CUBES ARE OUT

the aforementioned cubes are out! Go here to plan your schedule in advance.

At the Fest, Ignorance Is Not Bliss

Hey everybody -- once you hit the Fairgrounds, it can be pretty intimidating -- stages and bands are everywhere (you'll soon learn that this is a good thing!). How can one ease the transition, you ask?

1. The golden rule of the Fest -- Have a grid with you! Before you leave for the Fest, go to www.jazzfestgrids.com and get grids for each day of the Fest. Laminate these grids. Punch a hole in these grids. Tie string through that hole and tie the grid to your clothes on Fest day. DO NOT LOSE THIS GRID -- if you do, you will be lost (NOTE -- nola.com hands out some fancy grids at the Fairgrounds entrances on the first day -- they go fast, so if you want one, get there early).

Also, go to the above website for club grids -- these list what's going on every night at NO clubs during the Fest.

2. Educate yourself about the artists who will be appearing. Most of the greatest stuff I have seen at the Fest has been stuff I've never heard of prior to the Fest. Don't miss out. Tune into "Jazz Fest Radio" for tracks from Fest '05 artists. It's free and you'll be happy you listened when you get to the Fairgrounds. Listen at: http://www.vh1.com/music/radio/stations/jazz_fest/station.jhtml

38 DAYS TO GO!!

Sunday, April 24 TBA Announced

Brian Wilson has been announced as the TBA slot on Sunday, April 24. Check him out here.

Friday, April 22 TBA Announced

The open Friday "Big Act" slot has filled with The Black Crowes.

Shellfest

If you've ever wanted to be a gas station attendant, but didn't because you couldn't drink on the job, you have no excuse not to pursue your pumping dreams now.

During Jazzfest, Big 3 Shell hosts one of the more unique post-Fest parties in New Orleans. This is the only post-party where you can smoke and drink while pumping gas at an operating gas station (no, of course they don't shut down -- apparently something in the Napoleonic Code forbids Tort actions). Also, don't forget to check out the on-site car wash -- this year I predict that I'll find myself in it when it's actually operating.

All the above fun combined with a DJ blasting all kinds of music, the electric slide between pump islands, and cheap, cheap beer make this a can't miss event.

The best time at Shellfest happens on Saturday right after Jazzfest concludes. Shellfest occurs at Big 3 Shell, 3494 Esplanade Avenue. Just follow the crowd NW up Esplanade after leaving the Fairgrounds (Map). If you feel the urge to call for details (it probably won't be fruitful due to the fact that it is an ordinary, operating gas station 50 weeks out of the year), the number is (504) 488-1720.

Happy pumping!!! See y'all there.

Watermelon Sacrifice

A large part of Jazzfest fun consists of seeing extremely weird, random stuff that you would never encounter in everyday life. A fine example of such an event is the "Watermelon Sacrifice." The sacrifice takes place at the Fais Do-Do Stage on the first Friday of the Fest, between the second-to-last and last bands of the day. I could try to explain exactly what occurs, but I think this website does a far better job of doing so than I possibly could.

However, so Nate, Josh and I can be ready, I will put the lyrics of the "sacrificial chant" here for anyone who wants to practice up:

Watermelon, Watermelon Red to the Rind,
If you don't believe me, just pull down your blind
Sell it to rich, Sell it to the poor,
Sell it to the lady Standin in da do-or-or,
In da do-or-or

Sacrificing fruit -- it doesn't get much weirder -- or more fun. Only in New Orleans!

Tickets

Although it would seem simple, there are some hoops to jump through to get the best deals on tickets (and avoid Ticketbastards surcharges).

Tickets are at their cheapest ($20 per day) if you buy them before February 22, 2005. If you buy them after that date, they go up to $25 per day. If you wait until the day of the event, they go up to $35 (and you have to deal with lines). Buy early and save cash for beers at the Fest!

Also, you can avoid ticket surcharges by purchasing through the mail. Starting tomorrow, you can print out a mail-order form at the Fest website. Order by mailing in the form and save even more beer money (and keep cash out of the coffers of evil Ticketbastard).

For complete ticket-ordering information and the mail-order form, click here.

Fest Schedule Released

Let the speculation end. The Lineup for the 2005 New Orleans Jazzfest was released today. Attendance-wise, it certainly seems like they are trying to have a huge second weekend. Big acts include:

Weekend One

Friday, April 22

Cowboy Mouth, Steve Winwood, Wilco, Buckwheat Zydeco, Ozomatli, The Black Crowes

Saturday, April 23

The Original Meters Reunion: Art, Zig, George & Leo, James Taylor, The Roots, Buddy Guy, Dave Bartholomew, Luciano, Irma Thomas

Sunday, April 24

Dr. John, Nelly, Artist TBA, ¡El Dia Latino presentando Juanes, Victor Manuelle, y mas!, Smokie Norful, G. Love & Special Sauce, Rebirth Brass Band (Also one more major act TBA)

Weekend Two

Thursday, April 28

B.B. King, Jack Johnson, Nickel Creek, Los Hombres Calientes, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, the subdudes, Papa Grows Funk, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Donavon Frankenreiter

Friday, April 29

Better Than Ezra, Widespread Panic, Randy Newman, Marcia Ball, Jamie Cullum (Also one more major act TBA)

Saturday, April 30
Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dave Matthews Band, Anthony Hamilton, Elvis Costello, Galactic, Toots & the Maytals, Evangelist Shirley Caesar, Ike Turner & the Kings of Rhythm

Sunday, April 31
The Neville Brothers, Trey Anastasio, Isaac Hayes, Steel Pulse, Los Lonely Boys, The Radiators

May all your favorites be present! Visit here for the full listings.

Welcome

Hey y'all. I'm starting this blog as a resource for Festers, young and old, rookie or veteran. I'm going to post Fest Commentary, Links to helpful Fest websites, Fest tips, etc. Feel free to comment on the posts to add your own Fest knowledge.

Hopefully, if we all put together our combined Jazzfest knowledge, maybe, just maybe, we'll have 1/1,000,000th the Fest knowledge of Joe Keenan. So without further ado, let the posting commence!