Krewe du Kanaval—founded by Ben Jaffe, Creative Director of Preservation Hall, and Win Butler and Régine Chassagne of Arcade Fire—is back for a second time in New Orleans on February 22, 2019. The celebration, held at Congo Square in Louis Armstrong Park, raises funds to benefit the Preservation Hall Foundation and KANPE Foundation, which serve needs in both New Orleans and Haiti. Married bandmates Butler and Chassagne—the latter being Haitian-Québécois—are extremely passionate about the combination of Haitian and NOLA culture; Krewe du Kanaval was first conceived in 2015, when Chassagne brought members of Preservation Hall to Haiti with her.
“Wherever I go in New Orleans I feel Haiti,” Chassagne says. “The music I hear, the food I taste, the colors, the movement, the spirit of the city. Our Krewe aims to celebrate and strengthen this deep bond.” Ben Jaffe, whose parents founded NOLA music staple Preservation Hall in 1961, adds, “There would be no New Orleans music without Haiti. It’s been one of the most important influences on New Orleans going back 200 years.”
After the celebration in the park (free and open to the public from 2pm ’til sunset), the Kanaval Ball begins at 9pm—a ticketed benefit concert held at the Civic Theatre, featuring master of Haitian roots music and Grammy nominee Boukman Eksperyans, plus DJ Michael Brun, Major Lazer’s Diplo and Jillionaire, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, DJ Windows 98, and DJ Jubilee.
Read our festival guide cover story on Arcade Fire and Preservation Hall Jazz Band here.
