Cutting Edge C.E. is an annual music conference in New Orleans that brings together prominent musicians, industry professionals, and filmmakers from across the country. The 26th Cutting Edge conference concluded a few weeks ago, and for my podcast coverage I had the opportunity to interview the festival’s founder Eric Cager, along with some musicians performing at the conference and a filmmaker who screened work there.

We seek out good people in the industry.  You can go out and meet sharks anywhere, but you don’t need to come and meet them at the Cutting Edge.” – Eric Cager, founder and executive director of Cutting Edge C.E. 

Below is a breakdown of the interviews and the approximate times when they start.

1. Bucky Goldberg and Marietta Roebuck, Wild Rabbit Salad – 4:48 min

Their song “Amelia” has been tracking high on the Americana charts, and “Killing Flood in Houston” was the No. 1 song on Reverbnation in Houston back in February.

2. Filmmaker Paul Catafago, founder of Mosaic Culture Project – 8:22 min

Paul is a New Yorker whose sense of artistic purpose was significantly shaped by the 9/11 attacks. Along with his Mosaic partner Lance Arnold, Paul has put together a series of documentaries on icons in the New Orleans music community. Some of the musicians he interviewed include

• Clarence “Frogman” Henry, best known for his 1956 hit song “Ain’t Got No Home”
• Deacon John Moore, guitarist for Allen Toussaint and head of the New Orleans Musicians Union
• George Porter Jr., “the grandfather of funk bass” who has a residency at the Maple Leaf Bar

3. Henry Turner Jr., a soul and funk musician – 20:02 min

Henry who wrote the Baton Rouge theme song and spreads the Louisiana spirit across the country with his Ultimate Louisiana Tour. In appreciation of his music outreach efforts, the city of Baton Rouge proclaimed Oct. 28 as Henry Turner Jr. Day. Henry’s song “Ugly Man” can be heard shortly after his interview.

4.  Cliff & Jeana Downing and Michael Roberson, The Captain Ledge Band – 39:02 min

Captain Ledge Band’s latest album, Rumors of the Great White Skunk, was awarded the 2018 Bluegrass Album of the Year by the International Music and Entertainment Association.  The band has a sweet way to make a first impression on music industry types, which we also discuss.

After the interview concludes, you can hear the band’s song “Bucket Mouth,” which was nominated for bluegrass song of the year by the International Music and Entertainment Association (IMEA).

5. Eric Cager, founder and director of Cutting Edge C.E. – 59:31 min

We discuss the unique vision behind Cutting Edge and some of the highlights from this year’s music conference.

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I had a number of takeaways from the conversation and things I wanted to expand upon, so I recorded my commentary as a separate track, which you can hear below or next in the podcast feed.

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If you’d like to hear from another band that has played at Cutting Edge, check out this interview I did with Mystery Loves Company, a chamber rock band I met at the music conference a few years ago.

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