New Orleans Music Tour: From Congo Square to Rock 'n' Roll

Discover how New Orleans shapes every beat of American sound

A two-hour guided tour of New Orleans music history, starting at Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square and ending at Preservation Hall, tracing how West African traditions became the foundation of jazz, R&B, rock and roll, and bounce. The tour visits J&M Studios, the birthplace of the "New Orleans Sound"; walks through Storyville, the red light district where early jazz took shape; and ends among current street musicians keeping the tradition alive. Live English-speaking guide included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore New Orleans musical landmarks

• Visit Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square
• View J&M Studios building
• Visit Basin Street Station and stroll Basin Street
• Walk through the Tango Belt to May Bailey’s and Old French Opera House
• End at Preservation Hall and learn about Bounce Music

The Experience

Two hours takes you through the places where American popular music was born. You start at Louis Armstrong Park and Congo Square, the only site in North America where enslaved West Africans performed pure West African religious ritual and music—the wellspring of everything that followed. From there you see the building that housed J&M Studios, where Cosimo Matassa recorded Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Guitar Slim, Ernie K-Doe, Allen Toussaint and visitors like Little Richard and Ray Charles, creating the "New Orleans Sound" that became rock and roll itself.

The route then moves to Basin Street Station and down Basin Street through what remains of Storyville, the turn-of-the-century red light district where King Oliver, Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton and Sidney Bechet played in the early days of jazz. You walk the Tango Belt to May Bailey's and the site of the Old French Opera House, then end at Preservation Hall, the venue that represents the past, present and future of New Orleans music. Along the way you see where the hottest live acts are playing and meet the street musicians carrying the tradition forward today.

What’s included

• Live English-speaking guide.
• visits to Louis Armstrong Park, Congo Square, J&M Studios, Basin Street, Storyville, and Preservation Hall.
• a look at current street music and where live acts are performing.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Historic New Orleans Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to understand how West African ritual, jazz, R&B, rock and roll and bounce all trace back to one city—the guide connects the landmarks and the musicians across two centuries of American music, so the history holds together instead of feeling like a list of stops.

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Top questions

What is Congo Square and why does the tour start there?

Congo Square is the only place in North America where enslaved West Africans performed pure West African religious ritual and music. If American popular music comes from New Orleans, it specifically originates in Congo Square, making it the foundation of everything the tour explores.

Does the tour visit places where famous musicians actually recorded?

Yes. You see the building that housed J&M Studios, where Cosimo Matassa recorded the "New Orleans Sound" with artists like Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Guitar Slim and Allen Toussaint, plus visitors including Little Richard, Ray Charles and Jerry Lee Lewis. J&M Studios is considered the true birthplace of rock and roll.

What is Storyville and what role did it play in jazz?

Storyville was a turn-of-the-century red light district on Basin Street where early jazz musicians like King Oliver, Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton and Sidney Bechet performed in the parlors. The tour walks through the remains of Storyville, including Frank Early's "My Place" Saloon where "Pretty Baby" was written.

Will I see live music on this tour?

The tour includes a look at current street music and where the hottest live acts are performing, and ends at Preservation Hall, which represents the past, present and future of New Orleans music. You'll see the world's greatest street musicians carrying the tradition forward today.

How long is the tour and what's included?

The tour runs two hours with a live English-speaking guide leading visits to music-related landmarks including Louis Armstrong Park, Congo Square, Basin Street, Storyville, and Preservation Hall. The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all physical fitness levels.