FOLK RIDE
AFRO-CARIBBEAN
NEW ORLEANS
BEN E. HUNTER
Duration
2.5 hours
Group Size
Up to 10 people
Includes
Drinks, Equipment
Hosted in
English
What You'll Do
The New Orleans Afro-Caribbean Folk Ride will take you along a musical storytelling journey through the city’s most culturally rich areas, and those most affected by the deeply varied impacts of Hurricane Katrina. Through Ben's original music and real-life stories, this is a journey of reflection on the neighborhoods that have most shaped his city’s great musical history, and his first-hand account of how these same communities have changed over time. In true New Orleans’ street music style, each stop includes Ben performing a few songs inspired by these times & places, interspersed with a real account of their living history. Together, you will traverse the most architecturally dynamic residential areas in the city creating a multi-location street concert experience from the heart of the Treme right into the Lower 9th Ward.
Note: You will follow Ben in your own vehicle (or he can ride with you, only upon request). Let us know if you don't have your own vehicle.
Your Host
Ben & Aminata
Ben E. Hunter was born & raised in New Orleans' richest musical communities, eventually becoming a trend-setting performer at the famous Cafe Brasil on Frenchmen St. for over a decade prior to Katrina. Ben went on to perform nationally and locally for the past 20+ years, with 7 studio albums recorded in New Orleans, Jamaica, and L.A., winning several esteemed awards and honors as a modern New Orleans' legend. Ben has headlined at Tipatinas, The House of Blues (as one of the first local acts to ever headline HOB), Essence Music Fest, and numerous times at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest.
What's Included
Drinks
Bottled water is provided
Equipment
Umbrellas to block sun (or rain).
Where You'll Be
We’ll meet in a quaint cafe (once a storied music clubhouse) then explore the musical experiences lived in the iconic Treme neighborhood. We’ll continue on to visit the remarkable St. Louis Cemetery, then grab 'to go' daiquiris before heading into the Upper 9th Ward, then ride into the Lower 9th Ward, visiting the city’s most pivotal crossroads, immersing ourselves in the experience of the unique richness both lost and found, only in New Orleans.
