After yesterday’s post on Jazz Fest marketing the out-of-town talent in its Jazz Fest advertising, Belyin wrote, “Actually, I have no problem with out-of-town acts being prominent part of the festival. The J&H are the only entity in town with the resources to bring the world to us.” 

I didn’t say more yesterday because I’m still working through my
thoughts in this area. I agree with Belyin in this case, and although there are a number of bookings that I don’t care for on a number of levels, there are also some I’m pretty pleased with. If Guy Clark has been in New Orleans in the last 15 years (as long as I’ve been paying attention to him), it escaped my notice. 

Swenson’s take is that there’s a sort of bait and switch going on here, a thought I semi-agree with, though for many who come to see Bon Jovi and Neil Young, they’ll camp out at the Acura Stage and see little beyond the show or shows they came to see. 

What I find interesting is the tacit admission that as much as Festival Productions and the Jazz and Heritage Foundation believe in Louisiana music – something I don’t question – and put forward the argument that this is some of the greatest music in the world, their advertising suggests that it’s a beloved music that doesn’t draw, or that Sugarland, Wilco and Ben Harper will draw better. They’re probably right, but that doesn’t the issue less awkward.