Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

North America

New Orleans Jazz Fest 2019

Photo by Amy Harris/The Travel Addict

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival turned 50-years-old this year with a massive line-up spanning eight days, over two weekends.  The festival presented by Shell drew approximately 475,000 festival attendees during the event’s two weekends making it one of the largest music and cultural events in the United States. The music, food and cultural extravaganza took place from April 25-28 for the first round and May 2-5 for the second part at New Orleans Fairgrounds.

Even though legendary act The Rolling Stones and their replacement Fleetwood Mac had to cancel due to ailments of both vocalists, the festival was filled with both mainstream and local heavy hitting acts. This is my 11th year attending the festival in one of my favorite cities.

Despite a soggy start with some thunderstorms, Alanis Morisette and Earth, Wind & Fire and R&B sensation Ciara performed for fans who held out and stuck around on the first day Thursday, April 25. Guitar icon Carlos Santana and brass royalty Trombone Shorty took the stage for day two. Hometown band The Revivalists, who never disappoint, also performed a high energy set on Friday, April 26. I have photographed this band for eight years and I am so happy to see their huge success over the past few years.

New Orleans is known for its music and food. At the festival, there was everything for patrons to dive into from gumbo, po’boys, softshell crab and other treats to feed the soul. Flavored snowballs also provide the perfect way to cool off in the warm New Orleans afternoons. My personal favorite food is the crawfish enchiladas that I was introduced to last year and now have to eat everyday during the festival. Please understand this is not the place to count calories. Even Katy Perry got in on the food action attending the festival the days leading up to her performance in disguise and posting on IG about all her food indulgences.

Rapper Curren$y performed earlier on the third day Saturday, April 27. A variety of headliners graced the stages including pop singer Katy Perry, crooner Leon Bridges and rapper Logic. There’s no better way to round out the first weekend of Jazz Fest than with music legends Bonnie Raitt, Al Green and Van Morrison. Colombian, Reggaeton artist J Balvin also took the stage and rounded out the culturally diverse lineup.

Jazz Fest continued to pair big names and local acts for the second weekend. On Thursday, May 2, included various names such as Ziggy Marley, Tom Jones and Mavis Staples. The second Friday, May 3 included songstress Gladys Knight, guitar guru Gary Clark Jr. and country singer Chris Stapleton.

Saturday, May 4 did not disappoint with a musically diverse set of headliners such as Dave Matthews Band, party starter Pitbull and the Queen of Motown Diana Ross. Tank & the Bangas and Big Freedia also brought the house down.

Jazz Fest 2019 came to a close with more iconic performances by Chaka Khan, John Fogerty, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Buffet and Herbie Hancock.

New Orleans is a cultural, artistic, educational smorgasbord and Jazz Fest is a perfect representation of it. The fest has already announced dates for 2020 keeping the extended eight day schedule, it will take place from April 23-26 for the first weekend and April 30-May 3 for the second weekend. For the most up-to-date Jazz Fest info, visit www.nojazzfest.com.

Latest Articles

Governor’s Ball Moves To Flushing Meadows Corona Park

News

The 2023 edition of Governor’s Ball Music Festival, slated for June 9th-11th, will take place in a new location: Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The...

Parkway Drive's Winston McCall Talks Love of Byron Bay Parkway Drive's Winston McCall Talks Love of Byron Bay

Interviews

For some bands, it’s been years since they’ve been stateside due to the pandemic. For Parkway Drive, it was four long years after a...

Jacques Torres prepares gourmet foods aboard the Holland America fleet. Jacques Torres prepares gourmet foods aboard the Holland America fleet.

News

Holland America has extended it’s Culinary Cruise program into 2023. Celebrity chefs will share their knowledge and kitchen secrets on certain voyages with guests....

South America

Do you dream of traveling the world? Are you scared that your budget might hold you back? Well, it might interest you to know...

News

As people all over the world are becoming more environmentally conscious, airlines are taking note and finding unique ways to make a difference and...

Interviews

Distinctive singer and emotive songwriter Lacey Sturm first found fame in hard rock and alternative metal circles fronting the platinum-plus Flyleaf, though she continued spreading...

You May Also Like

Interviews

The series “Departures” chronicled two Canadian friends Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach as they quit their day jobs to make their way around the...

North America

While covering MGK “Machine Gun Kelly” Day which took place on August 13 I visited the musician’s local coffee shop, 27 Club Coffee. It...

Interviews

Cincinnati-based chef Christian Gill has been taking on every challenge that the Food Network has to offer this summer. He is currently competing in...

Interviews

Ministry has paved a unique path for the past four decades, from its early days melding elements of dark wave, synth pop and metal...