With Sailfest music, Crescent City meets Whaling City

The musical connection between Sailfest and New Orleans is slowly growing into what might be called A Tradition. Some years back, the Rebirth Brass Band headlined, and shortly after that, the Iguanas held down a prime Friday evening slot. Any or all who saw those sets classify them as immortal in the long and respectable history of Sailfest tunes.

This year, for the coveted Sunday afternoon primetime show at 4:30 p.m. on the Custom House stage, Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk are booked.

I could go into the individual musicians' pedigrees - yes, Ivan's from that Neville family - but just trust me: this is celebratory New Orleans funk in the glorious tradition of the Meters, Galactic, Professor Longhair and the Wild Tchoupitoulas, and they will definitively blow your minds.

Of course, there are three days of bands on three stages - the City Pier, Custom House and Hygienic Art Park stages, as well as the Friday's Shoreline Acoustic Music performances at New London's All Souls Universalist Church - and here are some highlight sets to consider.

FRIDAY: The Hoolios (5 p.m. Custom House); Matt Gouette (8 p.m. New London Rocks Stage on City Pier); John Fries (9:20 p.m. All Souls); The Hempsteadys (10 p.m. New London Rocks Stage on City Pier).

SATURDAY: The Rivergods (1:30 p.m. Hygienic Art Park); Natalie Gelman (3 p.m. Custom House); Hey Mama (4 p.m. Hygienic Art Park); Jacob Heal (4:30 p.m. Custom House); Sue Menhart (7:20 p.m. Custom House); The Reducers (8 p.m. Custom House).

SUNDAY: Bruce McDermott & Friends (2:20 p.m. Hygienic Art Park); Ivan Neville & Dumpstaphunk (4:30 p.m. Custom House).

For a complete schedule of Sailfest Music, go to sailfest.org.

- Rick Koster