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Audio Beach Rocks Out Bayou Jam

The City of Slidell’s popular Bayou Jam Concert Series continues on Sunday, Oct. 5 with a performance by Audio Beach.

Celebrating their 22nd anniversary, Audio Beach has spent over two decades rocking audiences across New Orleans and the Gulf Coast with a blend of originals and covers. Anchored by Bill Stavis’s driving drums, Billy DesHotels’s soulful piano, and Dylan Caillouet’s grooving bass lines, the band finds its voice in Mario Sperandeo’s vocals and guitar work. Since 1988, they’ve shared the stage with legends like Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Randy Jackson of Zebra, Michael Ray of Kool & the Gang, and many more. From the swagger of classic rock and alternative to the smooth grooves of funk, R&B, blues, and country, their eclectic repertoire nods to the rich musical heritage of the Crescent City and beyond. Whether playing festivals, rocking in local clubs, or bringing a taste of New Orleans classics to stages across the region, Audio Beach delivers an immersive, high-energy experience that keeps fans coming back for more.

“The City of Slidell has been hosting Bayou Jam concerts for over 20 years, and they are a great way for our citizens and visitors to come together and celebrate as a community,” said Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert. “I invite you to join me in Heritage Park on Sundays this fall and enjoy these free concerts.”

Save the dates for these upcoming concerts:
• Oct. 26 – Monster Crawfish
• Nov. 9 – Veterans Day Concert with the Northshore Community Orchestra
• Dec. 7 – Vince Vance and the Valiants

All concerts will be held on Sundays from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. In case of inclement weather, cancellation decisions will be announced by 1 p.m. on the day of the event through the city’s website and Facebook page.

For more information about this event, please call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. For City of Slidell news and events, please visit MySlidell.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Slidell Breaks Ground on Dellwood Drainage Pump Station Improvements

On Monday, September 22, 2025, Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert was joined by city officials and community leaders for the groundbreaking of the Dellwood Drainage Pump Station Improvements Project. This project marks another step in the administration’s ongoing commitment to improving drainage and protecting residents and businesses from flooding.

The $5.1 million project – funded by the Louisiana Office of Community Development through the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI) – will include the installation of mechanical bar screens in front of the existing Dellwood Drainage Pump Station intake basin. These screens will capture debris and prevent clogs during heavy rain, helping reduce flooding in the area.

The Louisiana Office of Community Development–Disaster Recovery funded the project through the state’s $1.2 billion CDBG-MIT grant, part of LWI’s Round 1 funding for local and regional projects. To date, OCD-DR has approved 28 Round 1 projects, all designed as implementation-ready, low-risk flood mitigation efforts with no potential negative impacts on surrounding areas. Meyer Engineering is serving as the design consultant, and RNGD is the project contractor.

“This groundbreaking is our third ceremony in three weeks for stormwater management and drainage improvements for our residents and businesses in south Slidell,” said Mayor Borchert. “We recently broke ground on the new Riecke Retention Pond off Pontchartrain Drive, the automatic flood gate and SCADA system near the Lee Street Water Basin, and now the improvements at the Dellwood Drainage Pump Station. I would like to thank everyone who worked on this project to help protect Slidell’s homes and businesses from flooding.”

For more information about City of Slidell news and events, please visit MySlidell.com and follow the City of Slidell, Louisiana on Facebook and Instagram.

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OZONE Music Showcases Emerging Talent at Bayou Jam Concert

The City of Slidell’s popular Bayou Jam Concert Series continues on Sunday, Sept. 28 with a performance by singers and songwriters from the OZONE Music Foundation, including Joe Sims, Doug Stepanek, Claire Kellar, and Louisiana Music Hall of Fame band JJ Muggler.

OZONE Music Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based on Louisiana’s Northshore, co-founded by Emmy-winning, Grammy-nominated songwriter Greg Barnhill to champion original music and the artists who create it. Through instrument gifting, free lessons, industry-led workshops and one-on-one mentorship, OZONE removes barriers to musical expression and nurtures talent at every level, building not just careers, but a thriving regional music ecosystem that celebrates creativity, drives economic growth and unites communities through the power of song. They host singer-songwriter nights and writer’s circles and through community partnerships, provide musical artists with invaluable performance opportunities, hands-on guidance and industry connections. For more information about OZONE Music Foundation, please visit the website at OzoneMusic.org.

“The City of Slidell has been hosting Bayou Jam concerts for over 20 years, and they are a great way for our citizens and visitors to come together and celebrate as a community,” said Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert. “I invite you to join me in Heritage Park on Sundays this fall and enjoy these free concerts.”

Save the dates for these upcoming Bayou Jam concerts:
• Oct. 5 – Audio Beach
• Oct. 26 – Monster Crawfish
• Nov. 9 – Veterans Day Concert with the Northshore Community Orchestra
• Dec. 7 – Vince Vance and the Valiants

All concerts will be held on Sundays from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. In case of inclement weather, cancellation decisions will be announced by 1 p.m. on the day of the event through the city’s website and Facebook page.

For more information about this event, please call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. For City of Slidell news and events, please visit MySlidell.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Slidell Announces Ron Usner as the Curator of the Slidell Museum

Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert is excited to announce that Ron Usner will serve as the new curator of the Slidell Museum. He will oversee operations and continue the museum’s mission of collecting, researching, preserving, and sharing Slidell’s history.

Usner is a graduate of Slidell High and earned his B.A. in Sociology and an M.A. in History from Southeastern Louisiana University. In 2010, he retired from a successful career in banking and mortgage lending. He looks forward to utilizing his local roots and historical expertise to enrich the museum’s collections.

The Slidell Museum is located at 2020 First Street in Olde Towne. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Groups are welcome but are encouraged to schedule a tour in advance.

For more information about the Slidell Museum, please call (985) 646-4380 or contact via email at museum@cityofslidell.org. While admission is free, the Slidell Museum gratefully accepts donations and community support to continue providing these vital cultural services.

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Slidell Unveils Automated Floodgate and SCADA System to Help Alleviate Flooding

On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert was joined by Councilman David Dunham (District B), city officials and community leaders for the ribbon cutting of the City’s new Automated Floodgate and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Monitoring System near the Lee Street Drainage Basin. This marks a significant step forward in Slidell’s ongoing commitment to modernizing stormwater infrastructure and protecting residents and businesses from flooding.

Work on the $250,000 project – funded through the Louisiana State Appropriations Budget secured by former Senator Sharon Hewitt – involved retrofitting an existing manual floodgate with a motorized actuator, enabling rapid automatic operation during heavy rain events. In tandem, a SCADA system was installed to give Public Operations staff the ability to remotely monitor and control gate positions in real time, vastly improving response times during storm events. GIS Engineering was the design consultant and Gill’s Crane & Dozer Services was the contractor for this project.

“This ribbon cutting is our second ceremony in just two weeks celebrating stormwater management improvements for our citizens and businesses in south Slidell,” said Mayor Bill Borchert. “We recently broke ground on the new Riecke Retention Pond off Pontchartrain Drive, and today we’re proud to bring this automated floodgate and SCADA system online. I also would like to thank to Senator Hewitt for securing the funding that made this project possible.”

For more information about City of Slidell news and events, please visit MySlidell.com and follow the “City of Slidell, Louisiana” on Facebook and Instagram.

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Stirring Up the Beat – Southern Roux Brings the Flavor to Bayou Jam

The City of Slidell’s popular Bayou Jam Concert Series continues on Sunday, Sept. 21 with a performance by Southern Roux Band.

“The City of Slidell has been hosting Bayou Jam concerts for over 20 years, and they are a great way for our citizens and visitors to come together and celebrate as a community,” said Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert. “I invite you to join me in Heritage Park on Sundays this fall and enjoy these free concerts.”

Save the dates for these upcoming Bayou Jam concerts:
• Sept. 28 – OZONE Music Foundation showcase
• Oct. 5 – Audio Beach
• Oct. 26 – Monster Crawfish
• Nov. 9 – Veterans Day Concert with the Northshore Community Orchestra
• Dec. 7 – Vince Vance and the Valiants

All concerts will be held on Sundays from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. In case of inclement weather, cancellation decisions will be announced by 1 p.m. on the day of the event through the city’s website and Facebook page.

For more information about this event, please call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. For City of Slidell news and events, please visit MySlidell.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Fat City Swing Band Jazzes Up Bayou Jam

The City of Slidell’s popular Bayou Jam Concert Series continues on Sunday, Sept. 14 with a performance by Fat City Swing.

“The City of Slidell has been hosting Bayou Jam concerts for over 20 years, and they are a great way for our citizens and visitors to come together and celebrate as a community,” said Slidell Mayor Bill Borchert. “I invite you to join me in Heritage Park on Sundays this fall and enjoy these free concerts.”

Fat City Swing is comprised of some of the best jazz musicians in the New Orleans area. Jon and Wesley Mannino founded the band to keep their family’s musical legacy alive. This 16 piece big band plays all your favorite jazz and swing tunes. For more information about the band, visit their website at FatCitySwingBand.com and view some of their past musical performances on YouTube.

Save the dates for these upcoming Bayou Jam concerts:
• Sept. 14 – Fat City Swing
• Sept. 21 – Southern Roux Band
• Sept. 28 – OZONE Music Foundation showcase
• Oct. 5 – Audio Beach
• Oct. 26 – Monster Crawfish
• Nov. 9 – Veterans Day Concert with the Northshore Community Orchestra
• Dec. 7 – Vince Vance and the Valiants

All concerts will be held on Sundays from 5 to 7 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. In case of inclement weather, cancellation decisions will be announced by 1 p.m. on the day of the event through the city’s website and Facebook page.

For more information about this event, please call the Department of Cultural & Public Affairs at (985) 646-4375. For City of Slidell news and events, please visit MySlidell.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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