Mardi Gras In Wilmington

BERNIE WORRELL AND LEO NOCENTELLI JOIN FORCES FOR ONE NIGHT

Bernie Worrell

The Light Up The Queen Foundation is bringing together legends of funk, rock, jazz and soul music for a one-night-only, once-in-a-lifetime musical celebration of New Orleans Mardi Gras. The 1st Annual Mardi Gras on Market Street will bring the spirit of New Orleans culture to Wilmington, DE to benefit the Light Up the Queen Foundation and its mission to restore the historic Queen Theater on 5th and Market Streets and to revitalize this historic downtown corridor. Performing at this event will be The Meters Meet P-Funk – a once-in-a-lifetime band with Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Bernie Worrell (Parliament-Funkadelic), Andy Hess (Gov’t Mule), Adrian Harpam and legendary New Orleans jazzman and Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief Donald Harrison

What: 1st Annual Mardi Gras On Market Street

Who: A Benefit for the Light Up The Queen Foundation

When: Friday, February 20, 2009, 8-Midnight

Where: Crosby Hill Building, 605 Market Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

Facts: Celebrate New Orleans Mardi Gras. The crowning of the Queen (Ashley Biden) and King (Mayor James Baker) commences at 8:30PM

Tickets: $100 includes open bar and food from neighborhood restaurants (The Exchange, Orilla’s and The Rebel)

The redevelopment of the Queen Theater — located in the heart of downtown Wilmington — promises to push Wilmington’s urban renaissance to new heights. Opened in 1916, this majestic building has been sitting empty since its closing in 1959; it has endured several failed renovation attempts and faced near-certain demolition until its recent acquisition by the Buccini-Pollin Group (BPG). A restored Queen Theater will become a community clubhouse for the entire region and a unique destination for music, food, and the future home of the Philadelphia-based World Cafe Live (www.worldcafelive.com).

The Light Up the Queen Foundation is currently raising capital funds to restore the theater. Its Executive Director Bill Taylor, formerly of the legendary New Orleans music venue Tipitina’s, has gathered together some old musical acquaintances for this once-in-a-lifetime night of music in support of the foundation’s mission.

To celebrate the occasion, The Exchange, 902 N. Market St., will host Wilmington After Work every Wednesday in February with New Orleans themed food and drink specials, as well as hosting free live music every Friday from 6-10PM with two budding New Orleans legends – piano players Jonathan Batiste and Conun Pappas. Batiste and his band perform on February 27, with Pappas and his group on February 20.

FUTURE LIGHT UP THE QUEEN SHOWS:
April 16—Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
April 23—Cyril Neville
May 22—Eric Lindell
May 28—Tab Benoit