NEW ORLEANS — The 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival may have had some setbacks, but it still lived up to its tradition as an experience full of food, music, inclement weather and an overall good time.
Day one started off slowly, as festival-goers were wary of the impending storms. However, once the acts took the stages to kick off the day, the crowd’s energy and spirits were lifted to high levels.
While each performance brought something original to the cultural melting pot that is Jazz Fest, there were specific headliners that fans were anticipating the most.
The popular spots to be at on Friday were the Acura Stage and Gentilly Stage, hosting acts that included Earphunk, Wayne Toups, Mia Borders, Royal Teeth, Hozier, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Keith Urban and Wilco.
Hozier’s set garnered one of the largest crowds of the day, with onlookers eager to watch the famed “Take Me to Church” singer perform. He showed versatility by playing many of the lesser known songs on his album and also covering pop singer Amerie’s “1 Thing.”
Halfway through the closing acts, rain and wind set in and forced artists to pack up early. However, they did make what time they had memorable.
Keith Urban and Wilco were two of the most popular closing performances. Their set times were the same, making fans decide on which to see, as they were on opposite sides of the festival ground.
Wilco was the prime choice for festival-goers who weren’t die-hard country fans. The band won the crowd over with its alternative sound, keeping the mood in step with Hozier’s performance just before them. Closing out the Gentilly Stage, Wilco left festival goers in high, rocking spirits.
At the Acura Stage, Keith Urban honored his loyal fans. He played most of his hits, giving fans just what they wanted to hear. At the point he was supposed to stop playing, however, he instead took to performing out in the audience and squeezed in a few more songs before giving in to the weather.
Day two began sunnier, drier and hotter than expected, allowing festival goers to jump right into the eager atmosphere. With New Orleans-based bands kicking off the day, it was impossible not to feel lifted up by the upbeat jazz and funk bands of Robin Barnes, TBC Brass Band, Tank and The Bangas, John Lisi and Delta Funk! as well as several others.
Taking in more of the festival experience, attendees seemed to enjoy the classic festival food staples such as crawfish Monica, mango freezes and strawberry lemonade.
Many attendees also had more interest in the arts and crafts vendors in between sets, some coming from cities as far as North Brunswick, New Jersey, and Ellenwood, Georgia.
However, the festival hit a minor setback around 1 p.m. when the rain started again. It was expected, and attendees showed up prepared, making umbrellas, ponchos and rain boots fashion statements.
Once the rain picked up to the point of no longer being able to walk around comfortably — or drily — people either left or took shelter in the tented areas throughout the grounds.
Some brave souls remained at the stages, dedicated to listening as much as the musicians were to playing. All of the acts continued, unfazed by the weather and powering through their performances with an unrelenting attitude.
The Revivalists embraced the rain the most, with frontman David Shaw jumping off the stage and meeting the crowd at the barricades. An hour after the rain subsided, fans raced out to finish their festival experience on a positive note, turning the festival into a muddy playground for the remainder of the day.
Popular closers were The Who, Ryan Adams, John Legend and The Robert Cray Band, who undoubtedly brought the festival to a strong close.
Day three’s weather seemed more cooperative, ending the festival’s first weekend on a high note.
Some of the popular artists festivalgoers saw throughout the day included Flow Tribe, Sweet Crude, Cowboy Mouth and Allen Toussaint.
To close the day, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga and Pitbull also performed.
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Andrew Hozier Byrne of ‘Hozier’ performs Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Gentilly Stage at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Nigerian group Lágbájá perform Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at Congo Square for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Festival goers dance on the wet fair grounds Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 to the music at the Fais Do Do stage on the first day of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Andrew Hozier Byrne of ‘Hozier’ performs Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Gentilly Stage at New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Sarah Jayde Williams performs with Lafayette band The Rayo Brothers Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Lagniappe Stage for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Gary Larsen performs with Royal Teeth Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Gentilly Stage for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Saxophonist Marco Palos of ‘Louis Prima Jr. & the Witnesses’ performs at the Peoples Health Economy Hall tent Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Louis Prima Jr. & the Witnesses perform at the Peoples Health Economy Hall tent Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Louis Prima Jr. & the Witnesses perform at the Peoples Health Economy Hall tent Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Nora Patterson performs with Royal Teeth Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Gentilly Stage for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Wilco lead vocalist and guitarist Jeff Tweedy performs Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Gentilly Stage for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Nels Cline plays the lap steel with Chicago band Wilco Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Gentilly Stage for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Wilco lead vocalist and guitarist Jeff Tweedy performs Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Gentilly Stage for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Pat Sansone of Wilco performs Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Gentilly Stage for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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(From left) Brothers Jesse Reaux and Daniel Reaux of the Lafayette band The Rayo Brothers perform Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Lagniappe Stage for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Gary Larsen (left) and Nora Patterson (right) perform with Royal Teeth Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Gentilly Stage for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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Wilco lead vocalist and guitarist Jeff Tweedy performs Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the Gentilly Stage for the first day of New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
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From left, Sarah Jayde Williams, Daniel Reaux, Jordan Ardoin and Lance Kalehan of Lafayette’s The Rayo Brothers talk about the origins of the band Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 backstage at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Festival goers hold their fists in the air duing a performance at Congo Square Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Hats are stacked on a table in the African Marketplace Friday, Apr. 24, 2015 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
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A festival goers’ flag reads “Free Hugs, One Love” Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Festival goers dance in the rain on the muddy festival grounds Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 during the Pocket Aces Brass Band’s performance at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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John Legend performs at Congo Square Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 for New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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John Legend performs at Congo Square Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 for New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Local band Coyotes perform at Lagniappe Stage Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Tarriona Tank Ball of the New Orleans band ‘Tank and The Bangas’ performs Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at Gentilly Stage for day two of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Mahogany Brass Band with Nine Times, Single Ladies, and Single Men Social Aid & Pleasure Clubs parade the festival grounds Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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David Shaw of local band The Revivalists performs at the Gentilly Stage Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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New Orleans band Dumpstaphunk performs at Acura Stage Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Tony Hall performs with Dumpstaphunk at Acura Stage Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Ivan Neville performs with Dumpstaphunk at Acura Stage Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Festival goer uses an umbrella hat to combat the rain during Dumpstaphunk’s performance at Acura Stage Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Sonny Landreth performs in the Blues Tent Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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John P. Kee & New Life perform in the Gospel Tent Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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John P. Kee & New Life perform in the Gospel Tent Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Festival goer shoots bubbles from a bubble gun during Pocket Aces Brass Band’s performance at Jazz & Heritage Stage Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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John Legend performs at Congo Square Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 for New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Festival goers lineup in front of the food vendors Satuday, Apr. 25, 201 including Kajun Kettle Foods, Inc. and their famous “Crawfish Monica” at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Festival goers wear ponchos on the festival grounds to protect themselves from the rainy weather on Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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David Shaw of the local band The Revivalists performs at the Gentilly Stage Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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David Shaw of the local band The Revivalists performs in the Gentilly Stage crowd Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Festival goers dance in the mud at the Fais Do Do stage Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 after rain passes through the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Festival goers dance in the mud at the Fais Do Do stage Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 after rain passes through the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Tank and The Bangas perform Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at Gentilly Stage for day two of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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Festival goers walk the damp festival grounds in rain boots Saturday, Apr. 25, 2015 at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
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