Jazz Fest Week Two 2026

 

Po Boy Views

By

Phil LaMancusa

Festing

Or

Resting

“I hear a rhythm playing beautiful sounds of art, it’s the sounds of the beat you’re making in your heart; and he paused for a moment just to hear if I was right” Jazz Fest: Jon Batiste

        The second week of Jazz fest and you made it (or are here in spirit) and your trek to the Fairgrounds is like a pilgrimage toward Musical Mecca, complete with the sidewalk entrepreneurs who entertain, entice, provide and beguile you with their ability to know just what you want to make your coming and goings from the Holy Land just a bit more special because the music and action doesn’t begin and end inside the Fairgrounds.

        If you’re in luck, walking in after you pass the beverage entrepreneurs; Liuzza’s famous bloody Mary; and macrame/budding artist stands, you might be greeted by Eddie of New Orleans finest police officers who will welcome you to the Fest complete with high fives, handshakes and hugs if you want them. You’ll Fest all day, and flushed with the afterglow you’ll get hit with a second wind musical round of young brass bands on corners; beauties selling batiks; puppets painting; tie dyes for sale and drinks of every kind (Liuzza’s is still Ground Zero every year and they have that Bloody Mary that you’ve been wanting since this morning). There’s buttons, beads, Jello shots and folks dancing to avoid bicycles, kids, dogs and folks hurrying to catch a taxi or the shame train (bus). Breath deep Alice, you’re still in wonderland.

        Because, now it’s time to plan the evening’s festivities--get back to where you stay or are staying, shower, shave, shampoo and Shinola. Slick back whatever you got to work with and tune in to the WWOZ 90.7 (WWOZ.org) hotline and find who’s playing where and at what time (or check out the info in this mag that you’re holding); spoiler alert; some attractions don’t start until 4:00 (or even 5:00) in the ahem. Just enough time for you to pace yourself, absorb all you can, get back home, catch a power nap and frappe la rue (hit the street) for another day of excruciating great times at the Fest.

I’ve known people that do Friday or Saturday all-nighters. And you may fanaticize that you can heroically do this starting on Thursday and marathon it until early Monday morning (if you’re pure of heart and have the strength of ten); but, are you up to that challenge?  Probably not. It’s merely urban legend that says that there are stalwarts that can actually hoe the whole row. Do yourself a favor and don’t overtax your body; smart money knows when to check yourself before you wreck yourself, ya dig?

        Going out and about after the Fest, of course there’s Bourbon Street; but it’s hard to find a diamond in that coal mine (Maison Bourbon and Fritzel’s Jazz Club) and so that’s pretty much a one (brief) and done thing for Fest devotees, just so you can say that you did it. Then there’s Frenchmen Street, if you want to buck the crowds and melee of 10 clubs in three blocks (Snug Harbor is always a class act); or you can (ad)venture out to where true locals dig the digs.

        Have a short one at Hanks before dropping in to the Mother-in-Law lounge, head down to Bullets Sports Bar or bop on over to the Bywater/Marigny strip to Vaughan’s; The Hi Ho; The Allways; or B Js; (all Lounges) also drop by The Saturn Bar if you want some local ‘culcha’.

        Staying uptown? Say no more. The Maple Leaf Bar; The Rabbit Hole; Carrollton Station; Tipitina’s; Le Bon temps Roule or Gasa Gasa, and these are but a few joints and jams around town. Use your street smarts; don’t accept (or purchase) candy from strangers; travel in a pack; use a ride share; be aware of your surroundings and take advice from seasoned Festers (ask). Now go get that power nap ‘cause it’s back to the Fest.

        (“Wasted and wounded it aint what the moon did; I got what I paid for now” Tom Waits; Tom Traubert’s Blues)

        You back? Don’t worry, you can sleep on the plane, nononononono, stay away from the Bull, it’ll mess up your mind and you won’t remember sh!t about the haps at the Fest; go get yourself an Affogado from the ice cream stand. I hope that you enjoyed all you did even if you just had a few at a local watering hole and went to bed after watching Democracy Now! If you need to, take that towel that you brought with you, Arthur, and go catch a nap on one of the grassy places (not for too long though, you’ll miss Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Nicks or Rod Stewart if you’ve got that on your docket.

I’ve got a docket of my own. My docket is to recall the day the Stones played the Fest: May 2^nd 2024 (Thursday) the Rolling Stones took over The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival; it’s the first day I didn’t go to Jazz Fest in over twenty years. Pre-sale tickets were $185.00 and went up to $250.00 (not my budget, even for Keith and the boys). May 2^nd 2026 I will be at Jazz Fest second lining with Marques and the One-Shot Brass Band parading in the Fest Grounds, rockin’ to Dumpstaphunk, the Soul Rebels, the Skatelites and others from my tribes and vibes. Wave.