Building Community Through Festivals with Joel Hitchcock

Joel Hitchcock is a festival producer, who recently helped to produce the inaugural Smoove Fest, and the owner of Paradigm Gardens. He shares how his journey from Milwaukee to New Orleans turned into a lifelong connection with the city’s culture, music, and community. From teaching after Katrina to discovering his passion for reggae and Caribbean music, Joel walks us through how he went from DJing late nights to producing major events like NOLA Caribbean Fest and Smooth Fest.We talk about the deep cultural ties between New Orleans and reggae, the importance of infrastructure for artists, and how collaboration with leaders like Raj Smoove has helped grow platforms for local creatives. Joel also gives us a look at what’s ahead for Paradigm Gardens, NOLA Reggae Fest, and Savor the City, while highlighting why New Orleans’ openness and creativity make it unlike anywhere else.Our show's host, David Adams, founded Elation Entertainment, a New Orleans-based multi-media entertainment company. With a solid foundation of 8 years working in the Los Angeles music scene conducting multiple music camps with Grammy Associates, Musicians, and Producers, David brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His experiences have taught him valuable lessons, encouraging him to bring the entertainment industry standards and creative spaces to New Orleans, a place he calls home. Follow Elation EntertainmentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elationent/Website: https://www.elationent.com