So much more than jazz
Walter 'Wolfman' Washington performs at the Louisiana Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans in 2011.
Wide variety of musical acts come together again for annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
The 2012 lineup for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival includes the third show in the reunited Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary tour; veteran rock stars Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and the Eagles; a newly added Jimmy Buffett acoustic set; an eclectic list of popular younger performers including Bon Iver, Feist, the Zac Brown Band, Ne-Yo and Janelle Monáe; and Al Green, the classic soul star whose music sales got a massive boost when President Barrack Obama sang a line from “Let’s Stay Together” at a fundraising event in January.
Jazz Fest, running Friday, April 27, through Sunday, April 29, and Thursday, May 3, through Sunday, May 6, at the Fair Grounds Race Course also features the hundreds of New Orleans and Louisiana performers who always provide the festival’s heart and soul.
Among this year’s nationally known New Orleans artists are the swiftly rising young star Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and his band, Orleans Avenue; Dr. John, the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee whose latest album, Locked Down, was produced by Dan Auerbach of the popular rock band, the Black Keys; and 2012 Grammy winners the Rebirth Brass Band.
Jazz Fest attendance likely will exceed last year’s 400,000 mark when festival-goers from throughout the U.S. and world take in the event’s customary array of rock, rhythm-and-blues, blues, traditional and contemporary jazz, gospel and Louisiana Cajun, zydeco and Mardi Gras Indian music as well as the event’s dozens of food and craft booths and demonstrations.
Tickets
General admission ticket packages purchased for the festival’s first weekend (April 27, 28 and 29) are $120. Second weekend packages purchased for all four festival days (May 3, 4, 5 and 6) are $160. Advance single-day tickets are $50, tickets at the gate are $65. Children’s tickets for ages 2 through 10 are $5 and are available at the gate only.
Tickets are available at http://www.nojazzfest.com and http://www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets and by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Jazz Fest ticket office located at the New Orleans Arena Box Office. General admission tickets are subject to service fees and handling charges.
Jazz Fest express shuttle
The Jazz Fest express shuttle and festival admission tickets are on sale at shuttle departure locations each day of the festival beginning at 9:30 am. Shuttles begin operation at 10:30 a.m. and continue running until all patrons have left the Fair Grounds.
Shuttles leave from the Steamboat Natchez dock at Toulouse Street and the Sheraton Hotel at 500 Canal St. Roundtrip tickets are $14 per day. Shuttle departure from City Park next to Marconi Meadows is $18 per day. Packages are available. Information is available at http://www.graylineneworleans.com/jazzfest.html