12 Stages, 2 Weekends, 1 Great Festival

This year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival festival is set for April 29-May 1 and May 5-8. Taking place at the New Orleans Fairgrounds’ race track, Robert Plant’s Band Of Joy tour, Jeff Beck, Wyclef Jean, The Avett Brothers, Mumford & Sons, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and Keb’ Mo’ are just some of the artists scheduled for opening day, April 29.

Saturday, April 30 performances include Bon Jovi, Jason Mraz, Fantasia, Irma Thomas, Robert Cray, Amos Lee, Ahmad Jamal, Rance Allen and Ricky Skaggs while John Mellencamp, Tom Jones, John Legend performing with The Roots, Dr. John, Alejandro Sanz, Arlo Guthrie, Kenny G, The Decemberists and Vickie Winans are on the Sunday, May 1 schedule.

Weekend No. 2 launches Thursday, May 5 with Wilco, Cyndi Lauper, Lucinda Williams, Galactic, Maceo Parker with special guest Pee Wee Ellis, Ivan Lins, Joseph Zigaboo Modeliste, Michelle Shocked and Charlie Musselwhite plus many, many more.

Arcade Fire tops the Friday, May 6 lineup along with Willie Nelson, Lupe Fiasco, Better Than Ezra, Jamey Johnson, Gregg Allman Blues Band, Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, Buckwheat Zydeco and Big Sam’s Funky Nation.

On Saturday, May 7 Jazz & Heritage welcomes Jimmy Buffett, The Strokes, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Allen Toussaint, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Mystikal and Bobby Blue Bland.

Kid Rock‘s on the lineup for the festival’s last day – Sunday, May 8 – along with The Neville Brothers, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Sonny Rollins, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Maze feat. Frankie Beverly, The Radiators and Cowboy Mouth.

Of course, the acts mentioned above are just a very small inkling of what Jazz & Heritage is all about. Other artists appearing include Tom Jones, Sonny Landreth, Ellis Marsalis, Henry Butler, BeauSoleil Avec Michael Doucet, Jesse Winchester and Nicholas Payton, but we’re still only brushing the surface and you really need to examine the schedule to appreciate the depth and scope of this year’s event.

The 2011 Jazz & Heritage Festival is also hosting the largest celebration of Haitian culture in the U.S. since last year’s earthquake. Along with Wyclef Jean, other Haitian musicians appearing include Tabou Combo, RAM, Boukman Eksperyans, Emeline Michel, Djakout #1, DJA-Rara and TiCoca & Wanga Neges.

Make your pass requests either for weekend #1 or #2 (or both).