Mardi Gras Unmasked: New Orleans Comes to Life at Mannie Fresh's Lundi Gras Party 2024

Welcome to Mardi Gras Unmasked, a multi-part series exploring the cultures beneath New Orleans and Mardi Gras culture, celebrating The Big Easy's artistic, musical and culinary heritage and – most importantly – the people who keep the culture alive. Presented by Rolling Stone in association with KOOL, each story showcases aspects of the New Orleans community that, together, weave the tapestry of Mardi Gras.

As part of this year's Mardi Gras week, Rolling Stone and KOOL teamed up with New Orleans local and hip-hop icon Mannie Fresh to host the annual Lundi Gras celebration at The Maison, right in the heart of the French Quarter. Featuring live performances from Mannie himself and an impressive lineup including the Ying Yang Twins and 2 Live Crew, Mannie Fresh's Lundi Gras Party 2024 brought the house down ahead of this year's Fat Tuesday.

A quintessential celebration of New Orleans' heritage and musical culture, Mannie Fresh's Lundi Gras parties have become an institution. Speaking to Rolling Stone, he says, “I've been doing my Lundi Gras party for maybe 10, 11 years. It just started out of love for the city and then it grew into a must-have for the city – and I must have it!”

“It's a tradition. This is the legacy of New Orleans,” he adds.

The event itself was not only the perfect way to kick off a week of cultural revelry, but also served as the end of the journey for the Mardi Gras Unmasked initiative. Attendees included locals previously featured in the series, such as Black Masking Indian Charles DuVernay and sommelier and tastemaker Uznea Bauer.

DuVernay himself took to the dance floor to show attendees how he did it while fully dressed in his own hand-made Mardi Gras costume, as well as performing with his tribe, The Monogram Hunters, for a traditional music performance and song ceremony upstairs Maison floor. .

For more stories about the cultural tapestry of Mardi Gras, check out his previous entries Mardi Gras Unmasked or visit COOL online (age restrictions apply).