The Pontchartrain Shakers are a jazz-influenced American roots blues band featuring two well-versed local founding members, Amedee Frederick and Jojjo Wight. The goal of the Pontchartrain Shakers is not only great music, but philanthropic outreach as well. June gigs included the American Legion in Slidell and the opening of Camp N.O.R.A.
Upcoming gigs include Columbia Street Rock N Blues Cafe July 11th, Summer Music Series at Susan’s on Columbia July 21st, Navonathon II also July 21st The Pontchartrain Shakers are sponsored by Abita Dental Care Dr. Steve Pfingsten DDS, St. Tammany Needs An Aquarium and Big Easy Comics for Navonathon II. Coscino’s Pizza on July 22nd features an open jam inviting kids!
Jojjo Wight began playing Bourbon Street at the age of 12 with her dad’s band at Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub, then began playing across the country, recording with Charlie DeDore in 2014. Jojjo has played 18 years in a row at French Quarter Fest as well as venues such as Preservation Hall and The Dew Drop Inn. Jojjo is a music teacher of 20 years, and she is looking forward to a Music Business lecture she will instruct in the fall of 2018 at Southeastern Louisiana University.
Amedee Frederick’s first stage appearance was at the tender age of 3 at Gibson Street Bar in Covington, alongside his father Amedee “The Creole Man” Frederick, the recently deceased Rev. Goat and none other than “The Night Tripper” Dr. John.
Amedee “A5” Frederick began gigging with the Creole Man at the age of 11, playing Ruby’s Roadhouse. Port Orleans followed shortly thereafter as his first Bourbon Street appearance, and he is a Jazz Fest regular for the past six years.
Amedee has shared the stage with New Orleans music royalty such as Ernie K-Doe, Jesse Hill, James Monque’D, Marvin Wright, Gatemouth Brown, Charmaine Neville, Art Nevill, George Porter, Tab Benoit, Rockin’ Dopsie, Irma Thomas and many more.
Jojjo and Amedee both attended Fontainebleau High together, and both played trumpet. They went their separate ways from high school, reuniting musically a few years back at the Gray Hawk benefit show at Columbia Street Rock N Blues Cafe.
After some time reconnecting outside of the music realm, and after teaming up at Wharton’s Green Room Open Blues Jam, they decided to put together The Pontchartrain Shakers. They will be in Tallahassee in October, at the Columbia Theater in Hammond for Hot August Night and Falaya Fest at the Bogue Falaya Park in Covington in November. Look for them at upcoming Sunset at the Landing shows and also at the Covington Farmer’s Market. You can visit them online at pontchartrainshakers.com where you will find info on upcoming shows, endorsements and more details about the band and the players.
