Tipitina's
- Music Nola
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Wow. How to write a brief overview of Tipitina’s? We’d have to start with saying this is the most iconic music venue in New Orleans. So many legends have played in this amazing piece of history. They say it holds 800 people, but that seems high to us but we have had some memorable nights jammed in there with a massive crowd, so maybe so.
It opened in 1977 but the building was built in 1912 and served as a gambling house, gymnasium, and brothel because…of course it did.
In 2018, there was much fear Tip’s may close but the city and its guests owe a debt of gratitude to members of the New Orleans jam band Galactic which stepped in to keep things going.
Food: None (sometimes food trucks)
Where’s the name come from?
The song Tipitina by the legendary Professor Longhair is a integral piece of the New Orleans music culture – “Fess” played Tip’s regularly from 1977 until his death in 1980 and some say the club was established to give him a venue. A bust of “Fess,” sculped by bluesman Coco Robicheaux, is on display when you enter Tipitina’s, and a massive portrait of him adorns the wall above the stage, immortalizing him in the thousands of videos recorded by visitors at shows.
Who has played Tipitina’s?
Nearly every legendary New Orleans band (Trombine Shorty, The Radiators, Allen Toussaiint, Rebirth Brass Band) has graced the stage of Tipitina’s – it’s definitely a sign of a bands “arrival” when they play a show at Tip’s. National bands are also honored to take the stage as it’s welcomed the likes of Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Phish, Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, Greg Allman, Lenny Kravitz, Jane’s Addiction, Dinosaur Jr., and Widespread Panic.
Comments