Joe Ashlar, New Orleans Musician

As part of our “Faces of the Shutdown” series, we interviewed Joe Ashlar, a New Orleans musician. Joe Ashlar played an important role in revitalizing New Orleans’ music scene following Hurricane Katrina, and he’s loved living and playing there ever since. Since COVID-19 began, he and other New Orleans musicians have innovated to continue making a living, only to face significant roadblocks from government officials along the way. Watch this Faces of the Shutdown story to see why Joe and many others are calling on city and state leaders to give this vital industry a fighting chance at survival.