Officials have announced the acts performing July 3rd for the Uncle Same Jam in Lafreniere Park.
- Amanda Shaw
- 10,000 Maniacs
- The Orchestra which features former Members of ELO
- Flight Plan Jazz Ensemble
- The Topcats
Jefferson Parish Councilman Dominick Impastato said, "Uncle Sam Jam attracts between 15,000 and 20,000+ concert goers. It’s a great event to help us showcase the beauty and amenities of Lafreniere Park and bring families and friends together."
Uncle Sam Jam will open with Shaw at 4:00pm. She will be followed by 10,000 Maniacs and The Orchestra. Flight Plan Jazz Ensemble will play during the fireworks at 9:00pm. The Topcats will follow the fireworks show.
Officials released the following about the performers and the event:
10,000 Maniacs, a rock band that has enjoyed three decades of success. 10,000 Maniacs will rock fans with favorites from their four platinum selling records including their unforgettable 1993 MTV Unplugged live album. A New York band, epic in the 1980s and early 90s, now performs with front artist Mary Ramsey who replaced Natalie Merchant in 1993. Uncle Sam Jam festival goers will enjoy some of the bands top charting hits including "Peace Train", "These Are Days”, "Because the Night", “Trouble Me”, and “Wonder”.
The (ELO) Orchestra, is comprised of violinist Mik Kaminski (formerly of ELO & ELO Part II), orchestral keyboardist Louis Clark (formerly of ELO & ELO Part II), Eric Troyer on keyboards and vocals (formerly of ELO Part II), Parthenon Huxley, guitarist and singer (formerly of ELO Part II), drummer Gordon Townsend (formerly of ELO Part II), Glen Burtnik on vocals and bass (formerly of ELO Part II & Styx), and Louis Clark, Jr. who play cello, acoustic guitar & orchestral keyboards (formerly of ELO Part II). The (ELO) Orchestra, an English rock band, dominated the charts in the 1970s and 80s. During ELO's original 14-year period together, the band sold over 50 million records worldwide and had 15 Top 20 songs on the U.S. Billboard chart. Fans of ELO attending Uncle Sam Jam will enjoy standards including "Evil Woman", "Strange Magic", "Livin' Thing", "Telephone Line", "Do Ya", "Turn to Stone", "Sweet Talkin' Woman", and "Mr. Blue Sky".
Flight Plan Jazz Ensemble, a 13-member ensemble from within the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest from Fort Worth, TX, is a summer tour at Uncle Sam Jam. Touring Arkansas and Louisiana this summer, the band will perform a high-energy show with a wide range of jazz standards, vocal hits, big band classics, and patriotic favorites during the 20-minute fireworks display and beyond.
Uncle Sam Jam will begin at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, July 3 at the Al Copeland Concert & Meadow Stage in Lafreniere Park. This celebration will again feature unique festival food, including a variety of food trucks, a fireworks display that begins at 9:00 p.m. and music from 4:00 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, parking is $5.00. The Topcats will follow the fireworks show, closing the event.
