Jazz Fest site director Tague Richardson has been building Jazz Fest since 1974. Unlike the almost-overwhelming experience the crowds will have when they wind their way through the Jazz Fest gates, when Richardson first gets out to the Fairgrounds about four-and-a-half weeks before opening day, the infield is completely empty.

[caption id="attachment_362777" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Tague Richardson stands in front of a crew building Jazz Fest. (Photo by: Stephen Maloney)"]<...