Lulu & The Broadsides is the brainchild (and alter ego) of noted singer-songwriter Dayna Kurtz. The Broadsides are a raunchy, bluesy band that features Kurtz’s often-hilarious originals and covers ranging from Mamie Minch (“Razorburn Blues”) to Iggy Pop (“I Need Somebody”). Kurtz, New Jersey by birth but New Orleans by heart, has been on the music scene for years, earning a solid reputation as a writer and solo singer. She first broke out the Broadsides in 2017 to local acclaim, and the band soon took on a life of its own, gaining popularity as a rocking good-time party band.

In addition to Kurtz, the band is an A-list of New Orleans talent: bassist James Singleton, the late drummer Carlo Nuccio (replacements vary), guitarist Robert Mache, and keyboardist Glenn Hartman. They released an EP in 2019, but their reputation was cemented with the 2022 release of a strong 11-song, eponymously titled, full-length album. That record showcases Kurtz’s songwriting best, from the sly “Ice Cream Man” to the Western swing “Bigger in Texas” (“He had giant shoulders and eyes to get lost in/and his heart was bigger than Austin has gotten”) and brings her powerful voice to the forefront on tunes like Nick Cave’s haunting ballad, “Into Your Arms.”