Viv's tips on planning for Jazzfest
+Book now for JazzFest 2008. Ask me to email you when the lineup comes out. For best availability and lowest fares book as soon as you can.

+ If you're not able to attend both weekends, determine which weekend you will go (the first weekend the festival takes place from Friday to Sunday of the last week in April; the final weekend runs from Friday to Sunday of the first week in May). If you are able to attend the whole fest, you will find the days between the two weekends are filled with music events in clubs, record stores and parks throughout the city.

+ Ask me to quote you for air tickets as early as Fall and buy your tickets no later than Christmas. I do not recommend waiting until the lineup is announced to purchase air tickets. Both weekends of the Fest are always fantastic. Rain is a possibility as is scorching heat, but most often the Fest takes place during the perfect blessed days of the Louisiana spring.

+Ask for recommendations on hotels or packages and make reservations. I can help you determine the value of all hotels based on price, location and level of comfort.

+ Keep your eye on www.nojazzfest.com. The eargerly awaited lineup is announced in February and the site is updated as new acts are added. Another great site for Jazz Fest information (and a fantastic radio station) is wwoz.org.

+ Ask me where to find club schedules for the days you'll be in town. Many great local musicians (national and international artists) may not be playing the Fest but can be heard around town. Some club events that have become part of the Fest tradition are Piano Night at Tipitinas and Black Top Blues Recording Artists closing night at the House of Blues.

+ Pick up OffBeat magazine's JazzFest issue the minute you arrive in New Orleans and tune your radio to WWOZ. It's Fest time!

Other New Orleans Music Events in 2007

(+Coming Soon)

JazzFest headliners set
For a complete listing and schedule of performers nojazzfest.com.

JazzFest New Orleans Package
April 25-27, 2008 (first weekend)
or May 2-4, 2008 (second weekend)
Includes 3 or 4 star centrally located hotel for 4 nights (additional nights available) Daily breakfast 3 days New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival tickets Economy rental car with unlimited miles.
FROM only $495 per person based on two + lowest available airfare
(book TODAY for lowest possible fares)

..2006 Jazzfest Highlights

Bob Dylan in white working Maggies Farm

Bruce Springsteen and the premiere of his Seeger Sessions Band

The good Doctor John getting fonky

Under the Tents and
on the Stages (a sampling)

Economy Hall. This is where you'll find Dixieland, 40s-style swing, and other "oldies" styles of music. If you're looking for the type of jazz you hear at Preservation Hall, this is where you want to go. Several of the second-line parades start at Economy Hall.

Congo Square. World music here. African, Caribbean, and South American artists featured.

Lagniappe Tent. This is a real mixed bag. You'll find jazz bands from local high schools and colleges, along with not-so-well-known acts. Like the name implies, it's something extra.

Gospel Tent. Lots of "joyful noise" made here! You'll find anything from local church choirs to name Gospel acts to Aaron Neville sitting in with the Zion Harmonizers on the last Sunday.

Music Heritage Stage. This stage features interviews with many of the performers playing that day. These question and answer sessions can be quite fascinating.

The Boss and band bring down the house...

The Heritage Fair. While the music is the main focus at the Fair Grounds, there's also lots of other activities happening. The Heritage Fair consists of lots of wonderful booths where artisans and vendors sell various hand-crafted items, such as clothing, hats, jewelry, and art works. This is more than just JazzFest posters and souvenirs. This is class stuff!

..April 25-May 4 2008

"There's a lot of places I like," Bob Dylan wrote in his Chronicles Volume 1. "But I like New Orleans better."

We couldn't agree more. And one of the best things we like about New Orleans is the Louisiana Jazz and Heritage Festival (better known as JazzFest). It's ten days of great music, food and fun.

JazzFest has been going strong for 36 years now, starting out as a talent showcase for what New Orleans does best—music. Gospel, jazz, cajun, zydeco, rhythm and blues, soul, afro-caribbean, reggae, rock, Dixieland, and Festival parades, starring brass bands and marching clubs. International music stars as well as local favorites perform simultaneously on 12 stages at the Fair Grounds Race Course.

In addition to the music, the Heritage Fair also features a scintillating array of local food and contemporary and folk crafts. But—it's really all about the music. The likes of BB King, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and Sting have played the festival. And on a local level, where else could you go to an intimate, tented "workshop/interview" to hear piano greats like Dr. John and Alan Toussaint reminisce together about piano legend James Booker, playing his tunes for emphasis. Have your ears opened by local favorites like Snooks Eaglin, Walter Wolfman Washington, Eddy Bo, the Funky Meters, Irma Thomas, the Marsalis family and the Neville Brothers.

And by the way, if you don't get enough of a groove by day, there are the clubs by night. And there are lots of them. The clubs book the best music of the year during JazzFest...ALL of them! Yes, there are more choices every night...and all night long...till the wee hours of the morning...till the sun comes up at some places!

You'll need to do some research to plan who to see at JazzFest. There are literally hundreds of acts presented over two weekends. (See Viv's tips this page). Tickets are an incredible bargain at $35 (advance) or $40 (gate) for all-day admission to the fest.

The fairgrounds are conveniently located only 10 minutes from the French Quarter. Buses run to and from the fairgrounds from several locations. The main thing to remember is that it's usually hot. Bring the requisite sun gear, grab an Abita and get down.

JAZZFEST FOOD
Besides great music the Fest is a food lover's dream. Hint: it helps to love southern and caribbean cuisines. You will want to sample: cajun crawfish bread, muffulatta sandwiches, po'boys, oyster and artichoke soup, cajun boudin balls, alligator pie, crawfish stuffed puff, sweet fried crawfish tails, red beans and rice, shrimp etouffe, crawfish amandine, softshell crawfish po'boy, and crawfish sac.