Jazz and Heritage Festival kicks off in the Big Easy. Words and Pictures By Andy J. Gordon
The 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival kicked off with steamy, sunny weather, just a few hints of rain and moderately sized crowds who enjoyed an assortment of music performances. The festival opened on Thursday April 24 and ran through Sunday with several big name acts plus a variety of local and regional artists, covering all types of music. Fans packed the main stages to see favorites like Dave Matthews Band, Goose, John Fogerty, Cheap Trick, Gladys Knight, Harry Connick, Jr., Lil Wayne & The Roots, HAIM and many more.
The festival takes place during two consecutive, four day extended weekends on the property of the New Orleans Fair Grounds, a horse racetrack where thirteen stages are set up for music plus a diverse collection of food vendors, art, crafts and cultural heritage displays. The music is as varied as any festival in the world with artists performing rock, soul, R&B, blues, jazz, funk, gospel, zydeco and other styles. Each weekend’s schedule is unique so fans can pick individual days, an entire weekend or attend both weekends, knowing that their experience will be different each day. We try to see as many performances as possible while also indulging in the regional food, pop-up Mardi Gras Indian parades and cultural experiences that make this event unlike any other.
Highlights from the first weekend:
- Goose just released their fourth studio album Everything Must Go, so having their debut headlining set at Jazz Fest’s Gentilly stage will likely help sales. Their two-hour show ran through highlights of their ten-year discography including their first live performance of their newest single “Your Direction,” followed by “Thatch,” another track featured on the new album. Fan favorites “Madhuvan” and “Hungersite” drove the crowd into a frenzy. The band threw in a cover of Tom Waits’ Blue Valentine ballad “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis.” It was a surprise from the usually high energy quartet and they followed it with the moody Everything Must Go single “Give It Time.” The band finished with an up-tempo sequence featuring “So Ready,” their frequent cover of Nina Simone’s scorching “Sinnerman” and the set-closing classic “Arcadia.”
- John Fogerty will turn 80 in May. On a hot Jazz Fest day on the Festival stage, Fogerty wore jeans and a flannel shirt, but showed as much or more energy as his two sons who are in his band. Fogerty still has the vocal and guitar chops that made the Credence Clearwater Revival catalog of songs such a big part of pop radio since the late 1960s. Fogerty recently won back the rights to his CCR hits and he seemed reenergized as he played several including “Have You Ever Seen the Rain?” and “Down on the Corner.” During “Old Man Down the Road,” Fogerty and his son Shane traded guitar riffs back and forth. After a zydeco interlude with surprise guest Rockin’ Dopsie Jr., Fogerty closed the set with additional classics “Fortunate Son,” “Travelin’ Band” and “Proud Mary.”
- Cheap Trick has been cranking out Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That A Shame” since before 1978’s At Budokan live album. It seemed only fitting that the band played it on the Gentilly Stage directly under a rendering of a smiling Fats Domino that decorates the stage peak. Original members guitarist Rick Neilson, vocalist Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson showed they can still deliver the radio hits that sold millions. The appreciative crowd created a massive sing along during “I Want You to Want Me,” “Dream Police” and “Surrender.” They closed the show with the appropriately named At Budokan track “Goodnight.”
- Harry Connick Jr. and Lil Wayne are both New Orleans natives that went on to national stardom. Jazz Fest schedulers have a wry sense of humor – they booked each artist on the two biggest stages at the same time. Lil Wayne actually was a guest with The Roots while Connick Jr. had his own band headlining the Gentilly stage. Connick said he wants to “keep the jazz in Jazz Fest” and “let’s pretend we’re at the Maple Leaf” (a small bar in the Uptown neighborhood). He showed off his vocal talent and piano playing while paying tribute to historic pianists and other musicians from New Orleans including Allen Toussaint, The Neville Brothers, James Booker and Professor Longhair. His band, filled with excellent horn players kept the crowd entertained as Connick crooned.
- There are lots of blues musicians that play Jazz Fest each year, but none exemplify the delta blues and swampland style better than Tab Benoit. The Houma, LA native has been delivering his distinct Cajun and zydeco infused blues for over 25 years. Benoit is a purist, telling the audience that he uses no tricks, just plugs his beat-up Fender Telecaster directly into his amplifier and lets his fingers provide the magic. That magic came through on older songs like “Medicine” and “Nothing Takes the Place of You.” Benoit also played tracks from his most recent release I Hear Thunder including the politically charged “Why Why,” “The Ghost of Gatemouth Brown” and the explosive title track.
- The Revivalists always put on a great live show and when dynamic lead vocalist David Shaw is performing at Jazz Fest, he and the band make it extra special. The band had an expanded horn section for their fest set including Dumpstaphunk trombonist Alex Wasily. They played entertaining, up-tempo hits including “Kid,” “Good Old Days” and “All My Friends.” “Celebration” had many in the audience participating for the “na na na na” section. Of course, mega-hit “Wish I Knew You” received the loudest applause, but the set closing cover of Bob Dylan and The Band’s “I Shall Be Released” with guests Ivan Neville and Tarriona Tank Ball was an unexpected, pleasant surprise.
- Dave Matthews Band has made regular appearances over the last 25 years at Jazz Fest. While it has been more than a decade since they were the top-grossing live music act in North America, they can still draw a large crowd to the Festival stage for their headlining set. On the hottest day of the weekend, Matthews acknowledged the conditions by saying “It’s not quite as sunny where I am, but it’s still darn hot.” Their music brought additional heat as they pumped out hits like “Ants Marching” and “So Much to Say” early in the set.
A raucous cover of Cameo’s “Word Up” showed off trumpeter Rashawn Ross’ voice as he handled the lead vocals. They snuck in additional covers as Ross’ trumpet blasted during “Warehouse,” then took a brief detour into a bit of “Louie Louie.” The band also did a solid version of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance.” Once back to the DMB repertoire, the band performed fine versions of “When the World Ends,” “Don’t Drink the Water” and “Jimi Thing.” Their last cover song was the best of the set. Matthews and the band harmonized sweetly while funking out on Sly and The Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”
- Local, regional and national acts fill the Jazz Fest stages every year and we try to see some that do not get national publicity, but deserve it. A local phenomenon known as Bonerama is a three headed trombone band that plays originals, local standards and famous classic rock covers with the trombones subbing for guitar solos. Stanton Moore, the drummer for Galactic, put together an all-star ensemble for a gig in the Jazz tent. Moore was joined this year by David Torkanowsky on piano, James Singleton on upright bass, Skerik on saxophone and Eric Bloom from Lettuce on trumpet. The quintet played impressively hard charging, straight ahead jazz.
- Karl Denson is no stranger to big crowds, having played saxophone for the Rolling Stones for the over a decade including during Jazz Fest last year. His band, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, did a fun, booty shaking mid-afternoon set of funk and soul on the Congo stage. Kermit Ruffins is a brilliant trumpet player and entertainer who has been a mainstay on New Orleans stages for decades. His outstanding band performed a lively set of New Orleans standards and originals on the Gentilly stage. Nothing compares to the unique horn ensemble known as Midnite Disturbers. The collective of fourteen plus horn masters only play at Jazz Fest because each member is busy with their primary, year-round bands. They played a set at the Jazz & Heritage stage with each trumpet, trombone, saxophone and sousaphone player participating in amazing arrangements and blasting featured solos.
- Tank and the Bangas are a local band with multiple Grammy nominations and one win. Their blend of soul, funk, hip hop and rock fits right into the New Orleans musical gumbo. Lead vocalist Tarriona “Tank” Ball is a bundle of energy with a booming voice and flamboyant style. Their show at the main Festival stage was full of energy and intoxicating music.
Jazz Fest will continue on Thursday May 1 and run through Sunday May 4. We will be there to enjoy the performances and indulge in the delicious regional cuisine. Check back here to read about second weekend highlights and see photos that capture some of the unique experiences that only happen at Jazz Fest.
Photos courtesy of Andy J Gordon ©2025
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