The 2020 edition of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, better known simply as Jazz Fest, has been canceled, due to ongoing Covid-19 health concerns. This year’s event, which was to span two lengthy weekends, originally set for Apr. 23-26 and April 30 – May 3, will not take place. The April 16 announcement of the cancellation noted that the 2021 edition will be held from April 22 – May 2.
The lineup was revealed on Jan. 16 and once again, it was chock full of classic rock legends over its two weekends. Leading the way are The Who and Stevie Nicks. They were to be joined by Dead & Company, Lenny Kravitz, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, the Black Crowes, the Foo Fighters, Rickie Lee Jones, and the Beach Boys, among dozens of other top names. The 2020 festival was at first postponed, in an announcement on Mar. 17.
Jazz Fest always includes artists spanning a broad range of music genres. Some of the biggest, revealed in the Jan. 16 announcement: Lionel Richie, the Isley Brothers, Buddy Guy, John Prine, Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, the Dirty Knobs with Mike Campbell, and Norah Jones.
Th 2020 festival – the event’s 51st – was dubbed “Right Place, Right Time,” again added a day by opening on the Thursday of its first weekend. All told, there were to be 650+ artists on 14 stages.
Watch the Jazz Fest 2020 talent announcement video
The Who’s appearance had been considered a given as Pete Townshend had leaked it out last fall. (Tickets for their 2020 tour are available at Ticketmaster and here.)
This year’s planned daily headliners (and their originally scheduled dates): Thursday, April 23 – The Beach Boys, Nile Rodgers & Chic; Friday, April 24 – Lenny Kravitz, Elvis Costello & the Imposters; Saturday, April 25 – The Who, the Avett Brothers; Sunday, April 26 – Foo Fighters, Brandi Carlile, Norah Jones; Thursday, April 30 – The Black Crowes; Friday, May 1 – Lionel Richie; Saturday, May 2 – Dead & Company; and Sunday, May 3 – Stevie Nicks.
Started in 1970, Jazz Fest annually celebrates the unique culture of New Orleans and the region drawing fans from around the country and around the world.
Related: Listings for 100s of classic rock tours
1 Comment so far
Jump into a conversationSorry, but after what Nicks did to Lindsey Buckingham, with the Mac ouster, I want nothing more to do with her, or the spineless Fleetwood Mac. Not knowing what lie ahead for Buckingham, I don’t know how the band could allow her to blackmail the engine of the group out of the band.