Emily Ruth Allen, Sounds of the Mardi Gras Belt
In this 30-minute public lecture, I explore the shared musical heritage of Mardi Gras across the U.S. Gulf Coast, what I call the “Mardi Gras Belt.” Moving beyond the New Orleans-centered narratives that dominate popular media, I highlight how Mardi Gras traditions in Pensacola, Galveston, and Mobile reveal an interconnected regional sound shaped by migration, colonial histories, and ongoing cultural exchange. Rather than treating these celebrations as isolated, the talk frames them as part of a broader Gulf Coast network. Designed for a broad, non-specialist audience, I begin with an accessible introduction to secondline music, the New Orleans brass band tradition that has become a widely recognized sonic marker of Mardi Gras and has influenced celebrations in neighboring cities. Building from this point, I then present three focused case studies that demonstrate how local communities expand and reinterpret Mardi Gras soundscapes. These Mardi Gras case studies include Pensacola’s prominent bagpipe band, which reflects familial and civic traditions; Galveston’s incorporation of Norteño musics tied to Fiesta culture; and Mobile’s engagement with pan-Caribbean Carnival associations that highlight deeper diasporic connections. This presentation invites audiences to hear the Gulf Coast as a dynamic cultural region that complicates monolithic ideas of the U.S. South. In doing so, it aligns with the Society for American Music’s mission to celebrate diverse musical voices and fosters community engagement by illuminating how local traditions reflect broader histories of U.S. identity, creativity, and connection.
About the presenter:
Emily Ruth Allen is an instructor at the University of South Carolina in the School of Music and Institute for Southern Studies. She earned her Ph.D. in Musicology from Florida State University. She is working on a book manuscript about Carnival parade musics in Mobile, Alabama, inspired by her experiences marching in the parades during her high school and college years. Her other interests lie in scholarly podcasting, which she currently pursues as a host for two podcasts, the New Books Network and Take on the South.