Before final exam stress sets in, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will wrap up its final weekend at the Fair Grounds Race Course.
This Thursday through Sunday, the 42nd annual festival comes to a close with a plethora of local and national musicians as well as culinary and cultural exhibits showcasing state and international specialities.
Sixty-eight musicians are scheduled to play Thursday, with New Orleans jazz funk group Galactic playing on the Acura Stage at 3:25 p.m. followed by Chicago-based alternative rock band Wilco at 5:20 p.m., along with numerous jazz artists through out the day.
The Flatbed Honeymoon, a band featuring University English instructor Eric Schmitt and English doctoral student Kevin Casper, plays its first performance at Jazz Fest on Thursday on Lagniappe Stage at 1:35 p.m.
Casper plays the drums for Flatbed Honeymoon and described the group’s music as Americana, combining eclectic sounds from folk, old country and gypsy jazz influences. Casper said the exposure from Jazz Fest has been great.
“When you play at Jazz Fest down here, all of sudden people start paying attention to you a little more,” Casper said.
Casper encouraged students to go the festival on Thursday, especially people who have never been.
“Jazz Fest is the greatest festival I’ve ever been to, and I’ve spent a lot of time drinking beer at music festivals around the country,” Casper said.
Friday’s headliners include American music icon Willie Nelson on the Gentilly Stage at 5:45 p.m., the soulful sounds of The Allman Brothers Band member Gregg Allman at 5:40 p.m. at the Blues Tent, Southern rock favorite Better Than Ezra on the Acura Stage at 3:40 p.m. followed by alternative Canadian group Arcade Fire at 5:35 p.m..
Tom Drummond, drummer of Better Than Ezra, said it’s great performing at Jazz Fest because the band usually doesn’t get to play shows for all ages. He said it’s great that kids who normally can’t come to the shows get a chance to see the band perform.
Drummond said the band has played at Jazz Fest for the past 22 years and feels like Better Than Ezra is the hometown underdog.
“We usually play before one of the big headlining acts every year, like My Morning Jacket last year and Arcade Fire this year,” Drummond said. “There have been really cool pairings these last few years, and we get excited to see the other bands that perform after us.”
Saturday welcomes Margaritaville’s Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band on the Acura Stage at 5:25 p.m. and hip-hop and neo-soul beats of Ms. Lauryn Hill on the Congo Square Stage at 5:45 p.m. Treme native Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue serenades the Gentilly Stage at 3:25 p.m. followed by rock band The Strokes at 5:20 p.m.
Sunday wraps up the two-weekend festival with local blues and funk band Papa Grows Funk on the Gentilly Stage at 1:50 p.m., New Orleans staple Rebirth Brass Band on the Congo Square Stage at 3:15 p.m. and legendary steel guitar player Robert Randolph & The Family Band in the Blues Tent at 5:20 p.m.
The Acura Stage hosts a variety of artists the last day, including New Orleans rock ‘n’ roll band Cowboy Mouth at 1:45 p.m., Kid Rock at 3:30 p.m. with the passionate funk and blues cultural institution The Neville Brothers wrapping up the festival at 5:40 p.m.
Fred LeBlanc, lead singer and drummer of Cowboy Mouth, said it’s always an honor to play in their home state at Jazz Fest. This year marks the band’s 22nd appearance at the international festival. He said the band played before Simon and Garfunkel last year at Jazz Fest to 120,000 people and will perform before Kid Rock this year.
“I think it’s the best festival that we play in the world every year,” LeBlanc said. “It’s Louisiana, so everyone’s having a damn good time.”
For more information about the festival and music lineup, visit nojazzfest.com.
 
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Contact Jeanne Lyons at [email protected]