Festival Circuit

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Latest Episodes:

E5: A New Day (re-release) May 15, 2026

Welcome to episode 5 of Festival Circuit: New Orleans. In this final episode, we wrap things up by looking at what the future holds for live music and jazz fest and how the music industry needs to change, and we pay tribute to some of the people who made New Orleans music what it is today. We include an interview with Tank from Tank and the Bangas, and hear from many other interviewees as well.

Festival Circuit is presented by Osiris Media. This series is Narrated and Produced by Rob Steinberg. Executive Producers are Christina Collins, Andrew Goodwin and RJ Bee, who also double duties as series writer and creator. Produced, Edited and Mixed by Matt Dwyer. Show logo by Liz Bee. The theme song is “JazzFest Time,” by Circus Mind. Thanks to our partners at WWOZ. To check out more shows that help deepen the connection to music you love, please visit OsirisPod.com.

E4: From The President to Frenchmen Street (re-release) May 13, 2026

Welcome back to Festival Circuit: New Orleans. In this episode, we’re going to explore the late night music scene around jazz fest.

We hear from George Porter, Papa Mali and Robert Walter about the magic of one-time late night collaborations, and we talk with Irma Thomas about performing with Allen Toussaint on the President. We also explore the growth of Frenchmen Street as a destination, the legacy of Tipitina’s, and amazing late night shows over the past 50 years.

E3: At the Fairgrounds (re-release) May 11, 2026

Welcome back to Festival Circuit: New Orleans. In episode 3, we’re going to jazz fest! We’ll look at how the festival started, hear from interviewees about standout performances, talk about the evolution of the festival itself, and of course, talk a bit about jazz fest food.

We spend some time in the Gospel Tent, dance with Mardi Gras Indians, and look at the explosive growth of the festival over the past 20 years. And of course, there’s plenty of music.

This would have been the 51st jazz fest, and we all wish we could have been there. But this tribute to the festival and to New Orleans music helps us all feel a little more connected to live music and to this event that is truly one of a kind.

Festival Circuit is presented by Osiris Media. This series is Narrated and Produced by Rob Steinberg. Executive Producers are Christina Collins, Andrew Goodwin and RJ Bee, who also double duties as series writer and creator. Produced, Edited and Mixed by Matt Dwyer. Show logo by Liz Bee. The theme song is “JazzFest Time,” by Circus Mind. To check out more shows that help deepen the connection to music you love, please visit OsirisPod.com.

E2: Families of Music (re-release) May 08, 2026

Welcome back Festival Circuit: New Orleans. In episode 2, we explore the idea of family in New Orleans, in all the ways that it manifests—the famous musical families of the city, the broader New Orleans musical family, and the idea that the city feels like one big family in many ways. There's discussion of food, a lot of music, and so much more. We also talk about how the New Orleans family came together around a tragedy, after Hurricane Katrina.

For this series, we interviewed Ivan Neville, George Porter, Jr., Irma Thomas, Anders Osborne, Ben Jaffe, Papa Mali and dozens of other musicians. We also talked to writers, academics and music fans about what makes the music of the city so unique. Thanks to all interviewees, and to our partners at WWOZ.

Festival Circuit is presented by Osiris Media. This series is Narrated and Produced by Rob Steinberg. Executive Producers are Christina Collins, Andrew Goodwin and RJ Bee, who also double duties as series writer and creator. Produced, Edited and Mixed by Matt Dwyer. Show logo by Liz Bee. The theme song is “JazzFest Time,” by Circus Mind. To check out more shows that help deepen the connection to music you love, please visit OsirisPod.com.

1: Spirits in the Water (Re-Release) May 06, 2026

Welcome to Festival Circuit. This is a new narrative series focusing on the history and impact of festivals and cities around the world. The first season, focused on the music of New Orleans and the annual jazz festival, premieres today.

In episode 1, we explore the history of the city and the history of music in New Orleans, including how the institution of slavery influenced the unique rhythms of the city. We also trace the evolution of jazz music and how that led to the creation of the jazz fest in 1970. The next episodes will focus on the families of the city, the creation and evolution of the jazz festival, memorable performances in the festival’s history, the impact of late night shows around the city, and the legacy and lasting appeal of New Orleans music.

Festival Circuit is presented by Osiris Media. This series is Narrated and Produced by Rob Steinberg. Executive Producers are Christina Collins, Andrew Goodwin and RJ Bee, who also double duties as series writer and creator. Produced, Edited and Mixed by Matt Dwyer. Show logo by Liz Bee. The theme song is “JazzFest Time,” by Circus Mind. To check out more shows that help deepen the connection to music you love, please visit OsirisPod.com.

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