With Mardi Gras, Quarter Fest, and Easter parades over, the city was ready for the Jazz & Heritage Festival and so were we! Two full weekends of live bands from 11:15 am to 7:00 pm for eight days is an exhausting line-up and with high humidity and searing heat, it was indeed a challenge to my non-outdoor personality…but so worth it! Although rain was forecast for several days, it never materialized and the second weekend was beautiful and much less humid. The excitement of the crowd is contagious and even though everyone is headed for a different venue at the fairgrounds, the smiles and laughter resonates with all. There are 13 venues on site, some in large tents or at the grandstand and others on outdoor stages with the audience in the open fields.
The out-of-town big-name headliners are usually set up at the far ends of the oval racetrack and the two largest stages. Our traditional jazz tent (Economy Hall) is right across from the grandstand and the WWOZ hospitality tent where sets are broadcast daily and lots of fresh fruit, coffee and tea is available for the many radio station supporters and contributors. We stay in the Economy Hall tent all day to see and hear the local bands and be with the many friends made over the past 30+ years. It is a special reunion of local, national and worldwide enthusiasts sharing hugs and kisses. We also remember those who are no longer able
