2008 New Orleans Jazzfest Lineup is smoking hot!!!

I always look forward to the end of January every year for the lineup announcement and the 2008 edition of JazzFest has quite an impressive collection of artists.

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, as it is officially called, is one of my favorite getaways from the "Cubicle from Hell" and this year it looks like I will be headed back home for both weekends.  Some of the best food in the world combined with bartenders who know how to really make drinks and music almost 24 hours a day, it is my own little slice of heaven.

The highlights of each day are listed below and many more musicians are listed here.

• Buckwheat Zydeco
• Sheryl Crow
• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
• Burning Spear
• Ozomatli with Chali 2na
• Lizz Wright
• Tab Benoit
• Anders Osborne
• Big Sam’s Funky Nation
• Terence Simien & Zydeco Experience
• Leo Nocentelli’s “Rare Gathering” feat. Bernie Worrell
• Doug Wimbish & Will Calhoun
• Doyle Bramhall with C.C. Adcock & the Lafayette Marquis
• Ellis Marsalis
• Paul Porter of the Legendary Christianaires
• Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers
• Barbara Lynn
• Theresa Andersson Group
• Banu Gibson & New Orleans Hot Jazz
• The Iguanas

• Dr. John
• Billy Joel
• Keyshia Cole
• O.A.R.
• The Count Basie Orchestra feat. Patti Austin,
• Cowboy Mouth
• Cupid
• James Cotton
• Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen
• Wayne Toups & Zydecajun
• Walter “Wolfman” Washington & the Roadmasters
• Harlem Blues and Jazz Band
• Astral Project
• Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys
• Benjy Davis Project
• Paul Sanchez & the Rolling Road Show

• Irma Thomas
• Tim McGraw
• Al Green
• Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint
• Cassandra Wilson
• Delbert McClinton
• Del McCoury
• Pete Fountain
• Byron Cage with Kim Burrell
• Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars
• Jeremy Davenport
• Rockin’ Dopsie & the Zydeco Twisters,
• Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue
• Hot 8 Brass Band
• Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles
• BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
• Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone’s Harmonica Revue
• New Orleans Klezmer Allstars

• Randy Newman
• Widespread Panic
• Tower of Power
• Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers
• Bettye LaVette
• Gene “Duke of Earl” Chandler
• Deacon John
• Donald Harrison
• Carolina Chocolate Drops
• Ruby Wilson
• Luther Kent & Trickbag
• Porter- Batiste-Stoltz
• Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
• C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band
• Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes

• Art Neville
• Stevie Wonder
• John Prine
• Michael Franti & Spearhead
• Richard Thompson
• John Butler Trio
• John Hammond
• Trombone Shorty & Orleans Ave.
• Marva Wright & the BMWs
• Terence Blanchard & the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
• Papa Grows Funk
• Sunpie’s Tribute to Clifton Chenier
• Zigaboo Modeliste
• The Lee Boys
• Bonerama
• The Bad Plus
• John Boutté
• Ingrid Lucia
• Coco Robicheaux & Spiritland
• Theryl “Houseman” DeClouet
• Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band

• Marcia Ball
• Jimmy Buffett
• Diana Krall
• Steel Pulse
• The Roots
• Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea
• Kenny Wayne Shepherd
• Bishop Paul S. Morton Sr. & the Greater St. Stephens Mass Choi
• Dirty Dozen Brass Band
• Henry Butler
• Aaron Neville’s Gospel Soul
• John Mooney & Bluesiana
• the subdudes
• New Leviathan Oriental Foxtrot Orchestra
• Ruthie Foster
• Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra

• The Neville Brothers
• Santana
• Maze feat. Frankie Beverly
• The Raconteurs
• Dianne Reeves
• Galactic
• The Radiators
• The Derek Trucks Band
• Keb’ Mo’
• Rebirth Brass Band
• Sonny Landreth
• Snooks Eaglin
• John P. Kee & the New Life Community Choir
• Preservation Hall Jazz Band
• Tribute to Mahalia Jackson feat. Irma Thomas, Marva Wright and Rachelle Richard
• Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys
• Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk
• Bob French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band
• The New Orleans Bingo Show!

Tickets are going for a very reasonable $40 a day until April 24th for the 1st weekend and April 30th for the 2nd weekend. 

The VIP package called Big Chief VIP Experience, has raised the price a bit this year with $750 for the 1st weekend and $800 for the 2nd weekend which marks the return of the Thursday session. I have done the VIP since they started offering it in 2005 ( it was $500 then) and is a good deal and you can read my review of the 2007 version here.

The good folks at Jazzfest are offering a new sort of package called the Grand Marshall VIP Pass. This will give you a front row, standing room area that is barricaded off for $450 for the 1st weekend and $500 for the 2nd weekend.  Since I will probably take more pics this year and have less words in my review, I will probably go for this option.

My reviews for the 2nd weekend of 2007 -  Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3. 

There is always great music at night and I will be giving out periodic reports as I get info.  Last year I hit Tipitina’s for the Greyboy Allstars and Howlin’ Wolf for the Bayou Rendezvous and will have to eat my Wheaties to have stamina to make it throught 2 weekends.

Losing sleep, gaining weight and having the time of your life is what JazzFest is all about.