10/02/2026
NOLAxNOLA and Relix are excited to announce the return of the NOLAxNOLA Talks conference, taking place Friday, October 2 at the New Orleans Jazz Museum (400 Esplanade Ave) from 10:30am - 5:00 pm. NOLAxNOLA is focused on being a positive voice and advocate for New Orleans musicians, venues, creatives and cultural artists. NOLAxNOLA Talks, which are FREE to attend, help to connect the New Orleans music and arts community with the national music industry to create new opportunities. The event’s goal reflects NOLAxNOLA’s mission to further the growth of the local industry through live entertainment and hospitality while also bringing New Orleans’ creatives to a broader national audience.
NOLAxNOLA Talks is a part of NOLAxNOLA’s NOLAxNoCover initiative, this year offering more than 80 free concerts and events across the city. Now in its sixth year, NOLAxNOLA continues to generate significant economic and cultural impact—bringing business to venues, celebrating every genre of music, and preserving the vibrant traditions that make New Orleans a global cultural capital.
Says Sig Greenebaum, co-founder of NOLAxNOLA,“Through NOLAxNOLA Talks, we’re bringing important conversations around live entertainment, culture and hospitality to the table that will help our community thrive and
build new career opportunities. We carefully handpicked every topic and panelist to make sure they deliver real value to our community.”
This year’s conference schedule features an exceptional lineup of industry leaders, artists, and cultural icons sharing free conversations and panels:
● Susan Spicer Donald Link & John Harris: Helping Shepherd New Orleans’ Culinary Flavors New & Old: Moderated by Stephanie Jane Carter of the Little Local New Orleans Cookbook, this panel features chefs Susan Spicer (Bayona), Donald Link (Herbsaint, Cochon), and John Harris (Lilette, Bouligny Tavern). The conversation will explore their mentorship under Spicer at Bayona in the '90s. The panel covers how these three longtime friends have helped redefine and propel the New Orleans culinary scene onto the national stage by bringing their individual aesthetics to traditional cuisine.
● Howie Kaplan vs. Stubhub: Howie Kaplan, owner of independent music venue The Howlin’ Wolf, sits down with moderator Josh Baron to discuss his landmark federal lawsuit against secondary ticketing giant StubHub. Kaplan will break down his legal fight under the Lanham Act and state unfair trade laws against speculative ticketing—the lucrative practice of brokers selling non-existent tickets at hyper-inflated prices before acquiring them. The conversation explores deceptive tactics that mislead fans, harm artists, and sever critical relationships between grassroots venues and their audiences, as well as what venues can do about them. Venues owner and musicians are encouraged to attend to better understand what they can do to help the cause.
● We Won’t Bow Down: An Oral History & Reflection of Mardi Gras Indian Culture: Moderated by WGNO-TV’s LeBron “LBJ” Joseph, this panel features Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. of The Wild Magnolias and Big Chief Juan Pardo of Golden Comanche. The discussion reflects on New Orleans’ unique social dynamics and the history of Blacks
“masking Indian” as a tribute to Indigenous allies and a practical strategy to move in public without triggering laws aimed at suppressing Black gatherings. The panel highlights how these traditions have evolved into elaborate displays of art and imagination, standing as one of the most vital forms of African diaspora art and resistance in North America.
● Feel My Head: Assessing and Treating Blue-Dot Fever: Over the past year, the concert industry has seen a wave of shows suffering from low ticket sales, colloquially known as “blue-dot fever.” Moderated by Josh Baron, this panel explores the truth behind this trend, how the country and specifically New Orleans have navigated temperamental show counts, and what the industry is trying to do about it. Featured speakers include Jesse Paige (Blue Nile/Tips), Andy Swicord (HOB/Live Nation) and Robert Brunet (AMPS Events).
● METRONOME: Building the Future of Culture Tech
METRONOME, The Idea Village’s music and culture tech accelerator, joins NOLAxNOLA Talks for an exploration of how New Orleans can build and support the emerging culture tech sector.
The conversation will feature live product demos from METRONOME founders, followed by a panel-style conversation with present and past cohort members exploring what it takes to build, scale, and support companies at the intersection of technology, music, entertainment, hospitality, and culture. Together, they’ll explore the opportunities for innovation across New Orleans’ cultural economy and what it will take to create a stronger ecosystem for the founders building at that intersection.
METRONOME launched as a track within The Idea Village’s IDEAinstitute program to support entrepreneurs solving problems and creating new opportunities in the music industry. In 2026, the
program is expanding its focus to culture tech, reflecting the broader opportunities to build technology and businesses around the systems, experiences, and infrastructure that power New Orleans’ cultural economy.
The Idea Village x NOLAxNOLA Happy Hour
Join The Idea Village and the broader NOLAxNOLA community at Blue Nile for drinks, conversation, and connections with local founders, innovators, music industry leaders, and others shaping New Orleans’ cultural innovation scene with a special performance by Sasha Masakowski and Wil Blades.
Friday, October 2 | 5:00–7:00 PM Blue Nile | Frenchmen Street
Come straight from the talks or join us for happy hour. Everyone is welcome. Stick around after happy hour for live NOLAxNOLA performances at Blue Nile and venues across Frenchmen Street throughout the evening.
Special thanks to our NOLAxNOLA partners: New Orleans & Company, New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation, WWOZ and Stella Artois.
For more information on NOLAxNOLA Talks and to view the full schedule, visit www.nolaxnola.com.
About Relix: Relix, founded in 1974, is the premiere music magazine in America, and an innovative and trusted resource devoted to the best of the live music scene for more than 50 years. Published by legendary concert promoter Peter Shapiro, Relix draws together a passionate mix of writers, photographers, videographers, event producers, musicians, and industry professionals to articulate and amplify the vibrant voices of a robust concert community. To help further extend its voice and catalyze community, Relix launched the Relix Music Conference in 2017 as an annual forum that
fosters discussion around the live music business
