Helen Gillet is an acclaimed cellist, singer, composer, producer, and live-looping artist known for her eclectic, multicultural sound that blends jazz, french chansons, funk, rock, and avant-garde styles, earning her “Rising star” nominations in downbeat magazine, and multiple awards from Offbeat Magazine and Gambit Big Easy in New Orleans. She conjures a her unique blend of layered cello with a true mastery of live looping technique and bilingual singing in a soulful alto voice earning her the tag line: “The Whirling Dervish of the Cello.” Gillet was born in Belgium, raised in Singapore, Chicago, and Wisconsin prior to her arrival to New Orleans in 2002, where she flourished into one of the most unique, talented, and beloved artists in the crescent city. She’s known for her eclectic palette – which includes avant-garde jazz, french chansons, funk, alternative rock, and bohemian flair of the velvet underground.  She currently splits her time between her main home in New Orleans, summer cabin upstate NY and touring the world with her solo show and frequent musical collaborations. 

Olivia Perillo 2022-Helen Gillet_OP 11
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UPCOMING SHOWS

Date City Venue Country
04/19/26 Helen Gillet: Rebelle Musique New Orleans French Quarter Festival United States
Time: 3:10pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: French Quarter. Esplanade in the Shade Stage (Old US MINT – Jazz Museum)
04/21/26 Helen Gillet Looping Class New Orleans, LA Cafe Istanbul United States
Time: 7:30pm. Admission: $20-30 sliding scale. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 2372 ST CLAUDE AVE,. Demonstration & Q&A 8pm followed by participation and group lesson Cash or Venmo at door Bring instruments**
04/25/26 Helen Gillet + Nikki Glaspie New Orleans The New Marigny Theatre United States
Time: 7:30pm. Admission: $25. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 2301 Marais Street. Prince Tribute – 10th anniversary since Prince left the planet. Prince songs and Original Music by Helen Gillet. Nikki Glaspie (Beyonce, Dumstaphunk, Ivan Neville, Nth Power) on drums! Buy Tickets
04/26/26 Tephra Sound w/ Helen Gillet / Nikki Glaspie / Brian Haas New Orleans DBA United States
Time: 2:00am. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 618 Frenchmen St New Orleans, LA 70116. Venue phone: (504) 942-3731.
04/27/26 Helen Gillet New Orleans Constantinople Porch / Uptown United States
Time: 6:00pm. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 1201 Constantinople.
04/28/26 Helen Gillet with guest vocalist Anna Laura Quinn New Orleans Hotel Peter and Paul Church United States
Time: 7:30pm. Admission: $20-25. Age restrictions: All Ages. Venmo or cash at door 7:30pm CENTRAL STANDARD TIME Music at 8pm
04/28/26 Skerik & Friends – SAUCE FEST New Orleans, LA No Dice United States
Time: 10:30pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 2239 St Claude Ave.
04/29/26 Helen Gillet New Orleans, LA The Broadside United States
Time: 8:00pm. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: 600 N Broad St.. CHAZ FEST!
04/30/26 Helen Gillet New Orleans New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival United States
Time: 12:45pm. Age restrictions: No Minors. Address: Fairgrounds. Lagniappe Stage
04/30/26 Steve Bernstein, Helen Gillet, Brian Haas, Mike Dillon and James Singleton & more Arabi, LA Zeitgeist Theatre and Lounge United States
Time: 8:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 6621 St Claude Ave.
05/02/26 Helen Gillet w/ drumer Terrence Houston + Aurora Nealand Monocle Ensemble New Orleans Music Box United States
Time: 7:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. doors open at 7pm – show at 8pm! Buy Tickets
05/03/26 Helen Gillet SOLO + Tephra Sound Trio w/ Nikki Glaspie & Brian Haas New Orleans The Saturn Bar United States
Time: 6:30pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 3067 St. Claude. EARLY SHOW 7-9pm doors at 6:30pm
05/04/26 Helen Gillet + Phoebe Vlassis New Orleans, LA Cafe Istanbul United States
Time: 7:30pm. Admission: $20-25. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 2372 ST CLAUDE AVE,. Venmo or Cash at door Performance followed by Looping Demonstration, Q&A
05/05/26 Fluttermite + Drummer Devin Gray from Berlin Arabi, LA Zeitgeist Theatre and Lounge United States
Time: 7:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 6621 St Claude Ave. Byron Asher: sax Daniel Meinecke: modular synth Helen Gillet: cello, loops
First Thursday Series November 2025 – May 2026 New Orleans
05/07/26 Helen Gillet New Orleans, LA Tigermen Den United States
Time: 7:30pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Cash or Venmo at the doors Doors open at 7:30pm Music at 8pm Get there early! Limited seating.
06/18/26 Helen Gillet Catskill, NY The Avalon Lounge United States
Time: 7:30pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. doors 7:30pm music 8pm
06/25/26 - 06/27/26 Helen Gillet at New Directions Cello Society Festival Northampton, MA Smith College Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity United States
Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 130 Pine Street. Buy Tickets More information
07/16/26 To Begin Again – Tim Daisy Birthday Festival Columbia, SC 701 CCA Gallery United States
Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 701 Whaley St. Ishmael Ali, Josh Berman, Jeb Bishop, Tim Daisy, Ben Eidson, James Falzone, Helen Gillet, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Mabel Kwan, Steve Marquette, Allen Moore, Dave Rempis, Ken Vandermark Jacob Wick, Katherine Young Buy Tickets