2011 Jazz Fest Lineup Announced

At long last, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has announced it’s lineup and like usual, the fest offers a wide array of artists from today (Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons & Avett Brothers), yesterday (Kid Rock,Lauryn Hill, & Wilco), the day before that (Cyndi Lauper & Kenny G) and long ago from a beautiful time when great music rang out on pop radio (Gregg Allman, Jeff Beck & Robert Plant). Furthermore, the great tradition of showcasing just about every functioning New Orleans musician continues (Galactic, Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, Dr. John & Allen Toussaint to name a few). 

I would’ve never really thought of Arcade Fire for Jazz Fest, but it seems to make perfect sense and I’m sure they’ll make hordes of new fans. Festival promoters announced that the ’11 edition of the festival will play host to the largest celebration of Haitian culture in the U.S. since the devastating earthquake a year ago.  Jazz Fest will also feature such icons of Haitian music and culture including Wyclef Jean, Tabou Combo, RAM, Boukman Eksperyans, Emeline Michel, Djakout #1, DJA-Rara and Ti-Coca & Wanga Négès, and it is notable to add that Arcade Fire member Régine Chassagne is also from Haiti.  Probably a coincidence in light of the fact that Arcade Fire is also headlining Coachella, but a worth mentioning for a band that raised $1 million for recovery efforts last year to be the first name on such an impressive bill. Check out the list below and start dreaming about the food.

Arcade Fire, Bon Jovi, Jimmy Buffett, Kid Rock, John Mellencamp, Wilco, Willie Nelson, The Strokes, Robert Plant, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Tom Jones, Jeff Beck, Sonny Rollins, John Legend & The Roots, The Avett Brothers, Cyndi Lauper, Wyclef Jean, Mumford & Sons, Alejandro Sanz, Jason Mraz, Maze feat. Frankie Beverly, Lupe Fiasco, Arlo Guthrie, Jamey Johnson, Fantasia, Kenny G, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Decemberists, Gregg Allman Blues Band, Vickie Winans, Lucinda Williams, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Robert Cray, Bobby Blue Bland, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Edie Brickell, Keb’ Mo’, Rance Allen, Ahmad Jamal, Fourplay, Ricky Skaggs, Amos Lee, Jesse Winchester, Michelle Shocked, Tabou Combo, RAM, and Boukman Eksperyans of Haiti, Punch Brothers, Ron Carter Trio, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Ivan Lins, Charlie Musselwhite, Maceo Parker with guest Pee Wee Ellis and more are all among the national and international guest artists scheduled to appear at the 42nd edition of the Jazz Fest.

Hundreds of Louisiana artists, the heart and soul of the Festival, are scheduled to appear, such as: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Mystikal, Pete Fountain, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Better Than Ezra, Rebirth Brass Band, Galactic, Tab Benoit, The Radiators, Cowboy Mouth,  Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Marcia Ball, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Ellis Marsalis, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Sonny Landreth, Henry Butler, Papa Grows Funk, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, John Boutté, Terence Blanchard, Amanda Shaw, The New Orleans Bingo! Show, Jon Cleary, Partners N Crime with 5th Ward Weebie, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste, Glen David Andrews, Anders Osborne, Buckwheat Zydeco, George Porter, Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, Big Freedia & Sissy Nobby, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes, MyNameIsJohnMichael, Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, Zachary Richard, Warren Storm – Willie Tee & Cypress, Honey Island Swamp Band, Bonerama, John Mooney & Bluesiana, Nicholas Payton, Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Jeremy Davenport, Deacon John, Donald Harrison, Astral Project, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles, Banu Gibson, Shamarr Allen, Pine Leaf Boys, Mia Borders, Hot 8, Mahogany, New Birth & Pinstripe Brass Bands, Roots of Music Marching Crusaders Band, The Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indians plus many more.