WEST MONROE, La. (KTVE/KARD) – On Friday, September 26, 2025, Ouachita Live will host Billy Allen + The Pollies, a southern blues band hailing from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in downtown West Monroe.The live music event will be in conjunction with several activities including a whiskey and spirits tasting, pie-baking contest, and a free all-ages rhythm workshop presented by percussion artist, Lady Chops.Billy Allen + The Pollies, melds soul, funk, gospel and blues with a southern rock flare defining a new ch...
WEST MONROE, La. (KTVE/KARD) – On Friday, September 26, 2025, Ouachita Live will host Billy Allen + The Pollies, a southern blues band hailing from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in downtown West Monroe.
The live music event will be in conjunction with several activities including a whiskey and spirits tasting, pie-baking contest, and a free all-ages rhythm workshop presented by percussion artist, Lady Chops.
Billy Allen + The Pollies, melds soul, funk, gospel and blues with a southern rock flare defining a new chapter in the distinctive “Muscle Shoals Sound.” Their recent album, “Black Noise,” was produced by Jay Burgess of the Pollies and Ben Tanner, Single Lock Records founder and former Alabama Shakes Keyboardist. In addition to producing new music, the band has also toured globally, building a new fan base along the way. “Black Noise” can be heard on most music streaming platforms.
Elizabeth Vidos, known as LadyChops, will open this concert with a free all-ages, interactive, rhythm workshop from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Vidos is a talented percussionist who previously performed in the Broadway show “STOMP.” Her high-energy program titled “Drum Roll Please” incorporates over 15 different instruments.
Choice Brands presents a spirits and whiskey tasting from 6-8 PM on Natchitoches Street across from Alley Park. Tickets for the tasting are $25.
Patrons are invited to sample brands such as Glass Manor, Drumbyrne, Guinness, Corazon Tequila, Devil’s River Bourbon, Bowman’s Small Batch Bourbon, Buffalo Trace, Buckhorn Flavored Whiskey, Wheatley Vodka, Siete Leguas Tequila, Sazerac Rye, San Matias Tequila, Midnight Bean Espresso Martini.
All proceeds benefit the upcoming Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival. Limited tickets are available on-site and in advance. Participants must have an ID and be 21 or older. Advanced purchase of tickets is recommended and can be purchased at https://www.westmonroechamber.org/celtic/.
A pie-baking contest will kick off the festivities. Community bakers are invited to showcase their homemade dessert pies for a chance to win bragging rights and cash prizes. Pies can be dropped off between 4:30 and 5:30 PM on Natchitoches Street across from Alley Park. After judging concludes, pie slices will be available for purchase with proceeds benefiting downtown West Monroe projects. The entry fee is $10 per pie with a maximum of two pies entered per person. Entry information and rules are pinned on the Downtown West Monroe Facebook page. Winners will be announced in Alley Park at 6:20 p.m.
Ouachita Live is a free monthly concert series that takes place on the last Friday of every month from March through October from 7-9 PM in Downtown West Monroe’s Alley Park. Concerts are free, but donations help support our artists. Food trucks and spirits on-site. Participants are encouraged to bring their own chair. The Downtown West Monroe Revitalization Group nonprofit presents the series.
For additional information, visit Ouachita Live on Facebook.com.