NEW ORLEANS — This year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival started its two-weekend run on Friday, filling the air with the sounds of R&B, rock ‘n roll, Zydeco, pop, blues, nation, rap, gospel — and of course jazz.
Music fans put into the Fair Grounds Race Course when gates opened at 11 a.m. They roamed amongst 14 phases or campingtents, lotsof dispersing blankets or tarpaulins and setting up folding chairs, laying claim to areas where their preferred artists were to carryout.
And some were dancing, especially in front of the celebration’s Fais Do-Do Stage, where Zydeco sounded out, played by Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie.
Retiree Joe Hulsey of Seattle stated he and his partner have invested the last 4 months in New Orleans. A music celebration veteran, Hulsey stated Jazz Fest is his preferred.
“There’s simply no contrast,” he stated. “It’s simply one of the gems about New Orleans that I love. It’s a entire ambiance.
“You can’t beat the music, the food, the music,” he stated, smiling.
Food was readilyavailable from lots of cubicles staffed by Louisiana diningestablishments. There were a range of takes on conventional Louisiana fare — various seafood meals or po’boy sandwiches including crawfish, sausage, pork or alligator. And there were other foods, like pan fried noodles from the Ajun Cajun.
Friday’s music lineup consistedof setup efficiencies by Lizzo; Robert Plant & Alison Krauss; Big Freedia; Tank and The Bangas; Wu-Tang Clan + The Soul Rebels; Nicholas Payton; Mavis Staples; Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers; Charlie Musselwhite; and Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience.
It was Lizzo that drew Kalindi Cordero, of Dallas, and her finest goodfriend, Lana Zring, of Atlanta, to the celebration.
“This city is simply so unique and when I heard Lizzo was going to be here, I began tracking the lineup and tickets and hotels and whatever,” Cordero stated. “It’s the city’s diversi