New Orleans celebrates the election of Barack Obama; Desautel opens her own Bywater restaurant; LaDonna rebuilds Gigi's bar; school band director Batiste gets invested in his students' lives.

Lambreaux learns his cancer has spread; Delmond plays with Terence Blanchard in New York; Annie wins song of the year for "This City"; violence strikes one of Batiste's students.

McAlary and Desautel spend New Year's Eve together; Batiste picks up a movie job; LaDonna comforts Lambreaux; Colson offers to testify, NOPD retaliates.

McAlary celebrates his 40th; Bernette gets a break in her case; Annie dumps her band; Lambreaux insists that Delmond carry on as Big Chief after he's gone; Everett returns to New Orleans.

Colson is offered a transfer; guardians send Lambreaux home; Batiste takes his sons to a Dr. John gig; Hidalgo returns to Texas; McAlary revisits his pothole, now decorated.