By Erika Schmitt

Summer festivals call for fantastic food, funky bands, and a whole lot of dancing. Well, you don’t have to drive very far at all to experience an awesome New Orleans-styled blow-out this summer. Load up your friends and drive on down to John and Son’s Fairgrounds on Chandler Street in Worcester on July 11th to rock out at the 2nd Annual Paulie’s New Orleans Jazz and Blues Festival.

Paul of BAEvents, a party planning company, has always wanted to bring a different type of musical flavor to the Worcester area, and he proved to be pretty spot-on with his launch of the Jazz Festival last year. “I just love New Orleans; good food, good music, good weather. There’s just something so funky about New Orleans music and their food that should be shared with the rest of the country.”

Last year, Paul brought together quite a few jazz/blues bands from around the area to collaborate for the festival. This year will be even better, he says, with five bands from all over combining forces for this year’s line-up. The Hurricane Horns, Henri Smith New Orleans Friends and Flavours will be performing on the Gris-Gris Stage, and the Jambalaya Stage will be home to River City Slim and the Zydego Hogs, The Chris Fitz Band, and ~ to end the evening ~ Lisa Marie and All Shook Up.

Want to taste some awesome New Orleans cuisine? Po Boys, muffulleta, jambalaya, creole onion soup, and cajun and creole chicken will all be getting cooked up by the guys over at John and Son’s. How about some delicious adult beverages to cool off from the hot food and hot music? Harpoon will also be slinging their tasty beers to all of those over the age of 21.

“Come on down, it’ll be fun, funky, not all of the same bands that play every weekend in Worcester. It’ll be something different that I think a lot of people will really enjoy,” promises Paul.

Proceeds from this event will go towards the National Autism Association ~ and the festival is also kid friendly, so it’s really something everybody can enjoy!! Tickets are just $15 for adults and $7 for kids and can be purchased online at Paulie’s website ( www.baevents.com) or in person at John and Son’s at 226 Chandler Street or at the Randall Package Store, located at 108 Canterbury Street.

Rain or shine, on July 11th at noon head on down to the John and Son’s Fairgrounds on Chandler Street in Worcester and enjoy a day of awesome music and food!

Please see www.baevents.com for more information!