A Jade Helm-style invasion of Dan Electro’s by Louisiana musicians instead of Special Forces troops, the Ultimate Louisiana Party moves into the Heights dive Saturday and Sunday. A smorgasbord of Louisiana music that ranges from blues to soul to rap, the two-day event is literally a something-for-everyone lineup.
Headliners are Henry Turner Jr. and his band Flavor and New Orleans blues man/record-label operator Carlo Ditta. Other acts include mostly names that will be new to Houstonians: blues piano man Dinki Mire; reggae act Diego and Projeckt Hangover; Beatles tribute band Apple Scruffs; former American Idol contestant Mikey Duran; blues burners Smokehouse and Mamie Porter; blues-rockers Jon Pat Dickinson and Groundwork; and a gaggle of singer-songwriters. The party also includes visual artists, vendors, and food.
The ULP is the brainchild of Henry Turner, Jr., a Baton Rouge native whose father played with Slim Harpo. Turner currently has a single, “You Got Me Doing What You Want,” that is making some splash on blues radio stations in the region.
But Carlo Ditta is the secret weapon here. Ditta operates the Orleans Records label, which specializes in Louisiana roots music and his latest solo release, What I’m Talkin’ About, is a slinky, loping jive-blues record that recalls the best of Andre Williams at his most down and dirty. Don’t go there looking for political correctness, as Ditta lays on old-school chauvinist pickup lines barely fit for the locker room. It’s all tongue in cheek and meant to be what-did-he-just-say fun. The added bonus is a drummer named Chewy “Thunderfoot” Black. How Louisiana is that?
Ditta also reinvents old chestnuts like Aaron Neville’s Louisiana classic “Tell It Like Is” or Dave Bartholomew’s “Go On Fool.” His slow-burn take on the Jimmy Cliff classic “Many Rivers to Cross” is exquisite in its straightforward simplicity.
The event sprawls over two stages with music beginning both days at 12:30 p.m. and running until midnight.
Founded by Turner in 2011, the ULP is a traveling festival; this will be the second event at Dan Electro’s this year.
The lineup:
SATURDAY, July 18 MAIN STAGE
12:15 p.m.: Constance Delpit
12:30 p.m.: LZ Dillon, singer-songwriter
1:30 p.m.: Samantha Ann Little, singer-songwriter
2:30 p.m.: Margie Gandy, Pianist/singer
3:30 p.m.: Alesia Lani, R&B singer
4:30 p.m.: Dinki Mire, Louisiana rocker
5:30 p.m.: Henry Turner, Jr. & Flavor, Louisiana Reggae/soul/blues
6:30 p.m.: The Herd of Mainstreet, Americana/bluegrass
7:30 p.m.: Apple Scruffs, Tribute Band (debuting original songs)
8:30 p.m.: Carlo Ditta
9:30 p.m.: The Rakers, Louisiana folk/rock
10:30 p.m.: Diego and Projeckt Hangover, reggae
OUTDOOR STAGE
12 p.m.: ReverbNation rock/blues jam
2 p.m.: The Kirks, Americana/country
3 p.m.: Houston songwriters — Drift Miles, Tad Donley, David Rivera, Matt Kennard, Steve Gilbert
5 p.m.: Tquan Moore, “Rhythm and Praise”
6 p.m.: Madd the Gangsta, hip-hop
7 p.m.: Tony Xpress, reggae
SUNDAY, July 19 MAIN STAGE
12:30 p.m.: LZ Dillon, singer-songwriter
1:30 p.m.: Mikey Duran, singer-songwriter
2:30 p.m.: Samantha Ann Little, singer-songwriter
3:30 p.m.: Kalila, pop/rock
4:30 p.m.: Jon Pat Dickinson and Groundwork, rock and blues
5:30 p.m.: Smokehouse & Mamie Porter, Louisiana blues
6:30 p.m.: Apple Scruffs, tribute band
7:30 p.m.: Annie B Band, alternative blues
8:30 p.m.: Henry Turner, Jr. & Flavor, Louisiana reggae/soul/blues
OUTDOOR STAGE
12 p.m.: ReverbNation rock/blues jam
1 p.m.: St. Frantic, singer-songwriter
2 p.m.: Tamesha Pruett, R&B
3 p.m.: Dinki Mire, Louisiana rocker
The Ultimate Louisiana Party comes to Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar, 1031 E. 24th, Saturday and Sunday, July 18 & 19 beginning at noon.
This article appears in Jul 16-22, 2015.