Despite the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, The stricken city has been welcoming all back to the "City that Care Forgot" for Mardi Gras 2006 -- they have again opened their arms with Southern hospitality to everyone who loves New Orleans! This year's Mardi Gras takes on even more importance because the city must let the world know that New Orleans is still alive While many of its citizens are still trying to get their lives back to some normalcy, they are surviving from Hurricane Katrina and there spirit is enduring this tragedy please help.

Legend Mem Shannon and his band headlines The Highlands New Orleans Benefit at Hootananny in Inverness on 2 April  2006. Tickets only £5. Acts agreeing to play include Joost, Scott McDonald, Mama’s Brand New Bag, The Andy Gunn Band, Mojo Walk, Davy Cowan, Andy Murray, Eaglesham & Cowley, Craig Anderson

Full Line up here www.medicinemusic.co.uk

Just announced: Mem receives TWO 2006 Blues Music Awards nominations (formerly the WC Handy Awards) 

Medicine Music is joining with Hootananny and the roots music fraternity of the Highlands to stage a wonderful night of music to directly benefit the decimated music fraternity of New Orleans by supporting the proactive Tipitina’s Foundation http://www.tipitinasfoundation.org/  . Tickets are only £5 secure them now all the money taken will go directly to The Tipitina’s Foundation.

The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans has been catastrophic across the spectrum of Life in this melting pot of Music. It has been felt particularly severely by the poor and possibly more devastatingly to the Musicians of New Orleans, a community of people to who the world owes such a great dept of music and inspiration. Many have not only lost their livelihood but also their homes and instruments. People have been lost and many of those left alive find them selves destitute. Medicine Music is supporting the work of The Tipitinas Foundation in their efforts to rehabilitate the Music Community and eventually restore The New Orleans Music Scene to its former glory 

There are still opportunities for artists to participate on the night, phone Rob Ellen 01349 864432 or email rob@medicinemusic.co.uk

There’s the entire New Orleans musical tradition, and then there’s Mem Shannon. Clean, simple but transcending genres, he channels the spirits that inspired Fats Domino, Prof. Longhair, the Funky Meters and The Neville Brothers. I’m From Phunkville is the fifth album by a man whose day job was his night gig. For 15 years starting at age 22 he drove a cab in the heart of New Orleans ’ French Quarter from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. “I learned to read people pretty quickly,” says Mem. “When you’re in a cab, that’s something you just happen to learn along the way. You learn how to size people up in their different degrees of sobriety, and it all applies to everything I’ve done since then. I’m still watching and learning from people.”

At Tipitina’s 8th floor studios in the centre of the most musically alive city in America , Mem captured the spirit of New Orleans funk with its pungent soul, hot salt water rhythms and deep revelations of the heart. Such influences are the cornerstone of I’m From Phunkville, Mem’s first completely self-produced CD. Only Mem could produce a slice-of-life that features his barber and longtime friend A. C. Gayden, Jr. on guitar on the same record with percussionist Billy Martin from Medeski Martin & Wood supported by Mem’s own band The Membership. He takes extreme liberties with the concept of groove. Can a groove be beautiful? Can it let a melody breathe and support a rich baritone voice singing lyrics snatched from life to cover a song like hot chocolate on sorbet? Can his barbed wire and Vaseline guitar runs lift the listener? Mem does just that on I’m From Phunkville. “I’ve learned to listen for clarity,” says the New Orleans veteran singer/songwriter about his role as his own producer. “You can have a big cluster of instruments, but if they’re blocking the main focal point, the voice of the particular soloing instrument, you’ve got to correct the levels – I learned that from working with Grammy Award-winning producer Dennis Walker on two of my albums.” 

Until the recent devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Tipitina's Foundation has devoted its efforts to uplifting the New Orleans music community through its Music Co-op Office, Instruments A-Comin' benefit concerts and the Tipitina's Internship Program. That mission has changed, They now fight to save and rebuild their community. They are currently finding musicians housing and instruments while they raise funds through donations and worldwide benefit concerts to meet the challenges facing The New Orleans Music community in the coming weeks and months.