Thursday, April 25th, marks the return of Jazz Fest, which transforms the Fair Grounds into a city within a city, featuring live music, locally sourced cuisine, and handcrafted goods.
In addition to being a ton of fun, Jazz Fest is one of New Orleans’ biggest and most reliable economic drivers.
Headliners like Widespread Panic, The Killers, Jon Batiste, Chris Stapleton, Heart, and Vampire Weekend are on the schedule for this coming weekend.
As usual, fantastic programming is lighting up music venues outside of Fair Grounds all week long. Columbia’s music and art will be honored in 2024 at the Cultural Exchange Pavilion.
The crawfish bread from Panorama Foods and sweet potato pies from Marie’s Sugar Dumplings, Chelsea’s favorite turnovers, are back. Anticipate fresh food vendors such as Fritai and Clesi’s.
Jazz Fest’s CD sales are declining as a result of the Rhythmporium’s decision to stop selling physical music at the Fair Grounds.
As the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival gets ready for The Rolling Stones to play again, it appears that three times is the charm.
The two-week festival will feature 14 stages located throughout the historic Fair Grounds race course, featuring dozens of acts every day. On May 2, The Stones will play a show for which tickets have long since sold out.
The legendary rock group was supposed to play at the 2019 festival, but lead singer Mick Jagger had heart surgery, so the show was postponed.
They made another attempt in 2021, but the festival was ultimately canceled due to an increase in COVID-19 cases. Quint Davis, the festival producer, says, “It is going to be special.”
New Orleans Heats Up
Rock groups Widespread Panic and The Beach Boys, reggae performer Stephen Marley, and jazz singer John Boutte are among the opening day acts.
On opening day, the weather was predicted to be in the 80s with clear skies and sunshine. The remainder of the first weekend, which ends on Sunday, was predicted to see similar weather.
In addition to Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jon Batiste, rock band Heart, country music superstar Chris Stapleton, R&B singer Fantasia, Cajun fiddler Amanda Shaw and The Cute Guys, jazz pianist Patrice Rushen, and blues and folk musician Ruthie Foster are among the performers.
October saw the release of Hackney Diamonds by the Rolling Stones, their first original album since 2005 and their first without drummer Charlie Watts (who passed away in 2021).
Davis said that, although he has not seen the set list, fans should anticipate hearing a combination of new songs and the greatest hits. Although no special guests are anticipated to perform with the Rolling Stones.
The 14 stages of the festival typically feature simultaneous performances by acts starting at 11 a.m. and going until 7 p.m. However, when the Stones play there the following week, the other stages will close.
