Tag: musicians

  • Interview with The Chickadees, young songbirds from Shreveport

    Interview with The Chickadees, young songbirds from Shreveport

    Meet the Chickadees, a trio of young musicians from Shreveport, Louisiana! These sensational ten-year-olds – Posy Harper, Evie Desobry and Ellie Spero – are a breath of fresh air to the local music scene with their infectious energy and impressive talent. Guided by their dedicated teacher, Miss Sandra Odom, the Chickadees are singing and strumming their way into the hearts of audiences.

    [Katy: I first met the Chickadees at the gravesite of Huddie Ledbetter at our annual Lead Belly Graveside Jam in October 2024, and I’ve been following their band since then. Watch their performance of “Cottonfields” here!)]

    The kids met at school (A.C. Steere) and were all music students studying under Sandra, and the band came together naturally. All play ukulele, but each member brings a unique flair to the project. Posy also plays bass, while Evie plays banjolini, which she likes for its distinct twang. Ellie has delightful stage presence and brings a yodeling twist to the group. Her rendition of “Lovesick Blues” is a showstopper!

    The Chickadees’ set list is a sweet mix of timeless classics and contemporary hits. They perform a lot of Louisiana crowd pleasers (“Jambalaya,” “Louisiana Saturday Night”) as well as new songs by artists such as Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves. In the interview, each singer talks about why she picks a certain song to take lead on.

    Watch Evie Desobry performing her solo, Emmylou

    Watch Posy Harper performing her solo, Best Day

    Despite their young age, these songbirds are seasoned performers, enchanting audiences at various venues and events around north Louisiana.

    The Chickadees are enjoying their friendship through music — practice sessions double as fun playdates and sometimes even roll into sleepovers!

    For other young aspiring musicians, the Chickadees have some advice: pick an instrument you love, find a supportive teacher, and practice, practice, practice until you hit those high notes!

    Thank you, Miss Sandra and The Chickadees for sharing your talent with Confetti Park.

    Four musical friends in front of a red brick wall
    The Chickadees of Shreveport, La. feature (L-R) Ellie Spero, Posy Harper, and Evie Desobry. Their music teacher is Sandra Odom.

    Confetti Park is supported by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation and Music Rising at Tulane University.

  • If Ever I Cease to Love by AJ Loria & the Confetti Park Players

    If Ever I Cease to Love by AJ Loria & the Confetti Park Players

    It’s January 6… Twelfth Night! Officially Carnival Season!

    To celebrate, the Confetti Park Players have created this very special video to share with you. Here, they perform “If Ever I Cease to Love” with the great A.J. Loria, King Nino, a.k.a. the Louisiana Lounge Lizard.

    “If Ever I Cease to Love” is the royal anthem of Rex. It’s a song that has all kinds of pomp and circumstance despite it’s silly lyrics!

    If I ever cease to love
    If I ever cease to love
    May the moon be turned into green cheese
    If I ever cease to love.

    One of the best versions out there is AJ Loria’s, as it appeared on his album It’s A Mardi Gras World.  The Confetti Park Players are honored to perform it here with him. This was recorded at Word of Mouth Recording Studio in Algiers Point in 2015. The parade footage is from the 2015 Krewe of Confetti Kids Mardi Gras parade in Algiers Point.

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    The Confetti Park Players is an all-ages children’s chorus in New Orleans, Louisiana. Our home base is in Algiers, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Led by songwriter Katy Hobgood Ray, the Confetti Park Players meet weekly to sing, make rhythms, learn traditional New Orleans songs, and practice the craft of songwriting. The songs we sing are a mixture of fun and whimsical originals by contemporary Louisiana songwriters, classic folk songs, nursery rhymes, jump rope jingles, fairy tales, and natural lore. Our first album, We’re Going to Confetti Park!, was released in November 2015. Learn more at https://confettipark.com/music/

  • If Ever I Cease to Love by AJ Loria & the Confetti Park Players

    If Ever I Cease to Love by AJ Loria & the Confetti Park Players

    It’s January 6… Twelfth Night! Officially Carnival Season!

    To celebrate, the Confetti Park Players have created this very special video to share with you. Here, they perform “If Ever I Cease to Love” with the great A.J. Loria, King Nino, a.k.a. the Louisiana Lounge Lizard.

    “If Ever I Cease to Love” is the royal anthem of Rex. It’s a song that has all kinds of pomp and circumstance despite it’s silly lyrics!

    If I ever cease to love
    If I ever cease to love
    May the moon be turned into green cheese
    If I ever cease to love.

    One of the best versions out there is AJ Loria’s, as it appeared on his album It’s A Mardi Gras World.  The Confetti Park Players are honored to perform it here with him. This was recorded at Word of Mouth Recording Studio in Algiers Point in 2015. The parade footage is from the 2015 Krewe of Confetti Kids Mardi Gras parade in Algiers Point.

    _____

    The Confetti Park Players is an all-ages children’s chorus in New Orleans, Louisiana. Our home base is in Algiers, on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. Led by songwriter Katy Hobgood Ray, the Confetti Park Players meet weekly to sing, make rhythms, learn traditional New Orleans songs, and practice the craft of songwriting. The songs we sing are a mixture of fun and whimsical originals by contemporary Louisiana songwriters, classic folk songs, nursery rhymes, jump rope jingles, fairy tales, and natural lore. Our first album, We’re Going to Confetti Park!, was released in November 2015. Learn more at https://confettipark.com/music/