New Orleans Music Walking Tour

Historic New Orleans Tours • 740 N Rampart St • New Orleans, LA 70116

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A brass band in uniform marches down a crowded street lined with people and historic buildings at sunset.

Entryway floor with a circular “J&M Music Shop” sign in front of double green doors.

Bronze statue of three jazz musicians playing instruments, with colorful mosaic inlays, stands on a sidewalk near a park and bridge under a clear blue sky.

A street band in red shirts plays brass instruments while people dance and walk beside them during a daytime outdoor parade.

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New Orleans Music Tour Admission Info

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About New Orleans Music Walking Tour

Overview

This guided New Orleans music tour explores the city's deep musical roots, from Congo Square to Storyville. Visit historic landmarks like Preservation Hall, the New Orleans Musicians Tomb, and J&M Studios while uncovering the stories of jazz, blues, bounce, and the legends behind them.

up to 2 hrs 1 to 90 people

Good To Know

Visit iconic spots like Treme, Storyville, and Preservation Hall.
Explore Congo Square at Louis Armstrong Park, music’s birthplace.
See J&M Studios, birthplace of the legendary "New Orleans Sound."
Stop at the Musicians Tomb in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.
Learn about jazz, R&B, and bounce music from a local expert.
Stroll past Basin Street Station and Quinn Early's Saloon.
Tour lasts approximately 2 hours, rain or shine.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring an umbrella or sun protection.

Promotional Images (10)

A historical marker at Congo Square in New Orleans describes its significance in African American cultural history and traditions dating back to the 18th century.

A marching band in white shirts and black hats plays instruments on a city street under a sunny sky, with buildings and traffic lights visible in the background.

A circular label for J&M Recording Studios in New Orleans, LA, featuring checkboxes for recording speeds and details, with brown and yellow color blocks.

A woman pushes a stroller past a weathered, shuttered building with faded paint between two brightly colored buildings on a sunny street.

Black and white photo of a large, multi-story opera house on a street corner, featuring arched windows, columns, and a balcony. The street appears empty.

Description

Discover the roots of New Orleans music on this 2-hour walking tour. Begin in Louis Armstrong Park at Congo Square, the historic gathering place where enslaved Africans preserved West African rhythms and rituals—the foundation of all New Orleans music and the birthplace of the city’s cultural legacy.

See the former site of J&M Studios, where Cosimo Matassa recorded the “New Orleans Sound” with legends like Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, and Little Richard, earning its reputation as the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll.

From outside St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, learn about the New Orleans Musicians Tomb, donated by the Barbarin family for free burial to local musicians.

Walk to Basin Street Station and explore the former Storyville district, including the site of Frank Early’s “My Place” Saloon, tied to early jazz pioneers such as King Oliver, Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, and Sidney Bechet.

Continue through the historic Tango Belt to May Bailey’s and the site of the Old French Opera House before ending at Preservation Hall, a living symbol of New Orleans’ musical past and present. Along the way, learn about the origins of bounce music and the city’s vibrant street-performance culture.

New Orleans Music Walking Tour is located at Historic New Orleans Tours • 740 N Rampart St • New Orleans, LA 70116

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Frequently Asked Questions about New Orleans Music Walking Tour

Where does the tour meet?

You will meet your tour guide at the Rampart Treehouse at 740 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, next to Louis Armstrong Park. The tour ends at Preservation Hall (726 St. Peter Street).

How long is this walking tour?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours, covering key musical landmarks.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes, children are welcome; content is family-friendly with engaging storytelling.

What should I bring on the tour?

Comfortable shoes are essential. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat, a camera, and a raincoat or umbrella depending on the weather. The tour runs rain or shine.