Free admission, a decade of history, and a lineup topped by R&B veteran Joe return to the Alario Center in Westwego next weekend as the Westbank Heritage Festival prepares for its 10th edition. The two-day event runs Saturday and Sunday at the Alario Center on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, spreading across a music stage and outdoor festival grounds on Segnette Field alongside a vendor market and a kids’ area.
The festival was founded to expand event offerings on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, with involvement from the New Growth Economic Development Association and Jefferson Parish Councilmember Byron Lee of District 3. Since its founding, economic initiatives led by the association have generated more than $4 million in total regional economic impact, hiring over 140 musicians and driving revenue to more than 120 Westbank businesses and restaurants, per the New Growth Economic Development Association. This year’s festival is presented by Premiere Automotive Group of Harvey, as Councilman Byron Lee announced on Facebook.
Joe, King George and Jonathan Nelson Top the Bill
Saturday’s headliner is Joe, the stage name of Joseph Lewis Thomas, who found early success in the 1990s with R&B and soul music, as reported by Gambit. He left Jive Records in 2007 and has released music independently ever since, continuing to tour regularly, the outlet notes. Sunday’s headliner is King George, a former rapper turned blues and soul singer whose national Southern soul and blues following grew after his 2022 breakout single “Keep On Rollin’,” according to Apple Music and Ace Visionz Productions.
Gospel programming fills the Alario Center on Sunday, led by Jonathan Nelson, who has spent more than two decades singing contemporary Christian music. Nelson grew up in the church in Baltimore and wrote songs for Donald Lawrence & Company before finding success with his worship anthem “My Name Is Victory.” The festival’s worship service begins at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Alario Center, with gospel performers including Joel Jones and 3MC taking the stage at 1 p.m., per the same account from Gambit.
A Deep Local Lineup Backs the Headliners
The bill also draws on New Orleans talent with deep local roots. Donte Allen, who joined Shamarr Allen and Cyril Neville onstage at Jazz Fest this past April and appeared on Neville’s album Don’t Wait ‘Til I’m Gone, is set for his first billed festival appearance, the report states. Daniel Heartless is also scheduled to perform, alongside Kortana, who appears with singer Raven…