Tuesday Artist Spotlight: An Interview with Anders Osborne (performing Republic NOLA 4/28 – 4/30)

At the young age of sixteen, guitar prodigy Anders Osborne left his childhood home in Sweden to hitchhike across the globe with guitar in hand to play music and take the world head on. 34 years later and the prolific musician has released 15 studio albums, co-written Grammy Award winning music, and has developed a reputation as one of New Orlean’s finest musicians.

As a Big Easy resident and staple of the local music scene, Anders Osborne has performed on several stages at several New Orleans Jazz Fests. For this year’s festival, which is less than a week away, Anders is slated to perform on Friday, May 5th at 3:35pm sharp in the Fairgrounds. But as an active member of the NOLA music community, Anders is not limiting himself to just one performance during the two week extravaganza of music and culture.

In the 6th Annual Nolafunk Series During Jazz Fest, Anders Osborne is one of the most active musicians performing in the after-hours concert schedule. During the first weekend of Jazz Fest on Friday, April 28th, Anders is performing a 10pm show at Republic NOLA with N.M.O. (North Mississippi Osborne), a band comprised of the North Mississippi Allstars and Anders Osborne that performs both NMA and Anders music. Tickets to this show, which N.M.O. is co-headlining with Grammy-nominated blues rock band The Record Company, can be purchased here.

One night later at the same venue, Anders kicks off a two-night run with Dead Feat, a supergroup comprised of Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat, John Kadlecik of Furthur, Jackie Greene, Anders Osborne, Brady Blade and Dufrene. Dead Feat is a rare show, and the band’s sets features the music of Little Feat, the Grateful Dead, Anders Osborne, and more. Tickets for the April 29th Dead Feat show with Midnight North featuring Grahame Lesh can purchased here, and tickets for the April 30th show with Vince Herman & Friends can be purchased here.

Ahead of Jazz Fest, I had the special opportunity to catch up with Anders to discuss his year so far and the two projects he’s showcasing in New Orleans this weekend. More information about all shows in the 6th Annual Nolafunk Series During Jazz Fest can be found here.

CEG: Hey Anders – thanks for taking some time here to catch up with us. To kick things off – tell us about your year so far. Over the past five or so months, what live show or memory from the studio has stuck with you the most?

Anders Osborne: It’s been great! Tons of work. Been on the bus since the first week of January. All the shows have been exciting and inspiring! Great crowds. A stand out moment, I’d have to say me tearing up at The Pageant in St Louis, MO and The Orpheum in NOLA, as well as the band’s performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco and our birthday dinner in Winnemucca, NV for Jimmy Barre, our bus driver.

CEG: Looking ahead, you’re slated to grace several stages in New Orleans during Jazz Fest, both inside and outside the main Fairgrounds. On Friday 4/28, you’re performing with the North Mississippi Allstars as your collaborative project, N.M.O. (North Mississippi Osborne). Tell us about N.M.O. and how it came to be. What sort of live experience can fans who haven’t already seen N.M.O. expect on the 28th?

Anders Osborne: Luther and I love playing together so we thought a band with Cody and a couple of my guys would be an interesting mix. The music is a folky, funky and groovy amalgamation.

CEG: After performing with N.M.O., you have a two-night run on Saturday 4/29 and Sunday 4/30 with a different project, Dead Feat, which features yourself, Jackie Greene, John Kadlecik, Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett of Little Feat, Brady Blade, and Carl Dufrene. What is like performing with Dead Feat and this all star lineup?

Anders Osborne: It’s always very exciting! Paul and Fred are two of my musical heroes/mentors. It also gives me a chance to play a bunch of cover tunes like old school New Orleans music and stretched out Dead and Feat songs. It’s A rare and happy gig.

CEG: Is there an artist or band you’re excited to see during this year’s Jazz Fest?

Anders Osborne: I honestly have not had time to check out the schedule yet. But all things New Orleans and Louisiana will be badass! So, go see any of that.