That one month of summer heat is right around the corner, but Toronto will get an early taste of the south this year. Fat City Blues, a new bar that bills itself as "an ode to the rich culture and vibrancy of New Orleans," is set to open next weekend on College Street.

Originally slated to start up in February, the bar promises live entertainment featuring local blues and jazz acts Thursday through Saturday - to start. The plan is to eventually book live music every night of the week - exciting news for Toronto's (relatively) limited jazz and blues scene.

Along with classic New Orleans cocktails, the bar will serve authentic NOLA fare including po' boys, oysters, and a crab boil served "southern picnic style" indoors and on the 40 seat patio. There's one catch to your ears and taste-buds' trip down to N' Orleans, though. The space may be haunted by the ghosts of 890 College past, including the Huntsman Tavern, Mitzi's, and Red Fish.

Can the brains behind the new Bourbon Street-syled bar (Small Town Food Co owners Cameron Hutton and Steve McKeon, along with Simon Ho of The Drake Hotel) save the doomed College Street spot with Creole decor, live music, and (their words) voodoo? We'll see.

Fat City Blues' opening weekend is March 26-28. The musical schedule so far includes Tyler Yarema, Robert Davis, and Patrick Tevlin.