Carnegie Carnegie Corner: The flavor of Mardi Gras in our own backyard

For many, Mardi Gras season is a time to get a little wild, enjoy some of life’s indulgences and revel in the music, parades and excitement of New Orleans.

If you haven’t booked your flight yet, don’t worry. The Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall is bringing a bit of New Orleans to you.

On Feb. 22, the fabulous Red Beans & Rice Combo return to the Studio downstairs to celebrate the last weekend of Carnival Season in style. They’ll be serving up a great mix of New Orleans R&B and Mardi Gras tunes. There will be plenty of room to dance, light snacks, beverages by donation, and attendees are encouraged to don purple, green, and gold — there will be a prize for best dressed.

The Red Beans & Rice Combo describe themselves as serious musicians who don’t take themselves too seriously. The trio features internationally celebrated stride pianist, Tom Roberts on keyboard, whistling and vocals. He specializes in all things early jazz piano and he’s played everywhere from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Carnegie’s Carnegie Hall and the French Quarter, and from the Tonight Show to the silver screen. The one and only, Wayno® delivers wit and humor as the group’s frontman on vocals, harmonica and ukulele. Wayno® is a Pittsburgh-based illustrator, pop artist, writer, musician and cartoonist for the internationally syndicated comic, Bizzarro. Carnegie’s own illustrator-musician, Dave Klug, plays the drums and his custom built “Kluger Soundboard.” (Dave and his wife, Pat, recently opened Double Dog Studios on Second Avenue in Carnegie.) The three have a lot of fun together and it makes for a really enjoyable evening at the Carnegie Carnegie.

The concert will take place in our Studio (home to our monthly concert series, Listen Locally Downstairs) not to be confused with our other performance space, the acoustically pristine Music Hall (modeled after Carnegie Hall in New York). Each space offers a unique experience. The Hall with its grand proscenium and intimate auditorium is ideal for acoustic or lightly plugged concerts while the informal Studio brings you even closer to the music.

Audiences have been loving the Studio since Listen Locally Downstairs began in 2017, but the room’s boomy acoustics proved to be a challenge. With the help of an anonymous donor, we’ve enhanced the sound quality in our industrial, hipster chic, gymnasium turned multi-purpose space with a full acoustic treatment. Both performance spaces are now designed for a great listening experience. This performance will be the first concert in our newly improved Studio; we invite you to check it out for yourself. Visitors will also see some serious upgrades to our Studio entrance.

We encourage you to secure your tickets early. The Red Beans & Rice Combo’s Studio concert sold out quickly in 2018.

Doors Open at 7:30 p.m., with the concert beginning at 8.

Tickets cost $15 advance, or $20 at the door

For tickets, visit CarnegieCarnegie.org or call 1-800-838-3006.