Two tasty January traditions in New Orleans: the return of king cake and the Jazz Fest lineup announcement. The 2017 edition of the world's best music fest happens April 28-May 7. Among the hundreds of amazing performances, there'll be tributes to Pete Fountain and Buckwheat Zyedco and a series of acts under the rubric "Cuba Comes to Jazz Fest."

» See who's coming to Jazz Fest 2017

2017 Brass Passes are on sale. Early-bird pricing ends in mid-February, so get your brass pass today.

» Get a Brass Pass for JF 2017

Carnival season is about to hit high gear. To get in the mood, check out our video diary from last year, which includes 13 Mardi Gras Day clips from the WWOZ video team. Then get ready to hit the streets: Krewe du Vieux and krewedelusion happen February 11, 'tit Rex and Chewbacchus on February 18; it all wraps up on Fat Tuesday, February 28.

» Mardi Gras Day video diary

» Mardi Gras parade schedule

WWOZ's Spring 2017 Membership Drive happens March 14-24, and we need your help to make it a success! We're looking for phone bank volunteers to help us sign up new and renewing members at the studio. With lots of food, fun and live music, the phone bank rocks during the pledge drive.

» Volunteer for the Spring Membership Drive

» Photo gallery: Phone Bank volunteers through the years

The lineup for French Quarter Fest 2017 (April 6-9) has been released! Aaron Neville will perform at the festival for the first time, making his debut at the Abita Beer Stage in Woldenberg Park. Other headliners include Irma Thomas, Ellis Marsalis, The Dixie Cups, Little Freddie King, Leroy Jones,3 and James Andrews, and many others.

» Lineup for French Quarter Fest 2017

Applications are now being accpeted for the sixth annual Class Got Brass competition, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation's contest for Louisiana high school and middle school brass bands. At stake: more than $30,000 worth of musical instruments for school bands. Apply online before March 6.

 » Class Got Brass: "Battle of the Brass Bands" for Schools

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation supports community involvement in Jazz Fest by distributing thousands of free tickets. The Foundation’s Community Outreach Tickets program distributes tickets through social service organizations such as nonprofit, educational, religious, government and community agencies. Apply by Monday, March 6.

 » Get the scoop on Community Outreach Tickets

Drink your King Cake! Here's a half dozen recipes for King Cake cocktails, including one from our own Bill DeTurk (Friday New Orleans Music Show host). Now there's a reason to save all those king cake babies: they make great ornaments for these drinks.

 » Recipes: King Cake Cocktails