The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on Friday, April 24, 2026: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with performing artists Bon Bon Varant, Cyril Neville, The Uptown Ruler, Astral Project, Rosie Ledet, Ani DiFranco, Big Freedia, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, Hiromi's Sonicwonder, Jon Batiste, Tim Laughlin, Spyboy J & Thee Storm Mardi Gras, Conjunto Tierra Linda, Creole Wild West and 7TH Ward Rollers, The Queen of the Nation
Indian Council with Black Flame Hunters and Red Cheyenne 8th Ward Black Masking Indians performing on Friday, April 24, 2026. #JazzandHeritageFestival2026, #JazzandHeritageFestival, #JazzFest2026 #louisianaHeritage2026, #NOLA
Cajun Representation at Jazz Fest
by Donald Rickert
Lafayette is well represented at Jazz Fest this year, especially on the Fais Do-Do stage. Bonsoir, Catin, celebrating 20 years together, performed their version of Cajun Country and dance hall songs that is tinged in early rock 'n' roll.
Next up on the Fais Do-Do stage was, now local New Orleanian via Buffalo, NY, Ani DiFranco. She is a bit outside of the normal singer-songwriter style that she is often associated with as she has intriguing, out-of-the-box alternate tunings for her guitar, which lends itself to her percussive guitar playing. It makes for a unique style and interesting approach that is still welcoming.
DiFranco lives in the Bywater, and she has made numerous appearances at Jazz Fest.
There were some sound issues during DiFranco's set. Her voice was often drowned out by the bass in the mix.
She performed with an accompaniment of a double base (stand-up bass) and a multi-instrumentalist that focused on lap steel to introduce a old-school country vibe.
Local musician Joy Clark joined DiFranco for a bit.
Next up was Louisiana-born and state favorite the Lost Bayou Ramblers. Not only are they local favorites, but they are award-winning musicians, focusing on their take on Cajun music, although they originally took some heat from traditionalists for adding a rock influence, including distorted guitar in that style, which is handled by local guitarist Johnny Campos.
Their songs dip in between French and English lyrics, so, that too, makes them a tad outside of traditional, but it also makes them more accessible. That's also what helped land them win a couple of Grammys.
The Lost Bayou Ramblers, too, are originally Lafayette, so, again, Lafayette was well represented at Jazz Fest.
