To some it may seem unlikely that this classic honkytonk band calls New Orleans home. To others who’ve heard them it may come as no surprise that they flourish in a town where tradition in every genre is paid respect with high caliber musicianship.

Since their inception the band has been led by the captivating Vanessa Niemann, an attractive songbird armed with powerhouse vocals and serious songwriting. Since leaving behind her childhood days of running barefoot with a tambourine in the Appalachians, Vanessa keeps true to her mountain roots in the swamps of NewOrleans with her no-nonsense sound--albeit with a few more tattoos and better footwear.

The band keeps their country cadence with bass player and music director David Brouillette, once a small-town Louisiana boy whose first start in the music industry began with lobbying a local pizza parlor to let him play and promote shows on Saturday nights. Though his days in rural Louisiana are long gone, like Vanessa, Dave also stays true to his roots with his characteristic honkytonk-style rhythm that keeps the crowds dancing.

Armed with these real-life backgrounds, Vanessa and Dave have made Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue a vehicle to keep country dancehall culture alive while paying homage to classic honky tonk greats such as Hank Williams, Connie Smith and Webb Pierce. Their journey of almost a decade continues to evolve throughtheir original compositions which dominate their most recent release, Lastto Leave.

Lastto Leave istheir third album, funded by fan support and hard work. This grass rootsspirit--combined with quality musicianship--have earned them the Big Easy Award(2008, 2009) and the Best of the Beat Award (2010). They’ve also placed thirdon the FAR Charts (Freeform American Roots Music) and top 100 on the AMA Charts(Americana Airplay, Americana Music Association).

Lastto Leave will bereleased for the first time nationally at the 2014 New Orleans Jazz &Heritage Festival, where the band will open for Lyle Lovett. They also lookforward to their first international tour in Germany in August. But you’llstill find them playing at various local haunts where you can buy a$2.50 beerand dance a honky tonk twostep.

Keepingalive a purely American musical genre deserving of tribute, with both theirinterpretations of classic country and original compositions of real lifestories, Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue are not to be missed.