Preservation Hall

In the heart of the French Quarter, on St Peter Street, is the unimaginatively named Preservation Hall. It also looks quite undistinguished from the outside, even a bit decrepit. But all this perhaps adds to the incredible gravitas of the place. Established in 1961, it was set up as a non-profit outfit to preserve the New Orleans’ style of jazz. It also has its own band, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which tours and has a record label. But the highlight of the place are the three one-hour shows every night during which the band plays a rollicking set of Jazz numbers, both old and new, and has the audience in thrall. Such is the place’s identity that it doesn’t even bother with air conditioning or refreshments, and yet it attracts fans by droves every night.