NEW ORLEANS — The complete music lineup for the Jazz Fest won't be released until January, but by now you've heard that the headliner is The Rolling Stones.
The rock icons will play on a Thursday, the second week of the fest. So, the traditional $50 Locals' Thursday will be moved up to the first week.
Did it "start you up" and give you "satisfaction" when you heard The Stones were coming for their premiere performance at the Jazz Fest?
On November 29 and 30, there will be a special ticket pre-sale for people in Louisiana only. The limit is six tickets and your credit card has to have a Louisiana zip code.
If you try sometimes, you just might find, that you get what you need. And that's exactly what the Jazz Fest did found trying to get The Rolling Stones to the Fairgrounds. After Mick Jagger's heart-valve replacement canceled their appearance in 2019, and a COVID surge did the same in 2021, the third time's a charm. The Stones are coming to Jazz Fest May 2, 2024.
Years ago, singer Charmain Neville remembers being on tour with The Stones and The Neville Brothers.
“And it was a lot of fun, and the last show that they did was actually here at the Superdome, the very last end of that tour. So. I'm really excited that they're coming to Jazz Fest, finally,” said Charmain Neville.
Huge headliners bring in a whole new fan base, ready to discover the local talent.
“If you come to New Orleans to see one person, you're going to see 'gabillions' of other people who are great too,” Neville laughed.
The Jazz Fest says the economic impact to the city is $400 million, the same as a Super Bowl. Along with the draw of The Stones, 2024 will be one of the few times an eighth day is added to The Fest. That's 50 to 60 more bands and more income for grants that grow the culture.
“Everybody doesn't always realize that Jazz Fest is a fundraiser for the foundation. So, we're excited. Not only does it bring more people, but it helps us preserve, perpetuate, and continue to expose people to our culture, because that allows us to give more money back to the community,” explained Tara Hernandez, President of the board of The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Foundation.
More than $1.2 million is given back for free concerts and the next generation of musicians.
“We have a free music school for kids on Rampart St., that we welcome all kids that have an interest in music to come and learn. They don't even need an instrument. We provide them,” said Hernandez.
It was 30 years ago when Mick Jagger was in New Orleans and joined a second line, during a CBS 60 Minutes interview. He has long said that American blues and jazz were the genesis of The Stones’ music. And now as an octogenarian, he'll play his first fest in the birthplace of jazz.
The admission price for May 2 will be $225. That is of course higher than the usual day pass, but if you look at the floor prices for the other stops on The Stones' 2024 Hackney Diamonds tour, you will see prices from nearly $1,000 to nearly $2,000. And there may be only one warm-up band.
So, some say it's a bargain, because where else can you experience that many genres of music in one day at that ticket price?