Jazz Fest 2008 Lineup
39 years in and New Orleans's big music festival continues booking acts with blatantly disregard the genre for which it's named. But Jazz Fest's all-inclusive approach to artist lineups is as needed as ever, 'cause they could use as many of you down in New Orleans as are willing to go. The Jazz & Heritage Fest's celebration of "rhythm & blues, rock, jazz, country, blues, gospel, world beat, and more" runs from April 25-27, takes a few days to get drunk and nap, then wakes up for the afterhours party from May 1-4. This year they're calling down something for everyone (Stevie Wonder), something for the kids (see: the Raconteurs, the Roots), and something for the boomers (see: Billy Joel, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Diana Krall, Santana, Jimmy Buffett, Tim McGraw, Randy Newman, and pretty much everything else). A small selection of notables listed after the jump.
The Neville BrothersHear that? Thousands more. Verify that assertion with the official day-by-day breakdown. Tix and special hotel rates are available at nojazzfest.com. So get down there and pump that post-Katrina economy full of your beignet money.
Stevie Wonder
Billy Joel
Jimmy Buffett
Tim McGraw
Santana
Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
Sheryl Crow
Widespread Panic
Dr. John
Al Green
Diana Krall
Keyshia Cole
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
The Raconteurs
Irma Thomas
Steel Pulse
John Prine
Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint
Randy Newman
Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea
O.A.R.
Galactic
The Roots
Dianne Reeves
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Burning Spear
Ozomatli with Chali 2na
Rebirth Brass Band
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Tower of Power
Delbert McClinton
John Hammond
Cassandra Wilson
Keb' Mo'
The Count Basie Orchestra feat. Patti Austin
Pete Fountain
The Derek Trucks Band
Richard Thompson
Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn
The Radiators
James Cotton
Cupid
The John Butler Trio
Del McCoury
Vernel Bagneris: Jelly Roll & Me
Terence Blanchard with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Buckwheat Zydeco
John P. Kee & the New Life Community Choir
Cowboy Mouth
Byron Cage with Kim Burrell
Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. and the Greater St. Stephen Choir
Trinitee 5:7
Lizz Wright
Voices of the Wetlands Allstars
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
The Bad Plus
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Bettye LaVette
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave.
Gene "Duke of Earl" Chandler
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Davell Crawford's N.O. R & B Orchestra
Henry Butler
Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet
Leo Nocentelli's "Rare Gathering"
Lee Boys, Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, MOOV of Martinique, Jackson Southernaires, Big Jay McNeely
Paul Porter of the Legendary Christianaires
Nicholas Payto
and thousands more
Posted at 1:02 PM in Tour Dates
Well, I don't know if Jazz Fest can be considered New Orleans' "big festival." Maybe perhaps in name value, or that it's the city's longest festival, but I'd have to assert that the Voodoo Music Experience is a larger festival and has a history of booking big name acts in both mainstream and indie rock (as well as a few throwbacks).
Now that can be a mixed bag, because we got Rage Against the Machine, the Smashing Pumpkins, M.I.A., Spoon and Wilco, among others. But then we also got Fall Out Boy which was nightmarish. Eh, what can you do?
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Ironicially, the website is nojazzfest
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@ju bean: i refuse to believe that anyone who grew up in the greater new orleans area would shout out Voodoo above Jazz Fest. That's worse than blasphemy; that's just bad taste. BROADMOOR & THA 504 REPRASENT!
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yea, ju bean, that's a pretty retarded statement.
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voodoo-fest, while fun, is no jazzfest. apples and oranges.
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the more i think about ju bean's comment, the more i realize that as much as i idealize new orleans from new york, as much as i want to get back to some sort of rebirth brass/walker percy, syrupy slow dixieland jazz way of life... new orleans is actually full of people who dig voodoo more than jazz fest, who actually need the raconteurs and tim mcgraw as a draw to the fairgrounds.
grow some robert johnson roots, folks! this shit is crucial!
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nick courage, have you been to jazz fest in the past couple of years? it has been continuously packed the past two years. i really don't understand your reasoning behind thinking that "new orleans is full of people who dig voodoo more than jazz fest." not so much. most definitely apples to oranges
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Hold on people...
Don't harass me for stating my opinion. Voodoo Fest books acts that appeal to different sects than Jazz Fest. I love Jazz Fest just as much as the rest of you, but I'm a child of the indie scene, through and through. So, do excuse me if I'd rather go to see the music that excites me.
But just be honest about it, and admit that in reality all of New Orleans, or any place for that mater, isn't musically homogeneous. The truth is that you are stereotyping what it means to be a resident of this city, and you are more narrow minded than anyone who would openly admit to liking Voodoo Fest more than Jazz Fest. No, we don't all listen to jazz and eat beignets, and most residents of this fair city avoid the French Quarter like the plague. But I guess in your world, being a walking platitude suits you well - retards - get over yourselves.
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Dirty Dozen Brass Band
The Bad Plus
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave.
those three alone make it worth the travel for me...too bad the second weekend is the weekend i'm getting marries...
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I would go to this concert. Just don't insult us by calling it a jazz fest. It is more of a variety show of music genres. Add some more folk, metal, reggae and world beat and further diversify the thing. Just don't call it jazz just because it includes a few authentic jazzers. Well, maybe unless all the profits will go to benefit some home or retirement fund for jazz musicians.
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i've gone to jazz fest almost every year for the past 25 years, many years biking from my house uptown. for the most part, if you stay in the jazz and blues tents you're good to go. as for my beleaguered statement re: people digging voodoo more than jazzfest - that's why jazzfest is changing into something more rock and roll, right?
@ju bean: re: "retards-get over yourselves": when you say "our fair city," do you mean kenner or metarie?
ZING!
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@nickcourage:
How dare you suggest that my mingling with the residents of Kenner or Metarie is anything more than forced by circumstance or the byproduct of pure happenstance!
But seriously, we both live in the same part of town. I'm sure you're a nice guy and all, so we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. See you at the Jazz Fest, even though I don't know who the hell you are.
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Voodoo over Jazz Fest.... BY FAR!
Only reason I am going to Jazz Fest is to see 2 bands. The Raconteurs, and Galactic... And I must say Galactic was amazing at VOODOO!
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