Voodoo fest to rock City Park

NEW ORLEANS — The Voodoo Music and Arts Experience returns to City Park this weekend for its annual eclectic three days of music and art.

With the late-breaking addition of those lords of metal, Metallica, as Saturday night’s headliner, the 2012 festival is more classic-rock oriented than originally intended. Modern post-punk rock band Green Day’s Oct. 8 cancellation of their Voodoo appearance forced Voodoo to scramble for a high-profile replacement.

Green Day’s cancellation followed front man Billie Joe Armstrong’s on-stage meltdown in September at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. Armstrong subsequently entered a rehab facility.

While Green Day’s absence is disappointing, dozens of other notable performers fill the rich Voodoo line-up. Neil Young and Crazy Horse, one of music’s greatest jam bands, headline Friday. Jack White, the Detroit-to-Nashville garage- and roots-rock auteur, headlines Sunday.

Also on the schedule are rapper star Nas, electronic music star Skrillex, funk bass master Bootsy Collins, rising young blues man Gary Clark Jr., classic reggae group Toots and the Maytals and many New Orleans favorites, including George Porter Jr. and his Runnin’ Pardners, Irma Thomas and Little Freddie King.

The Voodoo Music and Arts Experience takes place Friday, Oct. 26-Sunday, Oct. 28. Festival hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.

Single day tickets are $107; three-day passes are $222. Tickets and info for the festival are available at http://thevoodooexperience.com.

Parking is available inside City Park for $20 per day. Parking opens at 9:30 a.m. all three days. Entrances are at City Park Avenue and Anseman Avenue as well as Marconi Drive and Dreyfous Drive.

Parking also is available at Delgado Community College for $10 per day. Lots at the corner of City Park Avenue and Marconi Drive open at 3 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday.