New Orleans famed club The Howlin’ Wolf celebrate its 20th anniversary this month with a series of special shows. Jack and Jeff Groetsch originally opened the venue as a small performance space in Fat City, and over the past two decades the room has hosted everyone from the Foo Fighters to Jimmy Page to Harry Connick Jr. to Derek Trucks to Steve Winwood to Medeski, Martin & Wood to Keith Urban. According to the clubs MySpace page, the bar at The Howlin’ Wolfs current location is hand carved mahogany taken directly from Al Capone’s hotel, the Lexington, in Chicago and the exterior is an exquisite mural created by the renowned New Orleans artist, Michealopelous.

The Howlin’ Wolfs December 20th Anniversary Series will kick off this Friday with a Brass Off featuring Rebirth Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band and Hot Brass. Other anniversary concerts includes PBS with John Gros/The Trio featuring Johnny Vicacovich, George Porter Jr, John Gros and Kirk Joseph (12/6), MVVP (Stanton Moore, Rich Vogel, Johnny Vidacovich, George Porter Jr)/Russell Batiste and Friends (12/12), Zebra/Lillian Axe (12/13), The Benjy Davis Project/Big Blue Marble (12/19),
Meriwether/Sole Pursuit and Pandemic (12/23), The Rebirth Brass Band/Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave (12/15), George Porter Jr’s Annual Birthday Bash (12/26),
Merry Go Drown Reunion/Touching The Absolute (12/27) and Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk/Papa Grows Funk (12/31).