For this year’s Jazz Fest, we had a slew of Festival veterans tell us what three artists they’re most looking forward to watching at the Fair Grounds: Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis, percussionist Mike DillonMike Dillon, trumpeter Leroy Jones, fiddler/singer Louis Michot, singer/trumpeter K.C. O’Rorke, guitarist Renard Poche, singer/guitarist John Michael Rouchell, singer/guitarist David Shaw, actor/filmmaker Harry Shearer, and DJ Soul Sister. Actually, Davis gives us six.
Quint Davis. Photo by Elsa Hahne.
Here is Treme producer Eric Overmyer’s list, complete with explanation:
“I’m tempted to name three must-see New Orleans icons because we might not see ‘em next year, such as the New Orleans Revue with Frankie Ford, Al Johnson and Robert Parker; Pete Fountain; Dr. John; Deacon John; Allen Toussaint, Ellis Marsalis etc. but let’s roll the dice, take the greats for granted one more year, and go for roots: James Cotton, Levon Helm with Mavis Staples, and the Texas Tornados with the great Flaco Jimenez. Or, note the absence of the Radiators for the first time in three decades, and go with Ed Volker, the Malone Brothers, and, taking their place closing the fest on the Gentilly Stage, the Preservation Hall Band, worthy successors. Long may they blow.”
Here are the rest of the picks:
QUINT DAVIS
Bruce Springsteen (Sunday, April 29, Acura Stage, 4:30 p.m.)
Al Green (Sunday, April 29, Congo Square Stage, 5:40 p.m.)
Trombone Shorty (Sunday, April 29, Acura Stage, 12:45 p.m.)
Pedrito Martinez Band (Friday, May 4, Congo Square Stage, 2:45 p.m. and Sunday, May 5, Jazz Tent, 4:05 p.m.)
Voice of the Wetlands All Stars (Saturday, April 28, Acura Stage, 3:15 p.m.)
Bombino (Saturday, May 5, Blues Tent, 2:40 p.m.)
MIKE DILLON
Pedrito Martinez Band (Friday, May 4, Congo Square Stage, 2:45 p.m. and Sunday, May 5, Jazz Tent, 4:05 p.m.)
Bombino (Saturday, May 5, Blues Tent, 2:40 p.m.)
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers (Saturday, May 5, Fais Do-Do Stage, 2:40 p.m.)
LEROY JONES
Gregg Stafford’s Young Tuxedo Brass Band (Sunday, May 6, Economy Hall Jazz Tent, 3 p.m.)
George French & the New Orleans Storyville Jazz Band (Sunday, May 6, Economy Hall Jazz Tent, 4:20 p.m.)
Nicholas Payton XXX with Vicente Archer and Jeff “Tain” Watts (Sunday, April 29, Jazz Tent, 5:45 p.m.)
LOUIS MICHOT of the Lost Bayou Ramblers
Bon Iver (Friday, April 27, Gentilly Stage, 5:25 p.m.)
GIVERS (Friday, April 27, Gentilly Stage, 3:45 p.m.)
Herbie Hancock (Saturday, May 5, Jazz Tent, 5:30 p.m.)
K.C. O’RORKE of Flow Tribe
The Neville Brothers (Sunday, May 6, Acura Stage, 5:45 p.m.)
Rodrigo y Gabriela (Friday, May 4, Gentilly Stage, 5:35 p.m.)
The Foo Fighters (Sunday, May 6, Acura Stage, 3:10 p.m.)
RENARD POCHE
The Eagles (Saturday, May 5, Acura Stage, 5 p.m.)
Erica Falls (Friday, May 4, Congo Square Stage, 12:20 p.m.)
Cee Lo Green (Saturday, May 28, Congo Square Stage, 3:35 p.m.)
JOHN MICHAEL ROUCHELL of MyNameIsJohnMichael
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Saturday, April 28, Acura Stage, 5:10 p.m.)
Big Freedia (Sunday, May 6, Congo Square Stage, 2:35 p.m.)
Theresa Andersson (Friday, May 4, Gentilly Stage, 12:40 p.m.)
DAVID SHAW of the Revivalists
Al Green (Sunday, April 29, Congo Square Stage, 5:40 p.m.)
Rodrigo y Gabriela (Friday, May 4, Gentilly Stage, 5:35 p.m.)
The Foo Fighters (Sunday, May 6, Acura Stage, 3:10 p.m.)
HARRY SHEARER
Jon Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen (Saturday, April 28, Acura Stage, 1:40 p.m.)
Sonny Landreth (Sunday, April 29, Blues Tent, 3:05 p.m.)
Nicholas Payton XXX with Vicente Archer and Jeff “Tain” Watts (Sunday, April 29, Jazz Tent, 5:45 p.m.)
DJ SOUL SISTER
Esperanza Spalding’s Radio Music Society (Thursday, May 3, Congo Square Stage, 5:25 p.m.)
Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 (Friday, April 27, Congo Square Stage, 3:25 p.m.)
Khris Royal and Dark Matter (Saturday, April 28, Congo Square Stage, 12:20 p.m.)
