Thirty years, fifteen albums, two Grammy Awards, pioneer podcasts and a side helping of certified gold children’s music records? This must be They Might Be Giants.

It's not often that New Orleans is the talk of Utah, or even mentioned in the state that Mormons built. But such is the rarified air way up above the Earth in Park City, home to this week's Sundance Film Festival. Beasts of the Southern Wild, which was shot down da bayou, made by a NOLA-based filmmaker and stars the man responsible for those soul-cleansing Buttermilk Drops in the 7th Ward, is the talk of the ski town-turned-indie film polestar. The New York Times even called the movie "the standout of this year’s Sundance and among the best films to play at the festival in two decades." When do we get to see it, guys? (UPDATE: The film took home the fest's top prize) Coverage from Utah: NYT LAT The Atlantic

CBD - OffBeat Magazine pulled out all the stops Friday night for their annual Best of the Beat Awards. The event at Generations Hall was a veritable who’s who of the NOLA music scene: Dr. John, George Porter Jr., Trombone Shorty, Big Freedia, and too many Nevilles to count mingled on crimson carpets and stepdowns at NOLA’s answer to the Grammys.

by Shay Sokol

MID-CITY - Mayor Mitch is already on the record as a singer, but today he revealed another key to his soulful side: a turn on the trumpet. Da Mayor and Trombone Shorty made a surprise appearance at a Warren Easton High School pep rally this afternoon to drop off 200 professional-level trumpets and trombones for the school. At about 2:45 p.m., while school brass were reading the current honor roll, Landrieu and Shorty entered the school's gym fronting a brass band.

Time in New Orleans music is usually not marked by CD releases, but in the few short years since 2009's No Place Like Home, the Soul Rebels have gone from the old standby of Les Bon Temps Roule to the latest New Orleans exports who can't make it home every week for their standing gig. Tomorrow night, the brass band voted most likely to play a metal riff will release their latest CD, Unlock Your Mind, at Tipitina's. Then, they'll be out on the road with Galactic, and that will be the last we see them for months - save a two-night stand to celebrate Mardi Gras.

NOLA's favorite hip-hop impressario is one y'at who appears to have gotten over the Saints' sorry ending. Instead of sinking into a barstool, and complaining about Greg Williams, Birdman is looking forward to the SuperBowl... and putting his money, five million dollars of it, where his mouth his.

As promised, Big Freedia played Jimmy Kimmel last night, and there was no holding back. Closeups of clockwise posteriors were in heavy supply for the national audience as the Queen Diva tore through "Excuse" and "Na Who Mad." Backed by a legion of twerking stiffs and dressed in a zebra one-piece, Freedia seems to have worked to ensure that some measure of what happens in New Orleans made it to the L.A. stage. Click through to watch:

Set your TiVo to azz. Big Freedia is set to show Bounce to the part of the country that still watches late night talk shows. Either proving or incinerating the idea that after more than 20 years the rest of the country is ready for Bounce, The Queen Diva will play on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, which starts around 11 p.m. CST. Today also happens to be the day that Big Freedia's new single, "Booty Whop," sees release. It's like they planned it that way!

Put down the guacamole. The Boss is coming back to JazzFest. On the festival's first Sunday, Bruce Springsteen will reprise his legendary 2006 appearance at the Fair Grounds, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival announced this morning. That time, he appeared with his roots band from the Seeger sessions. He relied on folk songs and spirituals for the inspired and emotional post-K outing. JazzFest also released day-by-day breakdowns for the lineup today. Click through for details.

Eddie Vedder will perform at JazzFest this year, but he's leaving the grunge back in Seattle. This morning, the N.O. Jazz and Heritage Festival announced the Pearl Jam frontman will play solo ukelele on Thursday, May 3. Last year, the veteran rocker has released his second solo album, Ukulele Songs, which features Vedder getting in touch with his inner large Hawaiian guy.