Musical Mecca: JazzFest lineup announced

A couple of weeks ago when the Powerball jackpot was up over a billion, I threw my $10 into the pot figuring, "Why the hell not?" I bought the tickets about eight hours before the 11 p.m. EDT drawing. That gave me time to stare at the groups of random numbers and wonder, "What if …"

I wasn't sure how I was going to spend my new millions, but one thing was certain. If I won a fortune I knew where I was going to be the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May — JazzFest. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is an annual event that draws the biggest names in music to The Crescent City.

And, while the name seems to suggest that it's a Jazz festival, that's just part of it. The event celebrates pretty much every genre this side of Classical. On eight stages over seven days, everyone who's anyone in New Orleans music performs in as many combinations as they can come up with. And national acts also fill the bill, often headlining each night.

There are tents dedicated to genres such as the Jazz Tent, the Gospel Tent and the Blues Tent as well as the bigger stages with thousands of music lovers enjoying the show. The event takes place on the grounds of a horse racing track. Music starts at 11 a.m. each morning and, this is one of the great things about JazzFest, it's done by 7:30 each night. That sounds really early, but it allows you to go back to the hotel, shower (trust me, even in late April it's HOT in New Orleans) before heading out for a late dinner at some of the best restaurants in the world. Then, if you're feeling up to it you can hit the bars where many of the same musicians are playing.

My wife and I made the trek once, in 2009. We caught the second weekend — Thursday through Sunday. We saw too many acts of list here, but national acts as diverse as Ben Harper and Tony Bennett as well as Big Easy staples from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band to The Radiators. The highlight might have been The Midnite Disturbers, a supergroup made up of members of New Orleans' best Jazz and Funk bands. The band only plays in the city when enough members are in town, often just showing up at a bar after the headliner has finished and playing until dawn. Jazz Fest is pretty much the Disturbers' only scheduled performance of the year.

The trip to JazzFest is one every music lover should make at least once. I've been itching to go back since that 2009 vacation. It is somewhat cost prohibitive with hotel rooms, tickets and shuttles adding up quickly. But in the end, it's worth every penny.

The lineup for this year's JazzFest was announced this weekend and it does not disappoint. Any one of the days would be a good weekend at another festival. There are approximately 70 acts set for each day. Here's a day-by-day breakdown with headliners, profiled New Music For Old Folks artists and some other highlights.

Friday, April 22

National Headliners: Steely Dan, Janelle Monaé (my son informs me that she's a rapper), Grace Potter. NMFOF Artists: Gov't Mule, The Subdudes, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Kermit Ruffins & The Barbeque Swingers, Walter Trout, Eric Lindell. Band Name Of The Day: The Perfect Gentlemen Social Aid & Pleasure Club.

Saturday, April 23

National Headliners: Pearl Jam, Van Morrison, Maxwell, Boz Scaggs. MNFOF Artists: Galactic, Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats, Anders Osborne, Tab Benoit, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone. Band Name Of The Day: New Orleans Swamp Donkeys.

Sunday, April 24

National Headliners: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nick Jonas: NMFOF Artists: Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars (features Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, Cyril Neville, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, as well as Dr. John and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux), Taj Mahal. Band Name Of The Day: Royal Teeth.

JazzFest rests Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to clean up and restock.

Thursday, April 28

National Headliners: Elvis Costello & The Impostors, Flo Rida. NMFOF Artists: Tedeschi Trucks Band & Friends (The "& Friends" makes this especially interesting), Gay Clark Jr., Sonny Landreth. Band Name Of The Day: Snarky Puppy (Honorable Mention to Lost Bayou Ramblers with special guest Spider Stacy).

Friday, April 29

National Headliners: Paul Simon, My Morning Jacket, Ms. Lauryn Hill. NMFOF Artists: Los Lobos, Bonerama, Dirty Dozen Brass Band. Band Name Of The Day: Raw Oyster Cult.

Saturday, April 30

National Headliners: Stevie Wonder, Snoop Dogg, Beck, Buddy Guy, Dr. John: NMFOF Artists: Rebirth Brass Band, Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, Cyril Neville's Royal Southern Brotherhood, Midnite Disturbers. Band Name Of The Day: Hooray For The Riff Raff: Of Note: John Batiste and Stay Human (the house band on The Late Show with Steven Colbert).

Sunday, May 1

National Headliners: Neil Young + Promise of the Real, Bonnie Raitt, Mavis Staples. NMFOF Artists: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Dumpstaphunk, Walter "Wolfman" Washington & The Roadmasters, Marcia Ball. Band Name Of The Day: Zigaboo Modeliste's Funk Review: Of Note: Tribute to B.B. King hosted by the B.B. King Blues Band with Special Guests, Tribute to Allen Toussaint hosted by the Allen Toussaint Band with Special Guests (both those could be special).

Also, if you're going, try the Crawfish Monica and nothing cuts the heat like a mango freeze.