The 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell drew 460,000 festivalgoers to this year’s event, Jazz Fest organizers announced today, as the Festival once again transformed the Fair Grounds Race Course and the entire city into a cultural destination for music lovers from all over the world.
“The success of Jazz Fest owes everything to the magic of New Orleans and to all of the culture bearers of the state of Louisiana,” said Quint Davis, Producer/Director of the event. “We’re already working on next year’s Festival. Let’s do it again!”
Over its two weekends Jazz Fest presented seven days of the region’s best music—blues, gospel, rock, R & B, traditional and contemporary jazz, Cajun and zydeco, brass band and Mardi Gras Indian music, and much more—along with an unparalleled mix of the greatest American roots and world music. As always, Jazz Fest served up more than 100 different dishes of Louisiana’s famously irresistible cuisine from an only-at-Jazz Fest menu that offers fine-dining quality food in a festival setting. Three acclaimed arts and crafts fairs also showcased the handmade crafts of Louisiana and beyond.
Highlights this year included: An opening day Festival Stage show of back-to-back-to-back all-stars—Big Freedia, Tank and the Bangas, and an exhilarating Jazz Fest debut by Lizzo; farewell tour appearances by both Dead & Co. and Kenny Loggins; Ed Sheeran’s return to the Festival as an international superstar; the “Locals Thursday” guitar legend double bill of Louisiana-born blues hero Buddy Guy and Jazz Fest favorite Santana; reggaeton sensation Farruko, among the many musical highlights from Puerto Rico, as the Festival’s Cultural Exchange Pavilion celebrated the rich culture of the U.S. territory; a jazz funeral in honor of the late, great bluesman Walter “Wolfman” Washington; and a redesigned exhibit tent area named the Bruce Brice Art Village, featuring artists Richard Thomas, Terrance Osborne and Brandan “Bmike” Odums. After being the subject of the 2022 poster but unable to perform last year due to a scheduling conflict, Jon Batiste returned to Jazz Fest for an epic performance on Friday, May 5, featuring members of the St. Augustine Marching Band and the Gospel Soul Children. On the final Sunday, Batiste also made surprise appearances with both Mumford & Sons and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, helping to bring the Festival to a climatic conclusion.
Next year’s event is scheduled for April 26 – May 5, 2024. For the most up-to-date Jazz Fest info, visit www.nojazzfest.com and follow the Festival on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The Foundation’s proceeds from Jazz Fest are used for year-round activities in the areas of education, economic development and cultural enrichment. Visit http://www.jazzandheritage.org/ for more information on the Foundation.
Shell USA is the Presenting Sponsor of the Festival. Major Jazz Fest Sponsors are Miller Lite and Louisiana Office of Tourism. First Horizon Bank, Morris Bart, Peoples Health, AARP, New Orleans & Company, Wild Turkey Bourbon, Coca-Cola, 1 Million Strong, Maui Jim Sunglasses, Ochsner Health, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Economy, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, Marriott Bonvoy and WWOZ are also Official Jazz Fest Sponsors.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell is a co-production of Festival Productions, Inc.-New Orleans and AEG Presents.
