The second Saturday at Jazz Fest was a wet one. Festival goers traded in their Bayou Wear for rain boots and plastic ponchos to weather the day at the Fair Grounds. With fairly steady rain falling most of the day and swampy fest grounds, some people chose to stay home but the die hards went and had a great time. As one woman was overheard saying, "I love a rainy day Jazz Fest!"
Here's the secret about going to the Jazz Fest when the weather is less than ideal: smaller crowds and cooler temps. If those two things don't invite you to go on a rainy day, then nothing will. This Saturday, there was room to walk, wide open spaces, and shorter lines. While the big stages still held pretty decent crowds, the walkways and the smaller stages were easy to navigate.
If you didn't mind walking through a little muck on Saturday, you were also gifted with a cool breeze and the sun hiding behind the clouds, holding back it's traditionally blazing Jazz Fest heat--your reward for venturing out. The mood of the day was light and fun, a feeling of camaraderie that everyone out there loved all of the music, food, and fun that Jazz Fest has to offer those enough to brave the elements.
The Gospel Tent is a great place to start the day, and though some of the early acts of the day were cancelled due to rain, Anthony Brown and Group TherAPy had the crowd on their feet, singing along and being moved by the spirit. Always packed and with standing room only, the Gospel Tent guarantees high energy, spiritual music that sets the tone for the rest of your Jazz Fest visit.
After sitting a spell and listening to Anthony Brown, it's time to eat. Seriously, the entire day here is the right time to eat. And a rainy day is all the more reason to treat yourself to all of the things Jazz Fest has to offer. What to have first, though? If you've been before, you likely have your favorites. Most people do. There are some foods you can only get at Jazz Fest and even the ones you can get out in the wild, seem to taste better there for some reason. People go for their must-haves at fest time and one of the most popular dishes is Crawfish Monica, with six lines at their booth--attesting to this dish's popularity. Crawfish Monica is creamy, cheesy, spicy pasta with crawfish tails. It's hearty and flavorful--a taste of Louisiana--and perfect fest fare.
If you aren't sure what you want to eat, good luck. It's difficult to decide what to have with so many delicious options. But here's an insider tip. Walk the food booths, read the names of all of the offerings, look at lines to see who's loving what, and then talk to people. Ask "how is it?" and "where did you get that?" You've never seen so much food rubbernecking as you do at Jazz Fest as people check out what each other is eating. It's a beautiful thing.
This year, there was an alcohol free drink option at the fest. The 1 Million Strong sober supportive wellness tent was a great spot for fest goers to rest and recharge, all while enjoying alcohol free drinks. The ginger beer fizz was refreshing and tasty.
What would the Jazz Fest be without hitting the Blues Tent? Legendary blues musician Keb' Mo' played a righteous set in the afternoon. With five Grammy's and 14 Blues Foundation Awards to his name, Keb' Mo' didn't disappoint. If you were able to catch him, count yourself lucky.
Stopping at the smaller stages is one of the best parts of Jazz Fest. Sure, lots of people go for the headliners, but if you're not wandering past the smaller stages, you're missing out on the full experience. At the AARP Rhythmpourium, Debbie Davis and Josh Paxton performed on this colorful stage. They were a lively duo, jazzing up a variety of songs, including "Hot for Teacher," which made for a fun time.
Checking out the arts and crafts at the Jazz Fest is, for many, the best part. Lighter crowds this Saturday meant easier access to walk through the Congo Square African Marketplace, Contemporary Crafts, and Louisiana Marketplace. There was plenty of time to chat with artisans who were excited to discuss their crafts and show their work.
One of the best strategies for doing Jazz Fest is having no plan. Wandering through the main thoroughfare and hearing music from all corners of the Fair Grounds, letting whichever one appeals the most lead you to that stage. The Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage had BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet performing in the afternoon. The zydeco sounds of fiddle and bass drew people in to listen or two-step in the mud as they played a lively set.
The Lumineers played the Shell Gentilly Stage late in the afternoon and the grounds in front of the stage quickly filled up with fans. As the band opened the set with "Brightside," the sun--on cue, for the first time of the day--broke through the clouds an shined brightly. Fest-goers peeled off layers of clothes and rain gear as it warmed up quickly.
The crowd sang along to all of their favorite songs, which the Lumineers played, one after the other. The mood was light and happy--this was the perfect act to end what was a great, messy Jazz Fest day.
A rainy day at Jazz Fest isn't for everyone. Lots of people opted to sit this one out, choosing to go the last day instead. But for those who braved the mess and the rain, it was worth it. It always is. You just have to know what you're getting yourself into--muddy grounds, constant rain, sometimes cancelled or postponed shows, and an overall really messy day. There's an upside though. The second Saturday at Jazz Fest was a fun day, with musicians and artists making it all worth it.
