Street Party

No one knows more about street parties than natives of New Orleans. So after Big Easy products Cowboy Mouth and Trombone Shorty kick-start Lawrence's two-day Get Down Town festival on Friday night, a member of the Crescent City's most iconic musical family headlines Saturday's full slate. The son of Aaron "Everybody Plays the Fool" Neville, Ivan Neville has appeared on his dad's records as well as on Neville Brothers' releases. He also has played keyboard for a couple of Rolling Stones' albums and sat in for a time as the Spin Doctors' singer when the group's frontman suffered vocal-cord paralysis. Neville now leads his own group, Dumpstaphunk, which delivers grooves brassy and filthy enough to go with the most outrageous Mardi Gras scenes. Bluegrass dervish Split Lip Rayfield precedes Neville's jazz-funk juggernaut to the stage. Other attractions include Trombone Shorty, back for an encore presentation of his potent, hip-hop-laced soul; Wichita's old-timey blues trio Moreland & Arbuckle; and Lawrence's "high as hell" acoustic jam band Billy the Squirrel. Music runs from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. today, with musicians setting up between Eighth and Ninth streets on New Hampshire. Admission is free. For more information, including a full schedule, see getdowntownlawrence.com.
Fri., Oct. 3, 4:30 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-11 p.m., 2008