By Jim Stanford on December 15, 2009
Pearl Jam will play the festival's second weekend.
Drop the leash!
The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has released its music lineup for 2010, and Seattle grunge rockers Pearl Jam are the biggest surprise.
Also on the bill are Aretha Franklin, the Allman Brothers Band, Widespread Panic, Black Crowes, Band of Horses and the instigator of one of my favorite Jazz Fest moments, Lionel Richie. The 41st annual festival is April 23 to May 2.
As readers of this site know, Jazz Fest is one of the most popular off-season destinations for Jackson Hole music fans, who by April are starved for searing jams, spicy food and hot weather.
The festival has every kind of music, from jam bands to hipsters like My Morning Jacket and The Dead Weather featuring guitarist Jack White. Steep Canyon Rangers, the bluegrass band that put on such a good show at Targhee last summer, is playing with comedian Steve Martin on banjo.
For the complete lineup, click here. The Times-Picayune has the breakdown of each weekend.
Mardi Gras Indians like the Wild Magnolias are the soul of the festival.
Jazz Fest announced its lineup early for a second straight year, looking to get a jump on Bonnaroo, Coachella and the rest of the festival circuit. The ploy worked well in 2009, as visitation was strong despite a weak economy.
These headliners may garner attention, but it’s the hundreds of New Orleans musicians farther down the bill who make the festival an unparalleled musical experience. You may go to Louisiana to see Pearl Jam, but you’ll come back talking about Allen Toussaint, The Wild Magnolias and Trombone Shorty.
Just be ready to party … all night long!
Update 1/14: Simon and Garfunkel have been added to the lineup for first weekend, April 24.
Posted under Music
AHHHHHHHHH!!!!! See you there!
I am already anticipating a major battle amongst the Duke boys over which weekend to attend!
that’s because you’re set on Darius Rucker!
How did you know Rucker is my boy?! Meanwhile, I’m guessing you will be noodle-dancing to Particle, right?
A friend of mine just posted about this link on the The Time Picayune doing a 40 year retrospective Multimedia piece on their site.
http://www.nola.com/photos/t-p/index.ssf?40thfestshow/40thfest.html