The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival with performing artists Charmaine Neville Band, Yusa Cuban Soul, Samantha Fish, Mexican Institute of Sound, Dumpstaphunk, Deacon John, Eric Lindell, Victor Campbell,Las Hermanas Garcia, Maggie Koerner, Pearl Jam, Kenny Wayne Shepherd with Bobby Rush and Nicholas Payton and Triune featuring Karriem Riggens and Esperanza Spalding performing at the New Orleans Fair Ground and Slots on Saturday, May 3, 2025. #jazzfest2025 #jazzfest #music #jazz #whereyatnola2025.
Jazz Fest Second Sunday
by Sabrina Stone
The second Saturday of The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival started with rains that threatened to drown out the Fair Grounds. However, by noon the sun was back, full force, and the only reminder was some muddy dance floors.
I ran to the farside of the festival, to the Gentilly Stage, to see Tia Wood sing angelically. She has the makings of a massive pop star: beauty, humor, talent, humility (she brought her mom up on stage with her to sing two traditional songs), and, at only age 25, Wood—hailing from Canada and of Cree and Salish descent—is the first indigenous woman ever signed to Sony Music. I have a feeling this won't be your last chance to catch the song bird at Jazz Fest.
Over at the Fais Do Do Stage, Leyla McCalla performed several songs off of her latest album, Sun Without the Heat. McCalla's vocals have such a rich, deep steadiness to them that were subtly contrasted by the plucky light-heartedness of her band's instrumentals. It was no surprise to see the audience peppered with great singer-songwriters who were captivated by the set.
The Calpulli Tonalehqueh Aztec Dancers, in the Native American Circle, were thrilling to watch. Since I wasn't the one spinning and leaping, I was able to enjoy their acrobatics with a maque choux and fry bread in hand before running to the Festival Stage to catch the always astounding Samantha Fish. I would have happily endured worse hardships to watch her shred, but the crowds were already bordering on headliner-dense and rowdy for her set, which was intimidating at 2 p.m. The manic energy of Jazz Fest really builds as the days go on, so if you're looking for music in a calmer setting, attending earlier sets and prioritizing Weekend One is often a better choice, but if you thrive on that sort of festival buzz, Weekend Two was made for you.
On my way to dance to the sweaty, tattooed, shirtless madness of Son Rompe Pera featuring guest Gil Gutierrez of Mexico in the Cultural Exchange tent, I was pulled to the Jazz & Heritage Stage by the sounds of BIM (Benin International Musical). While their music also led to furied dancing, their group vocals had subtle harmonies, strong melodies, and universal themes of love.
After two heavy dance sets in a row, catching Chloé Marie & Harry Mayronne crooning at the cool, covered, vibey Rhthymporium was the antidote.
The rest was just soothing enough on my heart and ears to bring me back out for the ultimate high-energy Bouncesplosion that was HaSizzle, "The King of Bounce," on the Congo Square Stage, featuring a ton of friends. Raj Smoove DJed, Anjelica "Jelly" Joseph sang, and half a dozen dancers competed on the runway while HaSizzle had multiple outfit changes and sat on a throne—that is, when he wasn't twerking with the best of 'em.
Before speaking about the last four musical performers I caught (yes, it was a very dense day) I have to say that a major highlight of the festival was the artwork. I couldn't believe that several of my personal heroes—Brandan "BMike" Odums, Terrance Osborne, and Ceaux—were manning their own booths. Obviously, they had helpers, but getting to watch demonstrations, live painting, and ask extraordinary artists, one on one, about their pieces and their process is an often unsung part of the Jazz Fest experience.
Running back to the Gentilly Stage, it was fun to see Maggie Koerner bring it, as always. While she's already a local favorite, it looked like this packed performance might have gotten her in front of a bunch of new, national music-lovers. Koerner came right before Laufey, the 26-year-old half Chinese, half Icelandic phenom who had fans absolutely weeping over her in excitement. Surprisingly, Laufey, while very young, sings like an old soul. Every one of the songs I caught sounded like a jazz classic that had been around for a century. It was very cool seeing so many teens and 20-somethings rediscover such a classic sound.
It almost wasn't worth parting the massive sea of Zennials to get out, but there couldn't have been a more exciting contrast than going from Laufey's jazz crooning to Tem's upbeat Nigerian dancehall sound to the inescapable soundtrack of the '90s: Pearl Jam. All day, the festival grounds were swarming with Pearl Jam tour shirts of yore and one that just said, "Eddie Eddie Eddie Eddie Eddie." To say their crowd was packed with superfans would have been an understatement. I only caught two originals, as they chose to close out their set with two covers, including Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World," but the audience seemed pleased and exhausted after an exceptionally long day of festin'.
Enjoy the final day of music! Stay hydrated!
See you on the Fair Grounds.
