It’s the most wonderful time of the year!  No Andy Williams, not Christmas, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the unchallenged greatest music and culture event on the planet.  While yesterday did not end on a great note, we have one more day to stage a great finish to a great Fest {pun compliments welcome}!

Today –

I have 2 things to say straight away. First, thank you Jazz Fest for another entertaining and educational year; second, I hope the weather holds because I cannot remember a day where there was more music that I knew I wanted to see before even walking out the door. I could spend all day either at Gentilly, Blues, or Fais Do Do! These are the kind of problems that made me move here so many years ago – this and drive-thru daiquis… Just a couple highlights from each of these stages include Aaron Neville and the Allen Toussaint Tribute at Gentilly, Terrance Simien and Arlo Guthrie at Blues, and The Band Courtboullion and Roddie Romero at Fais Do Do. On other stages, I could open the day at Congo with the Brass-A-Holics, then grab a seat in the Jazz tent for the Trumpet Mafia. On the next wave, there is a Wolfman Washington, Isley Brothers double feature at Congo, Lena Prima at Economy Hall, and the only in New Orleans sound of the Tin Men over by Lagniappe. Closing out, add Trombone Shorty at Acura to the list and, if you have never seen Bobby Lounge, check him out back at Lagniappe. And that, Music Lovers, is just a small sampling of all the awesome performances on tap for today.

Remember to practice the “Walk By”, stroll by the many different stages to see bands that you have never heard of for a song or two.  I promise that you will discover something fabulous you never even know existed. Whatever adventures lie before you, remember to always Go Hear Some Live Local Music!