New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

It’s almost time for the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, seven days of incredibly diverse artists, bands and groups on twelve stages. April 23rd through May 2nd.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. will hold their 12th Annual Gala Fundraiser this Thursday night with a lifetime tribute to Dr. John, featuring Dr. John, Jon Cleary, Guitar Slim Jr., Sunpie Barnes, James Rivers, and the Heritage School of Music Band.

While I’m at the Festival I’ll have to check out Congo Square and look at the African drums, and also go to the Louisiana Marketplace to see what’s cookin’.

Speaking of food, I gotta motivate over to Heritage Square and get some BBQ pork ribs and peach cobbler from Down Home Creole Cookin’, some rosemint iced tea at Sunshine Concessions, and a fried pork chop sandwich and banana bread pudding from Miss Linda’s Catering in Food Area One. Umm!

There’s a link to create your own Music Schedule, which you’ll probably need with this many performers.

My list here is by no means an official line-up of this year’s Festival. I’m just looking at who I’d like to see this year, which is going to be tough, because some of the artists I want to see are playing at the same times on different stages.

I’m going to need the official iPhone App to juggle these schedules.

Friday April 23:
The Black Crowes
Dr. John & the Lower 911
Elvin Bishop

Saturday April 24:
Better Than Ezra
Simon & Garfunkel
My Morning Jacket

Sunday April 25:
Allman Brothers Band
The Levon Helm Band
Marcia Ball
Jonny Lang
Anita Baker
Shawn Colvin

Thursday April 29:
Blues Traveler
Widespread Panic
Average White Band
Gov’t Mule
Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers

Friday April 30:
Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band
Aretha Franklin
Allen Toussaint
The Iguanas
The Subdudes
Buckwheat Zydeco
Gipsy Kings
Jose Feliciano
Stanley Clarke Band featuring Hiromi