[Judy Patsch]

Connie Jones, who has led bands on the DQ and MQ over the years, is one of three featured musicians on this year's French Quarter Festival poster.
French Quarter Festival reveals poster, additional stages for 2011 | NOLA.com
That is of course Pete Fountain front and center, and Tim Laughlin, who played on the NATCHEZ frequently early in his career. Connie has the honor every year of kicking off the Festival in Jackson Square with his Connie Jones and the All Stars Band. It is a well-deserved honor. If you like music of all types, and New Orleans food, the French Quarter Festival is a great deal - its free and food is sold for nominal prices at the venues at Jackson Square and Woldenberg Riverfront Park. It is much more sane than the Jazz Fest huge crowds at the Fairgrounds at the end of April, but be aware that FQ hotels of all sizes sell out quickly.
Of course, you can see that the NATCHEZ is prominent on the poster too, as she should be, with the Dukes of Dixieland being her house band for the dinner cruises.