Pitchfork

After Hurricane Katrina made its tragic mark on the Gulf Coast, the eighth annual Voodoo Music Experience fled its New Orleans home like most everyone else and relocated to Memphis. But now, according to the music festival's website, half of the two-day show has been moved back to the Big Easy, in a gesture of thanks towards the people involved in the city's rebuilding.

Unless you've already purchased a ticket to the festival, the New Orleans concert on October 29 will be invitation-only, with the honored guests being firefighters, police, National Guard, military, and other civic healers. Voodoo was initially scheduled for City Park, but it returns to Riverview Park. It will be the first large-scale musical performance in the city since the hurricane.

The lineup for the 29th includes Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, LCD Soundsystem, New York Dolls, the Bravery, Digable Planets, Death from Above 1979, and the Secret Machines. As previously reported, the festival's original lineup included several homegrown talents, and it's no surprise that most of these musicians, including Rebirth Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins, Bonerama, Supagroup, and Big Sam's Funky Nation, are returning.

But what's left for Memphis? A few acts will make the 400 mile trek from New Orleans to play on October 30 at AutoZone Park, with several more joining for the second show only. Serving double-duty are the New York Dolls, Cowboy Mouth, Sevendust, Dan Dyer, and World Leader Pretend. Rocking only Memphis will be the Decemberists, H.I.M., Cake, Carl Cox, North Mississippi Allstars, Better Than Ezra and others.

A series of free concerts in Memphis will commence October 27 and last all weekend long downtown. Dr. John, the Neville Brothers, Cowboy Mouth, Susan Cowsill, American Princes, the Giraffes, and lots more will party down with the public.

Confused ticket-holders, too, can save their hankies for when their significant other takes a long walk. The key date to remember is September 22. If you got your tix before then, you have a pass to the New Orleans event only, and can keep it, refund it, and/or grab a ticket for Memphis for $35. If you scooped up your tickets after September 22, they don't exist anymore. But you will be eligible to go to both days of music. Anyone not covered by these two categories of ticket-holders can only go to the Memphis show. Those needing bold font formatting and bullet points to understand this scenario can head to the Voodoo website.

The Voodoo Music Experience is now also a benefit concert, so spend deep and spend often, brave consumer, for today you can be a philanthropist. Proceeds will go to New Orleans Restoration Fund, Mercy Corps, and Habitat for Humanity. Several local groups like WWOZ 90.7, New Orleans Roots Radio, YA/YA (Young Aspirations/Young Artists), Audobon Nature Institute, and Bring New Orleans Back will also see some help from your debauchery. New Orleans wouldn't have it any other way.