With New Orleans 1,200 miles away from Buffalo (and Buffalo weather generally a few degrees away from New Orleans’) it can be tricky to get into full Mardi Gras mode when Fat Tuesday rolls around. Helping to bring this year’s celebration to life is the Big Easy in Buffalo’s Mardi Gras Jam. Get into the spirit with over six hours of music featuring a variety of New Orleans funk. The artists include the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, a modern New Orleans brass band whose music is infused with everything from R&B to hip-hop to reggae, and Papa Grows Funk, who, though not from New Orleans might as well be, since they are a funky band that takes their styling directly from Mardi Gras tradition. Joe Krown, who was featured at the beginning of the Big Easy in Buffalo series, returns as a performer who “wowed” the crowd back in April with his solo piano performance. He’s sure to stun the crowd with a set featuring jazz, funk and swing. Respected New Orleans musicians Cyril Neville, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and Papa Mali will play with Terence Higgins and Julius McKee in what is sure to be a blast straight out of Louisiana. Also on the bill is Buffalo’s own Great Train Robbery, as well the winner of the Big Easy series’ virtual battle of the bands, the Kenmore East High School Jazz Band. Proceeds help buy instruments for Buffalo and Niagara Falls public schools, and if the music and the help to the students of the region isn’t enough of a draw, authentic Louisiana food specials by Chef Dale Holt—who trained in New Orleans—should make this event the best way to prep yourself for the beads and beer of the upcoming Mardi Gras mayhem.

CD release show with Victory Light Black Honey, the Missing Planes and Hussalonia

Hometown favorite Noa Bursie will be celebrating the release of her second CD entitled Familiar Addiction in fine style this Saturday night. Bursie, who became recognized as one of the area’s most talented songwriters with the 2005 release of her first CD TalkStory, again displays a keen lyrical ear as she delivers a dozen new originals that highlight her distinctively engaging voice. Steeped in jazz, folk and blues, her roots hearken back to the gut-bucket music played by her maternal grandfather in the 1930s and 40s. But her style is decidedly more contemporary, in the vein of Joni Mitchell or India.Arie. Credit for that must start with her uniquely elegant guitar style and her top notch backing musicians, including John Bacon Jr., Emile Latimer, Mary Ramsey and Ken Kaufman. On the strength of a number of high-profile opening slots over the past year, Bursie has been collecting rave reviews while expanding her number of dedicated fans. For the already converted, this show is an opportunity to hear her on a very special night. For the uninitiated, it’s a chance to discover a major talent here in our midst.

Ever heard of paczki? Maybe not by that name, but almost everyone has eaten a jelly-filled dougnut, which is basically what paczki is. Paczki Day/Candlemass celebrations will be held on February 2 and 3 at the Adam Mickiewicz Library and Dramatic Circle and at the Hearthstone Manor, respectively. This Polish celebration is the last hurrah before the start of the Lenten season. Traditionally, sweet and rich foods were forbidden during Lent, so extra fruit, sugar and eggs that needed to be disposed of were made into the delicious, fruit-filled doughnuts known as paczki. At the Mickiewicz Library festivities will kick off with a presentation on the customs and cooking associated with Carnival time in Poland. The event at the Hearthstone Manor on Sunday is hosted by Western New York’s Polish Heritage Dancers. You can dance your favorite polkas, eat authentic Polish cuisine, and drink some Polish beer. Paczki Day is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of Western New York’s Polish heritage—and on that note, volunteers and participants are needed for the Dyngus Day Parade on March 24. If you have fun on Paczki Day, be sure to visit dyngusdaybuffalo.com to find out more.