Durham Mardi Gras

Hey Durham, it's MARDI GRAS! Fat Tuesday! Here's what's going on:
Mardi Gras Day at The Bull kicks the party off at the statue of Major the Bull (201 N Corcoran St). The jam sessions and revelers will start getting crazy around 5:30 or 6:00. Around 6:30 the hullabaloo morphs into an informal parade. Join the Bulltown Strutters as they lead the procession down to Motorco (723 Rigsbee Ave).

At 8:00, The Bulltown Strutters will take to the Motorco stage. For many, this is the highlight of Mardi Gras in Durham, and if you've never been you owe it to yourself to find out why. With their own unique take on the New Orleans second line music that is so essential to Mardi Gras, the Strutters are the embodiment of the wacky and joyous spirit that makes this night so special every year. No cover charge. Great food served, no need to make dinner!

Meanwhile, over at The Blue Note Grill (709 Washington St), they will be hosting local Cajun legend Mel Melton & The Wicked Mojos. If you're looking to dance that Cajun two step, this is the place to be. Durham's Cajammers will open with round one of Cajun music starting at 7:00. No Cover charge. Fantastic southern style food.

If you're looking for a kick-ass powerhouse of a New Orleans style brass band to knock your socks off, The Pinhook (117 W Main Street) is the place to be, featuring the Boom Unit Brass Band. With a powerful blend of traditional New Orleans brass band, newer New Orleans styles plus their own special sauce, this is some high energy mojo. If you need a double fix of New Orleans second line this Mardi Gras, you could even catch the Strutters at Motorco and then head over to The Pinhook for Round 2. New Orleans native Rhonda Robichaux & Meaux kicks it off at 8:00, doors at 7:00. Lot's of restaurants within a couple hundred feet, no need to cook dinner. Tickets $12.

Some information on Mardi Gras plans in Durham!

Mardi Gras in Durham - Bulltown Strutters Mardi Gras 2024 events in Durham NC with the Bulltown Strutters, the Cajammers and others, Durham Mardi Gras

If you’ve ever been to Mardi Gras, or anything else, at The Blue Note Grill then you've heard “Michael B”. Whether behind the mixing board or on stage with the Duke Street Dogs, Michael is a beloved Durham institution, a model of generosity and kindness and a pillar of the musical community for many years. Durham, now is the time for us to return the favor. Please help Michael overcome his recent health challenges here:

Help Michael B. get his heart back on beat, organized by Jenna Borstelmann My name is Jenna and I’ve created this GoFundMe to help my Dad, Mic… Jenna Borstelmann needs your support for Help Michael B. get his heart back on beat

👀

Eyewitness News at 11pm - February 21, 2023 Raleigh's source for breaking news and live streaming video online. Covering Raleigh, Durham, Fayetteville and the greater North Carolina region.

Wow! Y'all still feeling it, Durm? We hope you had as great a time as we did! Durham Mardi Gras would like to thank everybody who helped make this Mardi Gras the very, very special night it was: Motorco, The Blue Note Grill, The Pit Durham, The Wiley Fosters, The Bulltown Strutters, The Cajammers, Tea Cup Gin, Hot Tomato & The Spiritual Sounds and everybody who came out. We love every one of you!❤️
Photo Robert Duvall Smith

Y'all, music for Mardi Gras 2023 starts in 60 minutes at The Blue Note Grill with The Wiley Fosters & Hot Tomato! Come for dinner, best ribs in town and New Orleans Mardi Gras specials!

HAPPY MARDI GRAS, Durm! TONIGHT, ALL FREE, amazing New Orleans weather, schedule below. Get yer costume on! No costume? No worry, just get yer butt down here and have a great time. No need to make dinner, special Mardi Gras menus at The Blue Note Grill, The Pit and Motorco. Hurricanes, too! See you there!

THE PARADES:
* 6:00 Second line jam & tutu ceremony
* 6:30 Parade from Major the Bull Mardi Gras Day - where to find the Bulltown Strutters
* 6:30 at the Bull: Promenade of Nocturnal Creatures https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=517931960434011&set=a.443522131208328
THE MUSIC:
* 7:00 The Blue Note Grill hosts Mardi Gras 2023: The Wiley Fosters & Hot Tomato
* 7:30 Motorco presents MARDI GRAS PARTY WITH THE BULLTOWN STRUTTERS
* 7:15 Cajammers & Tea Cup Gin at The Pit for MARDI GRAS! (Free dance lesson 6:45)

We know some of y’all have been waiting all year long for it! Come on down, bring your friends! Share this post!

Can you believe it, Durham? MARDI GRAS is TOMORROW! Schedule below, all FREE, tell EVERYONE! Share to your feed, message your friends, invite your coworkers, call up that cute person you've been wanting to ask out. You can tell your enemies it's all happening in Raleigh (hehe).
PARADES:
Tues Feb 21 - 6:00 Jam, 6:30 Parade from Major the Bull Mardi Gras Day - where to find the Bulltown Strutters
Tues Feb 21 - 6:30 at the Bull: Promenade of Nocturnal Creatures https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=517931960434011&set=a.443522131208328
MUSIC:
Tues Feb 21 - 7:00 The Blue Note Grill hosts Mardi Gras 2023: The Wiley Fosters & Hot Tomato
Tues Feb 21 - 7:30 Motorco hosts Motorco presents MARDI GRAS PARTY WITH THE BULLTOWN STRUTTERS
Tues Feb 21 - 6:45 The Pit hosts Cajammers & Tea Cup Gin at The Pit for MARDI GRAS!

Featuring The Bulltown Strutters, The Wiley Fosters, The Cajammers, Tea Cup Gin, Hot Tomato & The Spiritual Sounds
See ya there!

Durm, Mardi Gras is THIS TUESDAY and the music starts at 7:00 in The Blue Note Grilll with The Wiley Fosters, Hot Tomato and a special Mardi Gras menu, plus the best damn ribs around! If you want to catch the very first notes of Mardi Gras 2023 and celebrate in style, this is the place to be.

The Wiley Fosters kick off Mardi Gras 2023 in high gear as they blow the roof off The Blue Note Grill with a special, expanded, horn-heavy Mardi Gras edition of their famous, barn-burner non-stop show. And when they say non-stop, they do mean non-stop! A collective of some of the top musicians in NC that seamlessly blends funk, rock, blues and soul, and maybe the kitchen sink, The Wiley Fosters whip the crowd into a frenzy with their joyous, high energy stream of music of that literally does not stop for an entire, breathless show. There's nothing else like it! They'll have you hopping, whether you dance or not - after you finish those ribs, of course!

At 8:30 Hot Tomato takes over. The jumpin', swingin', and saucy Hot Tomato is a five-headed Soul Monster that combines the groove and grittiness of Chicago Blues, the melodies of Memphis Soul, and swing of late 50's Jazz. The five are young but seasoned heavy cats that call Durham, NC their home, bringing that Bull City swagger to any place they play.

Follow the parade to The Blue Note Grilll, or head straight there at 7:00 to catch the opening act of Mardi Gras 2023. Better yet, get there early and get to work on that delicious dinner while you lift your first drink to Fat Tuesday!

Good morning, Durham! Reminder, today at 1:30, the FREE Daytime Mardi Gras Celebration with Bulltown Strutters & Cajammers in Durham Central Park. Live music, Louisiana food & funnel cakes, beer tent, costume crafting for kids & adults, shoe box floats. Come on down and check out this family-friendly, daytime prelude to our Fat Tuesday nighttime extravaganza this coming Tuesday. Here’s what’s happening:
1:30 Pavilion opens with Krewes, free craft and costume booths. Kids can make shoebox floats, etc.
2:00 Bulltown Strutters
3:15 Parade around Durham Central Park
4:00 Cajammers

Here’s where you get your taste of Louisiana:
Baton Rouge Cuisine https://www.brcuisine.com/menu
Loretta's Southern Kitchen https://www.lornettssouthernkitchen.com/our-food-truck-and-location
Funnel Queens https://funnelqueens.com/menu/
Craft beer tent from The Glass Jug Beer Lab - Downtown Durham

Every wonder what Mardi Gras is Durham is like? If you've never been, here are some pics. If you have, here are some memories from 2020.

The way we were, way back in the before times.

Hello, Durm! Here's what's going on Fat Tuesday (NEXT TUESDAY) at Motorco: 7:00 - Doors open , 7:30 - Spiritual Sounds, 8:30 - Durm's one and only Bulltown Strutters - ALL FREE!

Durm's beloved New Orleans style second line band the Bulltown Strutters has been hosting this throwdown since the very beginning, and the moment they step on stage is always the highlight of every Mardi Gras! The infectious zaniness and bedazzled, bead-festooned joy of this group is sure to put you in the mood to get out on the floor and shake that thang. If you have not yet checked this box, put this on your bucket list and make sure you're there!
Here are the Strutters in action: https://youtu.be/aFF75KmRexQ
And here's the Strutters backstory: https://youtu.be/oWgHkbRYSzc

Opening for the Strutters will be the Spiritual Sounds brass band. This brass and percussion ensemble really know how to get a groove going and work it! Here’s a little sample:
https://youtu.be/GIhxlre91Sg

Of course, Motorco will be doing their part, serving up that official beverage of Mardi Gras Bad Decisions (maybe good ones, too!), the hurricane. Hungry? Their kitchen will have a special New Orleans Mardi Gras menu including shrimp etoufee. We're gettin' hungry just thinking about it! See ya there!

Durham Mardi Gras 2017 - Ya Move Ya Lose The Bulltown Strutters grooving at Durham Mardi Gras 2017

Parades, Promenades and Tutus, Oh My! Mardi Gras is Tuesday, Feb. 21. Durham's got 2 parades and a bull in a tutu. You read that right! If you've been to Mardi Gras in Durham then you know we've got our traditions, and we're starting a new one this year. Here's deets:

* THE TUTUING OF THE BULL & THE BIG JAM
Mardi Gras kicks off as we gather around the statue of Major the Bull (corner of Corcoran & W Parrish). Around 6:00 everyone gathers to romp, frolic, show off their costumes, and bust out their horns and drums for a New Orleans jam to get in the mood. The League of the Tutu places their giant, bull-sized tutu on Major the Bull (cuz that's how we roll here in Durm). This you gotta see. It's a party, y'all, and a tradition, too!

* THE BIG PARADE
Around 6:30, The Big Parade gets underway. The Bulltown Strutters lead the way. Can you join in? Hell yeah, everybody does and you should, too! Who knows where they'll go, but word has it they're going to end up at The Blue Note Grill where The Wiley Fosters will kick off the music this year. If you want to know more about this and maybe even get some real time updates day of, see the Bulltown Strutter's event, Mardi Gras Day - where to find the Bulltown Strutters.

* THE PROMENADE OF NOCTURNAL CREATURES
But wait, there's more! There's also ANOTHER train leaving the plaza at 6:30! Are you a creature of the night? Would you rather promenade than parade? The League of the Tutu has got your number. This year for the first time they are introducing The Promenade of the Nocturnal Creatures. The super-secret I.M.O.L.O.T. dignitaries want YOU to participate, even though it's a, ya know, super secret, so they gave use some hints here:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=517931960434011&set=a.443522131208328

Take part in THE PROMENADE OF NOCTURNAL CREATURES! This exciting announcement has come our way from Super-secret I.M.O.L.O.T. dignitaries: In addition to the krewe-based demonstrations of Mardi Gras spirit expected on the night of Tuesday Feb. 21st any individual or affiliated group is welcome to take a place in the PROMENADE, whether Firefly, Lemur, Fox, Owl or Bat, Slender Loris, or Octopus--whether costume, or a small float/fabrication of your chosen creature. Extensive list of qualifying creatures can be found here: https://outforia.com/nocturnal-animals-list/

We're doing a series of posts this week to let you know a bit more about what's happening in Durham for Mardi Gras, Tuesday, Feb. 21. Here's what's happening at The Pit (321 W Geer St):
If you’re a dancer, and in particular a Cajun dancer, then you probably already know that every Durham Mardi Gras The Pit offers up great bands on a great dance floor. Our Cajun hosts Cajammers keep the tradition alive once again, joined this year by Tea Cup Gin.
6:45 p.m. Cajun Dance Lesson
7:45 p.m. The Cajammers
9:15 p.m. Tea Cup Gin
IT'S ALL FREE!

* Cajammers
Durham’s own Cajammers are by tradition the proud hosts of our Cajun stage. Everybody knows them by now, right? This rollicking collective puts fun at the top of their to do list. Warning: group contains actual Cajuns, and you never know what might happen once they get started! Check 'em out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocKQfbSWPL4

* Tea Cup Gin
Durham's Tea Cup Gin showcase singer Christy Benson backed by a crack band of seasoned musicians who have performed not only throughout the Triangle but also throughout the U.S. and abroad. Relix magazine described their music as, "an eclectic blend of early 20th Century influences…. a glorious crossroads of jazz noir, tin pan, and furious finger style blues, fueled by impassioned vocals, with a dash of Latin rhythms to spice up the mix." All About Jazz Magazine say, "Tea Cup Gin has has found a niche playing their hybrid form of gypsy swing and hot jazz by integrating sultry jazz vocals into a smoking rhythm section." If you’re a swing or blues dancer, this is the place to be!
Check 'em out:
https://youtu.be/omtAYhMRqqE?t=447
teacupgin.com

Moonlight in the Garden Music Nights - Tea Cup Gin Moonlight in the Garden Music Nights Featuring Tea Cup GinWith Our Friends from Southern Lights of RaleighLive at 7:00 PM on Saturday, November 7, 2020It's N...

Durm, it's CARNAVAL TIME! Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday, Feb. 21! Deets later, share with friends today! Here's what's going on:
FAT TUESDAY PARADES:
Tues Feb 21 - 6:00 Jam, 6:30 Parade from Major the Bull Mardi Gras Day - where to find the Bulltown Strutters
Tues Feb 21 - 6:30 at the Bull: Promenade of Nocturnal Creatures https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=517931960434011&set=a.443522131208328
FAT TUESDAY MUSIC:
Tues Feb 21 - 7:00 The Blue Note Grill hosts Mardi Gras 2023: The Wiley Fosters & Hot Tomato
Tues Feb 21 - 8:30 Motorco presents MARDI GRAS PARTY WITH THE BULLTOWN STRUTTERS
Tues Feb 21 - 6:45 Cajun dance Cajammers & Tea Cup Gin at The Pit for MARDI GRAS!
WEEKEND THROWDOWN:
Sat. Feb. 18 - 1:30-7:00 Durham Central Park Daytime Mardi Gras Celebration with Bulltown Strutters & Cajammers

Anything else going on for Mardi Gras this year? Let us know about it!

2 weeks from today.

Two weeks from today is Mardi Gras. Come to The Bull at CCB Plaza before 6pm on Tuesday March 1, costumes encouraged (some of the krewes are confirmed). The sidewalk second line will step off around 6:30. Other details coming soon.