It’s hard to imagine dancing to the dull beat from a DJ’s speakers and enjoying it after the amazing live music we experienced in New Orleans… That is no doubt the most wanky sentence I’ve written on this blog but it’s true. The music was pervasive and intoxicating. It was kind of weird to turn a corner onto a quite street. The musicians there were so talented and playing music seemed like breathing to them; easy, natural and necessary to live.

You don’t even have to step foot inside a venue to experience incredible jazz, blues, rock or blue grass. There is a musician on just about every corner.

These guys were in front of Jackson Square, playing in the rain:

Loveable tunes like ‘Life is a cabaret’ and ‘When the Saints go marching in’.

This group were jamming together making the most unimaginable noise I’ve ever heard (still not sure if it was good or bad):

LOUD.

And this solo trumpeter was seriously talented:

Two days in a row we stumbled across Yes M’aam on Royal Street:

They are a country/blues band and spoke to my soul. I will never be half as cool as the girl on the washboard with the cigarette hanging from her mouth. Check out their facebook and look them up if you’re in NOLA.

So, the most famous street in New Orleans is Bourbon Street. It’s the one with the balconies where guys throw beaded necklaces to girls who flash their boobs during Mardi Gras. The one that is tacky and full of tourists clutching neon cocktails, where the bars blast Pit Bull or Kesha.

Promise me you won’t go there?

Ok, you can go there once to see it but then leave. The place you need to go is Frenchmen Street. It’s outside the French Quarter in the 7th ward or the Faubourg Marigny neighbourhood.

There is plenty of street music there.

And every single bar along the street has the most amazing live music you will every experience.

Maison was my favourite.

Big Easy Ballers at Maison

On the second night we went there a band called Musical Expression started their set with Beyonce. Enough said.

Musical Expression

Cafe Negril had a reggae band on the night we were there and I’m not sure I’ve ever danced so much in my life. We also loved Bamboulas, the band we saw there had a drummer with no hands. Seriously. And he was amazing.

If you need further convincing to go to Frenchmen Street (which I’m sure you don’t), there is also a really cool night market open Thursday through Monday.

New Orleans and regional artists sell art, jewellery and other crafty items.

I don’t think I’ve ever loved a street so much. Sitting in a gutter there eating jerk chicken at 3am with my boyfriend after dancing up a storm is one of my favourite memories of all time.

I can’t wait to go back.