets, Action Jackson gets on the phone with Robert Starks, business manager of the Big Nine Social and Pleasure Club, and his wife, Belida. Starks tested positive for coronav... Read more

Rhythm Room 08/21/20

Rev. John Wilkins 'Trouble'

Fri, 08/21/20

Check out a preview from Reverend John Wilkins' new album, Trouble, due out September 18 on Goner Records. Pre-order it here now. DJ Swamp Boogie will also be premiering more tracks from the album on his show Thursdays, 7-10pm. Read more

Interview: Ezell Hines, president of Uptown Swingers

Wed, 08/19/20

This week on Takin' It To The Streets, WWOZ's Action Jackson gets on the phone with Ezell Hines, president of Uptown Swingers, to talk about how the group got its name, how parades have changed over the years, why groups should work together to keep the second line culture ... Read more

Video: Telephone Grooves

Tue, 08/18/20

Here's something new from WWOZ video: Telephone Grooves, a game of musical telephone! While artists and audiences struggle with not being able to work, perform, and create together in person, we enlisted eight artists across New Orleans to collaborate in a new but socially... Read more