Locals and visitors left the New Orleans Fair Grounds this weekend satisfied from substantial servings of multifarious music and tastes from traditional Louisiana cuisine.
The 42nd annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival served up a plethora of acts over three days with more to come next weekend.
Gates opened Friday, and the festival featured folk favorites Mumford and Sons and The Avett Brothers, along with soulful Haitian Wyclef Jean and English rock guitarist Jeff Beck.
Mumford and Sons stole Friday afternoon with their raw renditions of new unreleased tunes and favorites like “Little Lion Man” that brought the English group from obscurity to Grammy-nominated international phenomenon.
“I’ve never experienced New Orleans before this week, but it’s by far my favorite city in the U.S.,” lead singer Marcus Mumford told the crowd during the performance.
The Avett Brothers concluded the first day with a similar energy as Mumford and Sons, only with a larger setlist and following. In the crowd, hips shook, heads bobbed and hands clapped to the aggressive banjo, guitar, piano and cello played throughout the performance.
The band informed the crowd that it played in New Orleans two years ago and is happy to be back and hear the great acts at Jazz Fest.
Friday’s bright sun brought in more hats than a royal wedding, but for some New Orleanians, Jazz Fest is an equally worthy institution.
Michael Stevens, geology senior, has attended the festival for the past eight years, saying it never changes and continues to be great. The New Orleans native listened to Friday’s performance of Mumford and Sons and plans to revisit the festival next Saturday to hear Lauryn Hill.
Saturday’s weather was not as bright as Friday’s, but local musicians like Wayne Toups and The Pine Leaf Boys shined with their zydeco tunes, and New Orleans staple Jeremy Davenport serenaded the scene with trumpet and jazz.
The day ended with hits like Bon Jovi‘s “Living on a Prayer,” followed by college favorite Jason Mraz who concluded the festival’s second day.
Amber Guinn, a school puppeteer from Gwinnett County, Ga., said she fell in love with the city when she volunteered on a mission trip after Hurricane Katrina. Ginn said she and a friend saw the music lineup for the festival this year, particularly noticing The Avett Brothers, and knew they had to come back to the city
“I just love New Orleans and the diverse group that fills the city,” Guinn said. “The people and the party atmosphere keep bringing us back, and Jazz Fest reiterates that energy.”
The first weekend concluded Sunday with favorable weather. After fueling up on local cuisine like jambalaya, fried oysters and soft shell crab po-boys, and drinks ranging from rum punch daiquiris to cold beers, festival-goers had the opportunity to take in Louisiana and Haitian culture from exhibits throughout the festival.
Karma Colby, of Ellenwood, Ga., worked her father Henry Colby’s legendary art and jewelry booth, Timbuktu Art Colony.
Colby, an African-American artisan, and 12 other vendors have been pioneers of Jazz Fest’s Congo Square, presenting works of art at the festival for the past 31 years. Colby said they are the only booths at Jazz Fest that get to stay both weekends, unlike other vendors who are only allowed one weekend.
Marie Cazaubon, sports administration sophomore, said she has gone to Jazz Fest every year of her life — her mother even attended the festival while she was pregnant with Cazaubon. She traveled to the festival Sunday to hear hall-of-famer Dr. John play at the Acura Stage.
Cazaubon said the festival gets larger and more organized every year. She said there are noticeably more trash cans, recycling bins and tables for sitting.
After Dr. John rocked the piano, award-winning John Mellencamp tardily began his set and swooned fans of all ages. The Congo Square Stage saw a packed audience for John Legend and The Roots, while The Decemberists rocked out with hipsters next door at the Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage.
As festival-goers left and the sun set over New Orleans, a sign near the exit summed up the first weekend in the international event: “Come hungry, leave soulful.”
 
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Contact Jeanne Lyons at [email protected]