Down on Oak Street lies a true New Orleans music venue. Originally a chess and music club, the Maple Leaf is the place to go if you are craving funky, New Orleans music that sometimes does not cease until sunrise.
Located Uptown in the Carrollton neighborhood, the Maple Leaf is one of New Orleans oldest, continuously operating music clubs.
It is a medium-sized venue and is mostly packed by 11 p.m. on most nights. The cover for the evening can be roughly $5 to $10. Smoking is allowed at the Maple Leaf and there is a great patio in the back to catch some breeze. The stage is against the window facing the street and it is not uncommon for the crowd to spill onto the sidewalk and street to dance.
Musical styles represented include blues, funk, R&B, rock, zydeco, jazz, jam bands and any combination thereof, hosting both local performers and touring national acts.
Frequent performers at the Maple Leaf have included local legends: James Booker, the Rebirth Brass Band, Papa Grows Funk, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, “Money Mike” Armstrong, The Radiators and Henry Butler.
Bruce Springsteen once dropped in for a jam session with The Iguanas and his frequent employer, Bonnie Raitt, once joined Jon Cleary’s band.
The Leaf, as it is sometimes referred, is important for the city’s many up-and-coming bands formed from the ranks of local musicians and music students at Loyola University.
The Maple Leaf is worth hanging out at even if you are not concerned with who is playing on a particular night. With its proximity to the Loyola University and Tulane University, students should go to the Maple Leaf to party and have a good time.
Carl Harrison be reached at
