The lineup for the 2025 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be announced tomorrow but RtBE got the early scoop...
Actually, no we don't...but since it is fun to predict, lets look into the crystal ball and guess who will be and who should be playing.
We will exclude the brass bands and local acts (even though they are THE main reason we go each year) including nationally touring NOLA acts like Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Irma Thomas, Kermit Ruffins, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Galactic, Samatha Fish, Trombone Shorty, Big Freedia, Rebirth Brass Band who will all be there.Also we are obviously skipping the great jazz, blues and gospel acts who will be the foundation of the festival in their respective tents. Honestly, they are what makes this festival special and a major reason people like RtBE make an annual journey down.
Let's just talk about the bigger national touring artists for now....
To get in the southern festive NOLA mood, here is a great video done by Jeronimo Acero that my friend the fantastic Lu Brow sent north to warm me up during the winter.
Now on to the predictions....
Solid Bets:
Pearl Jam
There is a glaring opening in their southern tour dates during that second weekend. Looks like PJ is a good bet to rock the Fairgrounds in 2025.
My Morning Jacket
They are wide open after their Mexico festival, love NOLA, and are being rumored (heavily) to be playing the Fest. Seems like a safe bet.
Bonnie Raitt
She is touring south around that time and both weekends could work. Makes too much sense for her not to be there.
Jack White
Has a break in his No Name World Tour for either weekend and will already be down south. Like Bonnie and PJ, he seems like a pretty solid bet for this years fest.
Billy Joel and Sting
They are touring together all spring and have an open weekend in their current tour that coincides with the second weekend of Jazzfest. Seems like both would bring big name (older) status to the Fest.
Santana
Played the fest a few years ago and is touring in the area. Very likely to headline a day this year.
Sturgill Simpson
Seems up this festival's alley and he is open for tour dates during the second weekend.
Possible Big Name Long Shots:
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:
Springsteen and E Street topped our favorite show of 2024 and 2025 and don't start their European tour until after Jazzfest. It could work out...
Sublime
Back to their original name with Jakob Nowell, Bradley's son singing, they could be in for a HUGE touring year, and JF makes sense.
Green Day
They are playing Coachella so why not JF?
Zach Byran
Seems very likely to headline a Saturday eventually, why not this year? If not him, maybe another big country star.
Phish
It has been over 10 years since the Vermont quartet played JF and while they never play a lot down in the Big Easy, it would seem they are due.
Brittney Howard
Coming off of her biggest solo year yet, she has no tour dates announced in the Spring.
Pink
JF always has at least one big name pop star, maybe this year is Pink?
Missy Elliot
She is playing Coachella, why not headline Jazzfest?
NIN
They are touring and Reznor loves New Orleans, so maybe, but they were always more of a Voodoo Fest band...man, I wish that Festival would come back.
Billy Strings
Strings is the perfect Thursday headliner for this festival for years to come. He will be in this column every year until he stops touring. Speaking of artists in the that vein...
Now some bands who always seem to play the festival, and with good reason. They will probably be playing the festival again this year:
Wilco
RtBE has caught them a few times already in the Big Easy. Seems decent bet.
Trucks and Tedeschi Band
Because they should headline every Thursday of the second weekend, they are the right band for that job with Widespread Panic not touring as much...speaking of which...
Widespread Panic
Because if they are touring, they are going to play Jazzfest.
Wilco
RtBE has caught them a few times already in the Big Easy. Seems decent bet.
Trucks and Tedeschi Band
Widespread Panic
Because if they are touring, they are going to play Jazzfest.
Los Lobos
They should play every year, just after The Iguana's on the Fais Do Do stage. Having seen that a few times already, that combo is perfect to these ears.
Spoon
The band loves NOLA and it is a quick shot from Austin to the Acura stage
Now a few lower level national touring acts who could/should be gracing the stages:
I am not sure this act has ever played Jazzfest, and they would fit in perfectly!
Wednesday
They would be a great addition to the Acura stage one weekend. along those lines....
MJ Lenderman
Blowing up solo, Lenderman who is also in Wednesday would work real well at JF. Maybe late night is more his speed, but would def sound great on a big festival stage in the sun and the first weekend gives him the opportunity with his current touring schedule.
Kristone "Kingfish" Ingram
Should be a headliner in the Blues Tent this year then moving up and headlining bigger stages each and every year.
Brass Queens
This is a no brainer, get the Brass Queens on the Jazzfest lineup every year The NYC based outfit were custom made for it.
Organ Fairchild
The Buffalo, NY based jam/instrumental rockers could play the Fest or a late night set in town, both would be great and worth catching.
Mikaela Davis
Seems a great fit for the fest. Don't believe she has played before.
Yola
It might not lineup with her tour dates but Yola should play the fest soon, she would be perfect.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
I don't think these prog rockers have yet to play the festival, while their antics may be better suited for late nights (or Daze Between), they could def throw down an interesting afternoon set.
Yola
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
I don't think these prog rockers have yet to play the festival, while their antics may be better suited for late nights (or Daze Between), they could def throw down an interesting afternoon set.
Waxahatchee
Had a great year in 2024 with Tiger's Blood, would be perfect here.
And now some people who RtBE loves and feel that they should be playing the festival (or late night), but probably won't be...
Lil' Wayne-
Probably not the NOLA festival for him, but hot dam RtBE would love to catch Weezy at the fairgrounds.
Bob Dylan-
One of these years he is going to return to the festival, so why not this year?
Tom Waits-
If we are shooting for the moon....why not Waits??!?!
Lil' Wayne-
Probably not the NOLA festival for him, but hot dam RtBE would love to catch Weezy at the fairgrounds.
Bob Dylan-
Tom Waits-
Who do think is playing? Who do you want to see there? Feel free to comment below and stay tuned for the official announcement tomorrow.
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