I’m on record as saying previously that Jazz Fest in New Orleans is hands down the best music festival you could ever attend. Anyone who’s ever attended can pretty much attest to this, and if you don’t believe me you can just go to hell. So there.
With that said, the lineup for the 2013 Jazz Fest was announced this morning, and it’s f*cking great.
Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, The Black Keys, John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Phoenix, B.B. King, Frank Ocean, Earth, Wind & Fire, Willie Nelson, Little Big Town, George Benson, Jill Scott, Jimmy Cliff, Gipsy Kings, Jeffrey Osborne, Patti Smith, Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite, Band of Horses, Gary Clark Jr., Andrew Bird, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Juan Luis Guerra y 440, Los Lobos, The Little Willies, Kem, Roy Ayers, Laura Bell Bundy, Dianne Reeves, Stanley Clarke/George Duke Project, Charles Bradley, Wayne Shorter Quartet, Taj Mahal & The Real Thing Tuba Band, Calexico, Eddie Palmieri Salsa Orchestra, VaShawn Mitchell, Joshua Redman Quartet, Mutemath, Ana Popovic, The Mavericks, Little Joe y La Familia, Campbell Brothers, Brushy One String of Jamaica, Jerry Douglas, Daryl Coley, Magary Lord and Malê Debalê of Bahia-Brazil, The Del McCoury Band, Doc McKenzie & the Hi-Lites, Pokey LaFarge, Salio of Republic of Georgia, and A Tribute to Native America with special guests Robert Mirabal, Martha Redbone, Bill Miller, Pura Fé, A Tribe Called Red, Stoney Creek, Yellow Bird Indian Dancers, Oneida Longhouse Singers and Dancers
And those are just the national acts — that’s not even considering the local artists, which include…
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Aaron Neville, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Pete Fountain, The Nevilles, Rebirth Brass Band, Galactic, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Better Than Ezra, The Meter Men with Page McConnell, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, 35th Anniversary of “One Mo’ Time!”, Marc Broussard, Chris Owens, Amanda Shaw, Papa Grows Funk, Cowboy Mouth, The Dixie Cups, Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, Theresa Andersson, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Jon Cleary, John Boutté, Sonny Landreth, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Irvin Mayfield & NOJO, Jeremy Davenport, Davell Crawford, Terence Blanchard, Deacon John, Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr., Donald Harrison, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Henry Butler, Bonerama, Shamarr Allen, The Soul Rebels, Marcia Ball, Charmaine Neville, Treme Brass Band’s Tribute to Uncle Lionel, Ellis Marsalis, Nicholas Payton, George Porter, Jr., Tucka, John Mooney & Bluesiana, Jonathon “Boogie” Long, Big Chief Monk & the Golden Eagles, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Los Hombres Calientes, Glen David Andrews, Terrance Simien with Queen Ida, Raw Oyster Cult, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Meschiya Lake & the Little Big Horns, The Iguanas, The Revivalists, Creole String Beans, James Andrews, Eric Lindell, Dr. Michael White & the Original Liberty Jazz Band, Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue, Leo Jackson & the Melody Clouds, Astral Project, Zion Harmonizers, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Val & Love Alive Mass Choir, Gregg Stafford’s Jazz Hounds, The Boutté Family Gospel, and so much more.
With all of those out of the way, here are the ten national acts (I can see most of the local ones multiple times within a calender year) I’m most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Jazz Fest…
10. Ben Harper
9. Jill Scott
8. Jeffrey Osbourne (Mainly for the chance to hear “The Woo Woo Woo Song” live.)
7. BB King
6. Band of Horses
5. Earth, Wind And Fire
4. Willie Nelson
3. The Black Keys
2. Frank Ocean
1. Hall & Oates (I might have to grow a stache for this.)
