New Orleans Jazz Festival already expects a stampede of pilgrims for this seven-day party, which unfolds over successive weekends in April and May. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell has music on numerous stages. Parades and animation for the children. Food, crafts and demonstrations.
More than 425,000 fans attended the 2016 New Orleans Jazz Festival. Over the course of seven days of programming—from Steely Dan’s opening day magic to Neil Young’s impossible-to-resist command on the final day to “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World”. Above was followed by Trombone Shorty’s only-in-New Orleans funk fest that closed out the event on the Acura Stage—the Festival rolled on through sunshine and rain.
New Orleans Jazz Festival was the culmination of years of discussions and efforts by city leaders who wanted to create an event worthy of the city’s legacy as the birthplace of jazz. A couple of other festivals were held in the years leading up to the first New Orleans Jazz Festival, but those events, different in format, did not take hold as the Jazz & Heritage Festival would.
The Festival is a major tourist destination, with economic importance for New Orleans rivaled only by Mardi Gras which takes place in February 2017.
New Orleans Jazz Festival brings to the city $300 million annually which is welcomed with open arms after Hurricane Katrina.
Jazz Fest usually secures preferred rates for visitors at a number of New Orleans hotels.
City buses will drop you three blocks from to the gates on the Esplanade Avenue side of the Fair Grounds. Streetcars also provides decent service, dropping passengers at Beauregard Circle near City Park.
Jazz Fest 2017 lineup:
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – Lorde – Pitbull George Benson – Dr. John – Elle King Gente de Zona Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes Chocolate Milk – Chris Owens – Boyfriend The Mavericks – Little Freddie King Blues Band Magnificent 7 – Mia Borders Glen David Andrews and the Treme Choir Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indians Lakou Mizik of Haiti The New Orleans Hip Hop Experience ft. Sqad Up, Denisia, Roca B and T – Ray The Violinist and Dreams 2 Reality The Clark Sisters – John Boutté – Joe Louis Walker Lil’ Buck Sinegal Blues Band with special guest Barbara Lynn Flow Tribe
CC Adcock + The Lafayette Marquis Lil’ Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers James Rivers Movement – Pine Leaf Boys Midnite Disturbers The Bucktown Allstars 25thAnniversary The New Orleans Groove Masters featuring Herlin Riley, Shannon Powell, and Jason Marsalis Ed Volker’s Quintet Narcosis Luther Kent and Trickbag Telmary y Habana Sana of Cuba Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro of Cuba Conga Los Hoyos of Cuba – Grupo Caury of Cuba Higher Heights Reggae – Tin Men The PresHall Brass – A Tribute to Jo “Cool” Davis Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson Quartet Big Chief Kevin Goodman and the Flaming Arrows Mardi Gras Indians New Orleans Spiritualettes New Orleans Jazz Vipers – Stoop Kids Julio y Cesar Band
Naydja CoJoe New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra Mark Braud’s New Orleans Jazz Giants Young Pinstripe Brass Band Val and Love Alive Mass Choir Lyle Henderson and Emmanu-EL Walter Mouton and the Scott Playboys Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band Big Steppers Social Aid and Pleasure Club Untouchables Social Aid and Pleasure Club Furious Five Social Aid and Pleasure Club Young Men Olympia Aid Social Aid and Pleasure Club New Look Social Aid and Pleasure Club First Division Social Aid and Pleasure Club Palm Court Jazz Allstars with Sammy Rimington Audrey Ferguson and Voices of Distinction Craig Adams and Higher Dimensions of Praise Black Lodge Singers Square Dance with Lost in the Holler Curtis Pierre and the Samba Kids NOCCA Jazz Ensemble
Tornado Brass Band Monogram Hunters Mardi Gras Indians Ninth Ward Hunters Mardi Gras Indians Shining Star Hunters Mardi Gras Indians Young Seminole Hunters Mardi Gras Indians Black Feathers Mardi Gras Indians Da Knockaz Brass Band – Javier’s Dance Company Omosede Children’s Dance Theatre Versailles Lion Dance Team Di Filippo Marionettes
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, 1751 Gentilly Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70119
