Since ’88: The Howlin’ Wolf Through the Decades

A Retrospective of a New Orleans Icon

New Orleans doesn’t lack for legendary music venues — but few have carved out a space quite like The Howlin’ Wolf. Since opening its doors in 1988, The Wolf has been more than a stage. It’s been a beacon for blues, a launchpad for funk, a home to artists, and a shelter in times of need.

In this retrospective, we’re taking a look back at how one gritty, independent venue became a pillar of New Orleans culture — and why, decades later, it’s still howling louder than ever.

🐺 The Early Days: Born from Blues

Founded in 1988 and named in honor of blues legend Chester "Howlin’ Wolf" Burnett, the venue began as a place rooted in the soul of Southern music. Inspired by the raw power of Delta blues and the electric energy of 20th-century rock and funk, The Howlin’ Wolf quickly made a name for itself as the place where up-and-coming musicians and local legends could share the same stage.

In a city bursting with brass bands and Bourbon Street covers, The Wolf focused on authenticity. It wasn’t about the flash — it was about the feel.

🎶 The ‘90s & 2000s: The Rise of the Wolf

As the New Orleans music scene expanded, so did The Howlin’ Wolf’s reputation. By the 1990s and early 2000s, it had become a go-to venue for major touring acts — but never lost its local flavor. Artists like Dr. John, Galactic, The Roots, and Trombone Shorty all graced the stage, often alongside lesser-known bands that would later blow up.

The Wolf’s Warehouse District location gave it an edge: just outside the chaos of the French Quarter but close enough to be a destination. It was gritty, unfiltered, and real — a perfect match for New Orleans’ evolving soundscape.

🏛 The Venue Evolves: Enter The Den

In time, The Howlin’ Wolf expanded with The Den — a more intimate sister space that offered cozy vibes, local art, and late-night eats. It became a playground for comedy nights, drag shows, burlesque performances, and film screenings — all while maintaining the venue’s core identity of being artist-focused and community-driven.

The Den also expanded The Wolf’s food and drink offerings, including local craft beer, house-made bar fare, and award-winning creations like the now-legendary Bacon Cheddar Beignets (winners of Best Savory Beignet at the 2022 Beignet Fest).

⚡ The 2010s–2020s: More Than Music

The Howlin’ Wolf has always been a stage, but in recent years, it’s also become a voice for the city.

Under the leadership of owner Howie Kaplan, the venue took on new roles — supporting musicians post-Katrina, launching Meals for Musicians after the pandemic, and even transforming into a community food hub after Hurricane Ida, distributing thousands of free meals when the city went dark.

In 2022, Kaplan became New Orleans’ first Director of Nighttime Economy (aka Night Mayor), helping champion the city’s creative class and nightlife infrastructure from the inside out.

🎤 Still Howlin’

Today, The Howlin’ Wolf continues to thrive — hosting national acts, New Orleans favorites, private events, weddings, burlesque balls, and festival afterparties that stretch 'til sunrise. And through it all, it has stayed fiercely independent, community-focused, and culturally rooted.

Since ’88, it’s been more than just a venue. It’s been a vessel for expression, a keeper of tradition, and a safe space for sound that refuses to be silenced.

So whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, know this: The Wolf is still here. Still loud. Still proud. Still howlin’.

Want to be part of the next chapter? Book your event or check out upcoming shows now.