If it’s Halloween weekend, it’s Voodoo.
The Voodoo Music Experience returns to picturesque City Park this Friday-Sunday, Oct. 26-28, for its 14th outing–three days of eclectic music offerings, an interactive art installation and an overall spectacle befitting the season.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse headline Voodoo October 26. Photo: Danny Clinch.
The fest headliners represent a cross-section of the last half-century of popular music: the legendary Neil Young and Crazy Horse, prolific alt darling Jack White and seminal hard rockers Metallica (enlisted all of two weeks ago to sub for canceled Saturday headliners Green Day). But the acts rounding out the 2012 Experience are just as noteworthy, from New Orleans icons to international electronic acts.
Toss in camping (including the sold-out glamping packages), plenty of food and drink, an area with carnival rides, a whole lotta oak trees and what’s shaping up to be lovely fall weather, and you’re looking at pretty much all treat, no trick.
For the uninitiated, a primer on the event’s four areas–Le Ritual, Le Plur, Le Flambeau and Le Carnival. Le Ritual features more mainstream music, Le Plur focuses on Electronic/Dance, Le Flambeau is Big Easy-centric, and Le Carnival spotlights indie bands, burlesque and circus acts.
OffBeat‘s got the Voodoo You covered, both in our brand spankin’ new print issue and online. Check our cover story with current chanteuse and former Neutrino Ingrid Lucia, whose stellar Nightingales revue (with Irma Thomas) takes the fest’s Preservation Hall Stage Saturday at 4:45 p.m. Elsewhere, John Swenson chats with longtime Neil Young guitarist Frank “Poncho” Sampedro, and we also catch up with influential purveyors of funk and reggae, Bootsy Collins and “Toots” Hibbert, respectively.
Click here to see what ’80s mainstay Thomas Dolby has been up to since he blinded us with science (hint: it involves technology, duh), and have a look at rock supergroup Tomahawk. We touch base with up-and-coming New Orleans act Big History, preview the fest’s extensive electronic and DJ lineup and talk shop with Katey Red’s assembled bounce dream team.
But wait, there’s more–and what we couldn’t fit in print is just a click away. Head here for more Gris-Gris Picks, a best-of-the-rest rundown for your weekend.
Tickets are still available for Voodoo 2012, but don’t dilly dally, y’all. Prices will go up on opening day, Friday; Single Day tickets will be $107, three-day weekend passes will be $222, Loa Lounge VIP will be $562 and Loa Lounge VIP + Parking will be $631.
See ya there, and be sure to drop by OffBeat‘s booth. We’ll be keepin’ it fonky all Voodoo long.
