Are any Duers going to jazzfest in New Orleans?

[GumboYaYa]

It starts next Friday and runs Friday, Sat. and Sunday. It picks back up the next Thurs and runs through the weekend.

This is a festival for music lovers, not just jazz lovers. People often forget that it is the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The "heritage" part is very important.

To see a list of this years performers go to www.nojazzfest.com.

Jazzfest is a pilgrimage for me each year. There is a spirit that pervades the place. In a world filled with violence and hate, it is important to stop and recognize the beauty in life sometimes. That happens at jazzfest.

Anyone who is planning to go this year check in here.

[GOPisEvil]

1. Too bad I'm traveling the next couple of weekends.

I really should get to Jazzfest one of these days.

Hell, I just need to get to NO soon. It's been way too long.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. This makes three years that I will be missing it

but if I can swing a cheap ticket, I'll PM ya...

[GumboYaYa]

4. That's way too long to be missing the fest.

This will be my 16th jazzfest.

Check for cheap tickets and then PM me. I can help you find a place to stay if you need one.

Etta James is playing this year. It is worth the trip just to see Etta.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. I love it..I have a place to stay in Metarie

And I LOVE Etta...it's tempting...but a few Du'ers will be mad at me for not making it to DC which is what I originally planned to do...just didn't pull it all together

[GumboYaYa]

8. Okay, if you miss this year, you have to promise me right now

that you will go in 2005.

[GOPisEvil]

11. You're not coming to DC either?!

Argh! :spank:

You need to come to ACL Fest too. Think of it as a fun penance! http://www.aclfest.com/home.html

[MuseRider]

3. See you next year

I hope. It is killing me to miss this year, great line up.

[GumboYaYa]

5. We are going for the first weekend.

That first Saturday I have to make some brutal choices. Oh the misery of having too much good music to hear.

[GOPisEvil]

7. Sounds like South by Southwest.

Oh, if you and the Mrs. can swing it, I recomment the Austin City Limits Music Festival this year. You have 5 months to plan!

http://www.aclfest.com/home.html

[GumboYaYa]

10. We are already planning that trip .

A good friend from NO went last year and raved about that festival.

[GumboYaYa]

12. When are you coming to St. Louis to visit your family?

If you come this summer, there is a standing offer of tickests to see the Cards.

[GOPisEvil]

13. Eh...I never visit them. We're not that close.

But...a Cards ticket could be interesting. (except they haven't won a game at home this season x()

I've got so many DU trips I want to take it isn't funny! :D

[MuseRider]

19. Killer isn't it?

Damn, as someone who is not even a "real" jazz fan I even had that problem. I just can't say how much I enjoyed myself last year. Is Nick Peyton going to be there again? I can't remember but he was just outrageous last year, simply amazing. I am too depressed to go back to the site and read it again. Have a wonderful time. We should go out for beer and oysters next year, a whole group of us.

[GumboYaYa]

22. Nick Payton is playing this year. I think he is second weekend.

I'm really excited about the jazz tentthis year. My daughter's music teacher's son (how's that for degrees of connection) is Jeremy Davenport. His mom is going to be at jazzfest and promised to get us backstage at the jazz tent to meet Kermit Ruffins. Kermit is only my favorite trumpet player in the world.

[MuseRider]

26. That is so cool!

Make every connection you possibly can, that is my motto! I have gotten to know and meet some famous people by doing just that. Have a wonderful time, that will be so cool to meet him. Be sure to report on everything and everyone. Is Astral Project there on your weekend? They were pretty amazing too. I spent so much time just stunned, partly from the sun and the rest from the incredible talent.

[GumboYaYa]

28. Another Astral Project fan..I love Johnny V,

he is one of my favorite drummers. Masakowski is a freak on guitar too.

They play the first weekend and I will definitely be there for their show.

[Earth_First]

9. One of these years I'll make it to NOLA

Every year I say I'm going to look into it however when it rolls around every year I'm either too busy with social and/or otherwise or financially it never seems to be possible.

I'd say that Etta would be worth it in it's own right for sure...

[GumboYaYa]

23. From an old veteran of the fest, it is definitely one of the

best colections of music in one place you will ever see. I can't recommend a trip to NO for jazzfest strongly enough to do it justice.

[MsFlorida]

14. I've missed it for the past 3 yrs too

Would love to see Etta. Cant go though, bought a house and thats the closing/moving weekend.

have a cafe au lait and beignet for me!

[GumboYaYa]

17. Consider it done.

I hope you survive the move!

[bif]

15. How do you decide what to see?

What a line-up! I'll have to make it down there one of these days.

[GumboYaYa]

16. Deciding who to see is a combination of planning and chance.

I always have a detailed map of who I want to see and it always falls apart. Enivitably, I'll hear some great music across the way and end up seeing a great show I never anticipated.

[MissMillie]

18. I hear Lenny Kravitz is going to be there

That would be fun.

[GumboYaYa]

24. My wife is a giant Lenny fan.

the last time he played at jazzfest he got so pumped that he jumped out into a sea of people with his guitar and jammed. The energy at the show was intense. Lenny has a house in the French quarter now. He adopted New Orleans as a home and loves the people at jazzfest.

[jus_the_facts]

20. I freakin' live here and can't go.....

.....when the funds are low and the debts are high..blah....same ol'song and dance....ahhh the blues be a way o'life down here in the pelican state don'tcha know...I've not been to the Big Easy since I went to see the Saints play the 49'ers back in '91! x(

Hope ya enjoy it though..I'm sure it'll be awesome...prolly can't compare to that NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME though....you be headin' to Nebraska this year if the Tigers make it back to the World Series?! They'd been lookin' unstoppable untill the past couple weeks!!! :hi:

[GumboYaYa]

21. We are going to make a weekend trip to the CWS if we make it.

My four-year old is quickly becoming a big baseball fan.

[jus_the_facts]

25. Sure hope ya'll get to make that trip m'self...

....dunno if Smoke is gonna be able to fill Skips shoes...I've always had my doubts about an ex NLU coach bein' able to get us back on top!! :(

[GumboYaYa]

27. Don't say that. Last weekend was ugly, but

I heard from the Mom of one of the players that they expected that. Apparently the pitchers were exhausted from all the games they played in the two prior weeks. This Mom predicted that they would be back in form this week.

I've gotten so accustomed to the directonal names of the schools, it is weird to see NLU again. Those were the days....

[jus_the_facts]

29. I'll never get used to it....it'll always be Nawtheast Louisiana Univ.....

...to me ALWAYS!! :D
.....well I sure hope they get back in the groove they HAD goin'....these last several games have been shockin' dissapointments....but as I said some o'Smokes decisions were rather bad ones...it's not all the fault o'the players I'm afraid. They're still in the top 10 now aren't they....barely! x(