Photos by Dino Perrucci

Anders Osborne hosted his first annual Holiday Spectacular at New Orleans’ Tipitina’s on Friday and Saturday nights. The guitarist was joined by a number of guests during the shows, including North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson, Galactic’s Stanton Moore, Shanon McNally, Mia Borders, Marc Broussard, Papa Grows Funk’s John Gros, Big Sam’s Funky Nation’s “Big” Sam Williams, Low Rider Band’s Lee Oskar (also a founding member of War), Billy Iuso and the Bonerama Horns. While the Holiday Spectacular was a fun way to celebrate the holidays, it was also a way to help out those who are less fortunate. On both nights, Osborne and the Tipitina’s Foundation asked fans to donate coats to the NOLA Pay It Forward Fund.

The shows were heavy on covers, with Osborne offering War’s “Low Rider,” before being joined by Mia Borders for a rendition of Bill Withers’ “Use Me” on Friday night. That performance closed with all star jams featuring Dickinson, Gros, Broussard, Borders and Williams based around Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” and The Allman Brothers Band’s “Ramblin’ Man.”

Dickinson joined Osborne once again on Saturday night for the North Mississippi Allstars’ “Mean Ol’ Wind Died Down,” while Oskar sat in on “Spill the Wine” and McNally came out for Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” However, the highlight of the night was likely the cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Sugaree” featuring Moore, Iuso, McNally and the Bonerama Horns. Then, Osborne wrapped up his set with Bob Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” before bringing out Iuso for encores of Little Feat’s “Spanish Moon” and his own Trippin’ in Montana.”

Local acts MyNameIsJohnMichael and Billy Iuso and the Restless Natives opened for Osborne on Friday and Saturday night, respectively. A photo gallery of the events can be viewed here.