Ponderosa Stomp’s 10th Anniversary!

Allen Toussaint, William Bell, Big Jay McNeely, Eddie Floyd, Lady Bo, Sir Mack Rice, Lazy Lester, Dave Bartholomew, The Bo-Keys and More Pay Tribute to Excello Records, Stax Records and New Orleans' Greatest Producer, Cosimo Matassa


"When you talk about music events, The Ponderosa Stomp is the real deal! This is three days of unbelievable performances by the artists who started it all." Terry Stewart, President, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum

"Ponderosa Stomp rediscovers lost legends, launches comebacks, initiates reunions, and uncovers secret histories as it celebrates an honor roll of unsung heroes of American music." Tristram Lozaw, Yahoo! Music

Through hell and high water, the Ponderosa Stomp has spent the last decade bringing icons of American music back to the stage, shining a spotlight on the architects of songbooks that are part of our collective musical DNA.  2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the Stomp, which has expanded over the years from a 2-day concert to include a film festival, music conference, record hop and a DJ dance party. On September 16th and 17th, the Ponderosa Stomp takes over a new venue, the Howlin' Wolf while moving the music conference, film festival and record hop into a central locale, the Renaissance Arts Hotel. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 10th at www.ponderosastomp.com - purchasers can get them during the early bird special at $40.00 each while supplies last.

This milestone year will be hailed  with tributes to the essential New Orleans producer Cosimo Matassa, Stax Records, Excello Records and Southern music with Allen Toussaint, William Bell, Big Jay McNeely, Eddie Floyd, Lady Bo, Sir Mack Rice, Lazy Lester, Dave Bartholomew, The Bo-Keys w/ Skip Pitts and Howard Grimes, Carol Fran, Classie Ballou, Warren Storm, The Relatives and more.

Celebrating the seminal songs that formed the backbone of American pop culture from the post-war era through the generations is not for the meek of heart - founder Dr Ira (Dr. Ike) Padnos and his fellow members of the Mystic Knights of the Mau Mau specialize in finding performers missing from the stage for decades as well as reuniting the bands who've not performed together in decades. The New York Times described it thusly, "Among other things, the Stomp is a gathering of survivors: musicians who have been picking, pounding and wailing professionally for many decades, and whose gray hair and career setbacks haven't tamed their music yet."

The Ponderosa Stomp Music Conference and Clandestine Celluloid Film Series will take place September 15-17 at the Renaissance Arts Hotel at 700 Tchoupitoulas Street. The conference will feature historians and musicologists Jeff Hannusch, Lauren Onkey, Scott Bomar, Alison Fensterstock and Jason Hanley tackling Louisiana garage, an oral history with Big Jay McNeely, panels on Stax Records, Ernie K-Doe and Bobby Marchan and a Q&A with Dave Bartholomew following the first-ever public screening of a 1962 concert film of the Fats Domino Orchestra, live in France.

The second incarnation of Clandestine Celluloid will feature an all-day special tribute to the B-movie exploits of  actor/musician/pilot/writer Arch Hall Jr., with the screening of  60's cult classics, Eegah!,  The Sadist, and Wild Guitar, in-depth discussions with Hall and fellow musician/mondo movie man Johnny Legend,  and  selected excerpts from other films including The Choppers and Deadwood '76.  Master Archivist/Filmmaker Joe Lauro will return with his annual performance compilation featuring Heroes of the Stomp, as well as a special presentation of The Original Soul Men: Sam  & Dave.

The Tenth Annual Ponderosa Stomp Concert will take place September 16 and 17 at the Howlin Wolf, 907 South Peters St in New Orleans, Louisiana. The show will run from 7:30 pm - 2:30 am. Tickets will be $50. For ticket info, please go to www.ponderosastomp.com.

For all press inquiries contact Heather West, Western Publicity, westernpublicity@gmail.com or 773/301-5767