Playing it Forward: Shorty Fest Goes Virtual for a Good Cause
The Trombone Shorty Foundation will be taking its signature fundraiser to a national audience with an online broadcast of “Virtual Shorty Fest Presented by Acura.” Set to air on Saturday, September 26, at 8 p.m. CDT, the festival will feature performances by Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue (the band’s first show together since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic), Galactic, Anders Osborne, Tank and The Bangas, The Soul Rebels, students from the Trombone Shorty Academy, and additional special guests.
Brought to viewers by the Trombone Shorty Foundation and the Gia Maione Prima Foundation, the event will be streamed across several social media platforms and will be hosted by News with a Twist’s “LBJ.” New Orleans audiences can also catch it on WNOL-TV (Nola-38/The CW).
Normally held each spring around the same time as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Shorty Fest was canceled due to the pandemic. Now in its eighth year, Shorty Fest raises funds for The Trombone Shorty Foundation, which practices the time-honored New Orleans’ tradition of “playing it forward.” Founded by Trombone Shorty (a.k.a Troy Andrews) in 2013, the foundation seeks to perpetuate the city’s rich musical heritage by opening up pathways to success through education for the next generation of musicians.
Some of New Orleans’ best-known artists along with professional teachers, mentors, and tutors assist students in their pursuit of a well-rounded understanding of New Orleans’ musical traditions. Students, 90% of whom come from the city’s public schools, gain experience in music performance, reading, writing, business, production, and the social and academic skills they’ll need to succeed.
Donations to the Trombone Shorty Foundation can be made by visiting www.paypal.me/shortyfoundation or by texting “give” to (504) 509-5010. A virtual silent auction will also be held on the foundation’s Facebook event page. For more information, click on the links below.