The lineups for two Southern music fests - the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in New Orleans in April and May, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Manchester, Tennessee - have been announced.
While Jazzfest started in 1969 and Bonnaroo in 2002, the festivals have a lot in common. Five hundred miles apart, the two sprawling events each have as many as 10 stages going simultaneously. This multi-stage style started in New Orleans and gradually expanded to other fests such as Bonnaroo, whose production company Superfly was initially based in the Crescent City.
Jazzfest takes place over a seven-day period (three days the first weekend, four days the second) at the Racetrack Fairgrounds. No camping is allowed. In contrast, the farm property in Manchester houses up to 80,000 campers. It can (and will) get messy.
Jazzfest is also known for its terrific local food provided by church groups (no burgers or hot dogs here). Bonnaroo's food offerings are more typical of festivals.
Jazzfest features local and regional acts on 10 stages, including the riotous gospel stage. They also bring in headliners from around the country in world.
The Who, Elton John, Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band, Ed Sheeran, John Legend, No Doubt, Pitbull, Keith Urban, Widespread Panic, the Meters, Wilco, Dr. John. Jerry Lee Lewis, Steve Winwood, Jimmy Cliff, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Kacey Musgraves, Aaron Neville, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Chicago, Robert Cray, Allen Toussaint, Hozier, The O'Jays, Ryan Adams, the Radiators, Taj Majal, Third World, Maze, Cassandra Wilson, Delbert McClinton, Estelle, Galactic with Macy Gray, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Buddy Guy, Dumpstaphunk, Irma Thomas, Rebirth Brass Band, Terence Blanchard E-Collective, Sturgill Simpson, Christian McBride Big Band, Tab Benoit, Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers, Irvin Mayfied & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Shooter Jennings with Waymore's Outlaws, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Big Chief Bo Dollis & the Wild Magnolias, Monty Alexander, Walter "Wolfman" Washington & the Roadmasters, Rockin' Dopsey Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters, Dirty Dozen Brass band, Ellis Marsalis, Cowboy Mouth, Soul Rebels, Kenny Garrett. Complete lineup here.
Bonnaroo is pretty much a 24-hour affair. Bands play into the early morning in late-night mix-and-match jam formats. There's also a comedy stage ands a cinema. What started as jam-band fest has evolved into a more general music event.
Billy Joel, Mumford & Sons, Deadmau5, Kendrick Lamar, Florence + the Machine, My Morning Jacket, Slayer, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Robert Plant & the Sensational Shape Shifters, Bassnectar, Alabama Shakes, Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, Belle & Sebastian, Hozier, War on Drugs, Childish Gambino, Ben Folds, STS9, Gary Clark Jr., Spoon, Tears for Fears, Earth Wind & Fire, Soja, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washbirn, Sturgill Simpson, Flying Lotus, Dawes. Complete lineup here.
Dates and Prices
Jazzfest: Apr. 24-26, Apr. 30-May 3; single day prices, $58 in advance, $70 day of show; VIP packages range from $600-$1,400. Tickets are on sale.
Bonnaroo: June 11-14; $299; VIP tickets must be purchased in pairs at $1,525 per pair. Tickets go on sale Jan. 17.
