Last Thursday, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival announced its 2024 lineup, which, though light on jazz, is heavy in star power. 

The Rolling Stones will headline the festival, as announced last fall. They will be joined by several other members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including Earth, Wind & Fire, the Foo Fighters, the Beach Boys and Neil Young with Crazy Horse. 

Other notable acts are Chris Stapleton, The Killers, Anderson .Paak, Hozier, Jon Batiste, Queen Latifah, Vampire Weekend, Greta Van Fleet, Heart, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Widespread Panic and Bonnie Raitt. There will also be a tribute show for the singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who passed away in 2023, by the Coral Reefer Band. 

Over 500 of the announced acts hail from New Orleans and surrounding regions. Perennial Jazz Fest performers Big Freedia, Irma Thomas, Galactic, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Soul Rebels and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will be in attendance again this year.

This year’s featured foreign country is Colombia, whose representative artists will be playing at the Expedia Cultural Exchange Pavillion. While these artists are likely unknown to Jazz Fest attendees — who, as evidenced by the large number of classic rock bands playing this year, are demographically mostly baby boomers or middle-aged — their presence exemplifies the festival’s commitment to showcasing a variety of cultures and musical traditions.

The festival will return to the New Orleans Fair Grounds between April 25 and May 5. Astute observers will have noticed that there is one more day to this year’s festival: Because the Stones are playing on what would normally be Locals Thursday, an extra day was added to the beginning of the festival. April 25 is now Locals Thursday, the day that tickets are sold at discounted prices to Louisiana residents.

As posted on the festival website, ticket prices start at $290 for the first weekend and at $465 for the second. There is also a three-day pass option for the second weekend, with tickets starting at $240.

 Happy festing everyone!