Why Raj Smoove Started Smoove Fest: “This Era Deserves a Day”

New Orleans, LA – For over two decades, Raj Smoove has been the invisible hand behind the soundtrack of New Orleans nightlife. But on August 2nd at The Broadside, the legendary DJ and producer is stepping into the spotlight with the launch of Smoove Fest—a celebration rooted in nostalgia, culture, and the era that shaped an entire generation of New Orleanians.

“I’m so busy doing the work, I don’t always recognize my own weight,” Smoove said. But his team pushed him to create something under his own name—a festival that reflects not just his personal legacy, but the legacy of the city’s golden era of hip hop and R&B.

Holding Space for a Forgotten Vibe

Smoove Fest isn’t just a party. It’s a preservation of a feeling.

“There’s a whole demographic in the city who came of age in that ‘99 to 2000 era,” Smoove explained. “We always hold on to our jazz and brass traditions—and we should. But we also have to preserve this—our era, our sound, our vibe.”

Fans regularly tell him stories—how they used to hit House of Blues every week because of his sets. It’s not about fame. It’s about memory. It’s about moments. And Smoove Fest is his way of giving that feeling a permanent home.

A Tribute to the 99 & 2000

Smoove calls the early 2000s one of the most electric, genre-blending periods in music history: “From gangsta rap to Ja Rule and J-Lo R&B joints—everything had a place, and it all made sense back to back.”

Artists and DJs like Brass-A-Holics, DJ RQaway, and his longtime collaborator Big Cheese are already tapped in to bring that energy to the stage—blending New Orleans live band flavor with classic throwback vibes.

Even if it’s just one day a year, Raj says it’s worth it.

“You can see it in people’s faces when they talk about that time,” he said. “Let’s bring that back—even if it’s just for a moment. Let’s celebrate how we used to do it.”

More Than a Festival—It’s a Cultural Time Capsule

Smoove Fest on August 2nd at The Broadside is more than just a concert. It’s a homecoming. A time capsule. A day to reconnect with a sound and spirit that defined an era of New Orleans nightlife.

Raj Smoove isn’t just curating a lineup—he’s restoring a feeling.

And in this city, that means everything.