PARDI-GRAS!

BOB KARWIN
San Diego, California

"What's My Name?" You may have heard that angst-filled plea for identity by this charismatic solo artist from Southern California. Bob Karwin's high energy show has made him a favorite from coast to coast, and we tolerate him at Pardi-Gras. All kidding aside, Bob is one of the most sought-after solo performers around today, and you will know he is in the house! Visit his website at www.bobkarwin.com to find out more about this talent, and to purchase his music.

Bob Karwin will perform during registration on Thursday, Jan. 13, from 7:15pm-8:45pm, in the St. Ann Room, at the Bourbon Orleans Hotel

CALYPSO NUTS
Norfolk, Virginia

Pardi-Gras 2011 welcomes the Calypso Nuts for their first appearance at our event. This high energy duo has performed extensively throughout the United States, and on several cruises on the high seas. With no shows identical, The CalypsoNuts have the freedom and flexibility to switch gears in the middle of the show and take the audience in a new direction and to a completely different mood. Featuring steel drums and soaring vocals, Robbie and Lynley offer a nightly menu that consists of Pop and Rock, Reggae and Soca, Acoustic and Electric; all different, but all the perfect ingredients to a great bowl of musical gumbo. Get ready for some fun, when the Calypso Nuts are in the house!

The Calypso Nuts will perform at the Top of the Trop ( upstairs at the Tropical Isle, Bourbon / Orleans) , on Friday, Jan. 14,  from 6:00pm-7:45pm 

HUGO DUARTE
Wilmington, North Carolina

Pardi-Gras 2011 is proud to welcome Hugo Duarte, for his first-ever appearance at our event.
Born of Cuban, Chinese, and Scotts-Irish ancestry, Duarte’s music is as diverse as his origins.
Like good Cuban food, Hugo’s music is a combination of a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and a whole lot of down-to-earth ingredients that come together in an adventure of the senses. Such are the elements of this remarkably talented Singer/songwriter/ storyteller. Duarte blends of a bit of Country, a pinch of Bluegrass, a handful of Southern rock, a cup or two of Blues, a dash of Island music, occasionally sprinkled with some American history, or tales of the sea, to form an eclectic style that doesn’t fit into the traditional definitions of the Rock and Roll world, the Tropic/Island sound, Blues, Country or any other particular genre. 
  
Hugo Duarte will perform Sunday afternoon at the Tropical Isle (Bourbon / Orleans) upstairs, from 12:30pm-2:00pm 

JACK MOSLEY
Englewood, Florida

Pardi-Gras 2011 welcomes Jack Mosley to our event, for his first ever appearance at it.

Originally from Panama City Florida, Jack is considered by many to be one of the best "TropRock" song writers and entertainers in the country. As an entertainer, Jack has performed all over the United States and the Caribbean and has opened shows for artists such as Johnny Cash, Tanya Tucker, Phil Vassar, The Warren Brothers, and Bad Company, to name a few. Jack is a natural born story teller and it is no wonder that his early influences were Dan Fogelberg, Harry Chapin and Jimmy Buffett. After living in Nashville for nine years honing his song writing skills, Jack re-located back to his home State of Florida where he quickly fell into the "TropRock" music scene. Six Cd's later, Jack has proven he made the right move. With his CD's being played on radiomargaritaville and almost all of the other TropRock radio stations , and performing shows from Key West to Michigan, he has firmly established himself as a major force in TropRock music.


Jack Mosley will perform Friday afternoon at the Tropical Isle (Bourbon / Toulouse) , from 3:00pm-4:30pm 

SOUTHBOUND
Galveston, Texas

Pardi-Gras is pleased to welcome SOUTHBOUND for their first ever appearance at our event. This dynamic duo has been entertaining folks in the Greater Houston / Galveston Bay area for the past several years.  Their high energy show has made them a favorite at parties, poolside venues, and marinas throughout the Upper Texas coast. We are happy to unleash the energy of SOUTHBOUND on the rest of the Trop-Rock circuit. We're sure that you will be inviting them to your next big party or event!

SOUTHBOUND will perform Thursday night at the Tropical Isle (Bourbon / Orleans) upstairs, from 9:00pm-11:00pm 

DENNIS McCAUGHEY
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Pardi-Gras is pleased to welcome Dennis McCaughey for his first ever appearance at our event this year. Along with the trio TROPICAL SOUL, Dennis performs 150 plus shows per year, and another 40 or 50 as a solo artist. These appearances include openings for national artists such as Jimmy Buffett, Scott Kirby, Peter Mayer, Mac McAnally, Club Trini, and Bill "The Sauce Boss" Wharton, St. Somewhere, and have performed with John Frinzi, Doyle Grisham, James "Sunny Jim" White, Tall Paul and Crawdaddy, the Calypso Nuts and Jimmy and the Parrots, among many other Trop Rock artists. Musical collaborations include R. Scott Bryan, who spent five years with the Sheryl Crow Band and who played percussion and produced the Tropical Soul, No Plans At All and We're All Here CDs, and Tina Gullickson, of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. In addition, both Peter Mayer and Doyle Grisham of the Coral Reefer band played on the No Plans At All CD.

For more info about Dennis and his music, please visit his website, at www.tropicalsoul.net

Dennis McCaughey will perform Saturday afternoon at the Tropical Isle (Bourbon / Orleans) , from 12:30pm-2:00pm 

KELLY MCGUIRE
Houston, Texas

This Texas singer has performed at Pardi-Gras several times. Well known throughout the country for his superb songwriting, Kelly is also a much sought-after entertainer, performing both solo shows, and with his band on occasion. He currently has 4 award-winning CD's out, including his most recent, "King of the Island". Pardi-Gras is proud to have Kelly back at our event again this year.

For more info about Kelly and his music, please visit his website, at www.redfishisland.com   

Kelly McGuire will perform Sunday afternoon at the Tropical Isle (Bourbon / Orlans) upstairs, from 2:00pm-5:00pm 

THOM SHEPHERD
Nashville, Tennessee

Pardi-Gras is pleased to welcome back to our event, award-winning singer-songwriter Thom Shepherd. Currently a resident of Nashville, Tennessee, Thom has penned three Number 1 hits, "Riding With Private Malone", "Redneck Yacht Club", and the Texas hit, "Beer Season". Thom performs constantly, and has entertained troops in the Middle East, Alaska, Europe, Iceland, Kosovo, and Greenland for Armed Forces Entertainment. Thom's latest project is the CD "Turning Point", and features 16 tracks, including the crowd pleaser "Djibouti".

For more info about Thom, and his music, please visit his website, at  www.thomshepherd.com 
 

Thom Shepherd will perform Sunday morning at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe, from 9:00am-11:00am 

JIM HOEHN
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Returning to Pardi-Gras 2011 is one of our favorite singer-sngwriters, Jim Hoehn. Hailing from the frozen tundra of Wisconsin, Jim's wit and storytelling always warms the crowds at every event he performs at. A veteran of at least ten Pardi-Gras renditions, Jim has become a fixture on the Friday afternoon schedule. His songs are a part of the fabric of Trop-Rock music, including "Calling in Gone", "Kings of Black Velvet", and "Humanity Night at the Redneck Riviera". Jim has peformed from coast to coast, and frequently opens for nationally-recognized performers in the Milwaukee market. For more informatio about Jim and his music, please visit his website, at www.jimhoehn.com  

Jim Hoehn will perform Friday afternoon at The Tropical Isle (Bourbon / Toulouse) from 4:30pm-6:00pm

JOHN RENO
Fairhope, Alabama

Pardi-Gras 2011 is pleased to welcome back "Mr. Pardi-Gras" himself, John Reno, for his record-breaking 13th appearance at our event. A native of New Orleans, John has performed at Pardi-Gras more than any other act in our brief history of 14 renditions. A superb singer-songwriter, John is also the consummate "live" performer. John weaves his original tunes with covers of your favorite old and new tunes, including songs by many of your favorite "other"  Trop-Rockers. He's travelled and played from coast to coast, and is in high demand for events all over the country. Currently residing in Fairhope, Alabama, John is a regular on the SW Florida scene as well. For more info about John and his music, please visit his website, at www.johnreno.com

John Reno will perform Saturday night at The Gazebo Cafe, from 6:30pm-8:15pm 

HANNA'S REEF
Beaumont, Texas

Pardi-Gras is pleased to welcome Hanna's Reef back to our stage again this year. Hailing from the Texas coast, this high energy band has been playing at events and venues from coast to coast for several years. Their live show includes a mix of their original Trop-Rock, and Texas music, old and new. They have been nominated for Margarita Mafia's  Trop-Rock Band of the Year for three straight years, and their latest album, "Home on The Gulf Coast" was also nominated for CD of the Year. For more info about Hanna's Reef, please visit their website, at www.jerrydiaz.com


Hanna's Reef will perform Saturday afternoon at The Street Party (700 block of Bourbon) from 2:00pm-5:30pm

JERRY DIAZ
Beaumont, Texas

In addition to being your host for Pardi-Gras weekend, singer-songwriter Jerry Diaz will be performing solo on two occasions during our event. Sticking with tradition, Jerry will open the festivities on Thursday evening with a "welcome toast" to all at registration. And again on Sunday afternoon, Jerry will join Kelly McGuire, and James "Sunny Jim" White, for a songwriters-in-the-round show at the Tropical Isle's "Top of the Trop".  Jerry's songwriting career started in the 90's with a band called "Key West - the Band", and continues today with the band "Hanna's Reef". Jerry has performed from coast to coast, but is happy to call that area of the Gulf Coast from Corpus Chrisiti to New Orleans, "home". For more info about Jerry, please visit his website at www.jerrydiaz.com


Jerry Diaz will perform Thursday evening at the St. Ann Room (Bourbon Orleans hotel) from 6:30pm-7:00pm, and again Sunday afrternoon, upstairs at the Tropical Isle (Bourbon / Orleans) from 2:00pm-5:00pm 

As the official entertainer for the Towns Around Biloxi Parrot Head Club, Rain Jaudon has been a long standing favorite with Parrotheads and folks all across the Gulf Coast. Rain has a wide range of influences including Don McClean, Jimmy Buffett, Jim Croce, Sam Cooke, and Louisiana songwriter Johnny O'Neal. Rain's overall theme of refreshing past experiences and creating new ones has struck a chord with diverse audiences of all ages. To learn more about Rhythm & Rain please visit their website www.rainontheinternet.com

Rhythm & Rain will perform at the Tropical Isle on Bourbon & Toulouse from 7:00-9:00PM on Sunday, January 16

"Monte Tolar's Pirate Toast"

Monte Tolar's Pirate Toast first started back in 2004. as a way to summon the spirit of the pirate Jean Lafitte. We appointed our own pirate Monte Tolar to head up this daunting project, and named the event after him in the process. The event has continued ever since, even in the year 2007, when Monte was away in Iraq, serving our country. In his absence, fellow privateers Earl Sanders, Don Walker, Frank McInvale, John Reno, and Brian Watson stepped up to carry on the tradition. Monte has once again asked his fellow pirates to carry on the tradition, while he watches over us from Heaven. This year's toast will be the most special ever, as we summon the spirit of both Jean Lafitte, and Monte. We are permanently moving the Toast to an earlier time, so that more folks can participate in it, as we gather in the courtyard of Lafitte's Blacksmith Shoppe.

"Monte Tolar's Pirate Toast" happens at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shoppe on Bourbon Street on Friday, Jan. 14, from 8:45pm - 9:00pm. 

The Radio Margaritaville Happy Hour happens at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe on Thursday , Jan. 14, from 3pm - 6pm.