85 Songs For Your Mardi Gras Music Playlist

Let the good times roll because Mardi Gras is just around the corner! If you're on the hunt for an energetic Mardi Gras playlist for your Fat Tuesday party — look no further.

It’s that magical time of year when beads fly, brass bands blare, and the spirit of New Orleans takes over. Whether you’re dancing in the streets of the French Quarter or throwing your own Mardi Gras party at home, one thing’s for sure—you need the perfect Mardi Gras playlist to keep the party going.

During Mardi Gras celebrations, you'll hear a whole mish-mash of party music and other genres. For this Mardi Gras playlist, we've focused mainly on brass bands, rhythm and blues, jazz, and zydeco in order to capture the traditional sounds of the Bourbon Street festivities. If you're looking for live music to play at your Mardi Gras party, check out our selection of jazz bands and soloists on The Bash.

Scroll to the end to find our bangin' Mardi Gras playlist available to stream on Spotlify. 

READ MORE:

• Colorful Mardi Gras Zoom Backgrounds
• Mardi Gras Party Ideas for 2025
• Amazing Mardi Gras Entertainment Ideas

Here are 85 songs you'll want to add to your Mardi Gras playlist: 

Photo: Barandash Karandashich/Shutterstock.com

1.  Shrimp Po-Boy, Dressed - Allen Toussaint
2.  Cubacajun Carnival - Los Hombres Calientes
3.  Skokiaan - Kermit Ruffins
4.  Hurricane Season - Trombone Shorty
5.  Carnivale Time - Galactic, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson
6.  When The Saints Go Marching In - Louis Armstrong
7.  Take Your Drunken Ass Home - Big Al Carson
8.  The Mardi Gras Song - Bobby Charles
9.  Oogum Boogum Song - Brenton Wood
10.  Mack The Knife - Dr. John, Mike Ladd, Terence Blanchard
11.  Why You Worried 'Bout Me? - Rebirth Brass Band
12.  I Know You Mardi Gras - Bo Dollis
13.  The Second Line - Stop, Inc
14.  Big Chief - Professor Longhair, Earl King
15.  Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Jessie Hill
16.  Why Don't You Go To New Orleans - Jim Beatty 
17.  Audubon Zoo - Mardi Gras Mambo 
18.  Jump On It - Big Freedia
19.  Tripped Out Slim - Trombone Shorty
20.  Killing Me - Honey Island Swamp Band
21.  Don't You Just Know It? - Huey "Piano" Smith, His Clowns
22.  Knock With Me - Lil' Rascals Brass Band
23.  Haterz - Keith Frank, The Soileau Zydeco Band
24.  What'cha Do - Johnnie Allan 
25.  Going Fast - Feufollet
26.  High Heel Sneakers - The New Orleans Catahoulas 
27.  Kidnapper - Jewel & The Rubies
28.  Let The Good Times Roll - The Revelers
29.  La Vieille Chanson De Mardi Gras - Cedric Watson 
30.  My Feet Can't Fail Me Now - The Dirty Dozen Brass Band 
31.  I Feel Like Funkin' It Up - Rebirth Brass Band
32.  Mardi Gras Mambo - The Hawketts 
33.  Street Parade - Earl King 
34.  Monk's Mardi Gras - Big Chief Monk Boudreaux
35.  Tremé Mardi Gras - Kermit Ruffins 
36.  It Ain't My Fault - Dejan's Olympia Brass Band
37.  Zulu King - James Andrews 
38.  All On A Mardi Gras Day - The Wild Magnolias
39.  Mardi Gras In New Orleans - Professor Longhair
40.  Grazing in the Grass - Treme Brass Band
41.  Carnival Time - Rebirth Brass Band
42.  Who Dat Called Da Police - New Birth Brass Band
43.  Treme’ Second Line - Kermit Ruffins
44.  Party Town - Bobby Charles
45.  Zydeco Mardi Gras - C.J. Chenier
46.  All In a Mardi Gras Day - Big Al Carson
47.  Golden Crown - Treme Brass & Indian Band
48.  Shrimp and Gumbo - Rebirth Brass Band
49.  Lil’ Lisa Jane - The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
50.  Ooh Poo Pah Doo - Trombone Shorty, James Andrews
51.  No City Like New Orleans - Earl King and Roomful of Blues
52.  Show Me That Dance Called the Second Line - New Birth Brass Band
53.  Meet Me On Frenchmen Street - Shamarr Allen, Kermit Ruffins
54.  Palm Court Strut - Kermit Ruffins
55.  Mr. Big Stuff - Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band
56.  Come Down To New Orleans - Big Sam’s Funky Nation
57.  Sweet Home New Orleans - Dr. John
58.  Carnival Time - Bo Dollis, The Wild Magnolias
59.  My Dawlin New Orleans - Little Queenie & the Percolators
60.  Rebirth Medley: My Song, Pie Pt. 2, Mexican - Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band
61.  The Mardi Gras Song - Davell Crawford
62.  Mardi Gras Time - Bayou Renegade Indians
63.  Jump to the Music - Henry Butler
64.  Take It To The Street - Rebirth Brass Band
65.  Didn't He Ramble - Kermit Ruffins
66.  It’s Later Than You Think - Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band
67.  New Orleans Music - Rebirth Brass Band
68.  Foot Of Canal Street - John Boutté
69.  Drop Me Off In New Orleans - Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield, Dr. Michael White
70.  King Cake - Big Al Carson
71.  Down in New Orleans - Anika Noni Rose
72.  Mama Odie’s Kitchen Song - Jenifer Lewis
73.  When The Saints Go Marching In - Louis Armstrong
74.  Go To The Mardi Gras - Preservation Hall Jazz Band
75.  Iko Iko - The Dixie Cups
76.  Mardi Gras In New Orleans - Olympia Brass Band
77.  Mardi Gras in New Orleans (Bar Room) Bounce - Brass-A-Holics, Mecca Notes
78.  Mardi Gras - Dierks Bentley, Trombone Shorty
79.  When I Die - You Better Second Line - Kermit Ruffins
80.  Big Chief - Treme Brass, Indian Band
81.  Drop Me Off In New Orleans - Kermit Ruffins
82.  They All Ask’d for You - The Meters
83.  Hot Tamale Baby - Buckwheat Zydeco
84.  Dive In The Gumbo - Anders Osborne, Monk Boudreaux
85.  Down at the Mardi Gras - Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr., The Zydeco Twisters

Find Musical Entertainment

Tips for booking a DJ or live music:

• Here on The Bash, you can find and book top-rated local DJs, bands, and entertainers in your local area. While browsing, be sure to review vendor profiles and check out their photos and videos.
• When preparing a request for one of vendors, keep in mind that the more details you can provide, the more accurate the price quote you'll receive. If you receive a price quote that seems like it needs clarification, don't hesitate to reach out to the vendor directly to find out more.
• Make sure you have discussed what supplies the vendor will need for their performance. You'll want to know what they can provide, and what you'll need to have on hand at your event.
• Communicate your expectations and special requests to any prospective musicians, and make sure to ask about their repertoire — especially if you have a particular song that you would like them to perform.
• If you're planning an outdoor event, be sure to discuss where the vendor will be situated for the best acoustics and conditions for them to perform.
• Discuss what kind of atmosphere and mood you are hoping to set for your event. The more they know, the better they'll meet your expectations.

Check out The Bash for more Mardi Gras party tips and ideas!

About Brittany Barber

Brittany Barber, lover of books, dogs, and romance, graduated from Bishop’s University with a Communications and Theatre degree. After spending some time working abroad in the theatre world, she is now a freelance writer covering a range of lifestyle topics including event planning for The Bash, WeddingWire, 2life and Fluttr, and shopping for BuzzFeed.