On May 3, Bruce Springsteen made his first appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since 2006, when he played shortly after Hurricane Katrina nearly wiped out the Crescent City.
On Apr. 25, Phish headlined Jazzfest in their first appearance in 18 years. Check out the setlist here.
The 45th Jazzfest boasted another stellar lineup, including Eric Clapton, Santana, Arcade Fire, Christina Aguilera and the String Cheese Incident.
The festival takes place at the Racetrack Fairgrounds on 10 stages over seven days from Apr. 25 to May 4. While big out-of-town bands provide national and international appeal, it's the regional acts that offer the most originality and spicy flavor. There are two jazz stages, and ones devoted to gospel, R&B, cajun, and local brass bands and Mardi Gras Indian groups.
You won't find McDonald's or any other fast-food chains at Jazzfest. All the grub is made by church groups; Crawfish Monica and Alligator Po-Boys are among the specialties.
Tickets cost $50-55 per day purchased in advance ($70 at the gate). Check out the full schedule here.
