ODDS OF A 2021 NOJF?

[jjazznj]

I thought Bruce and the E Street Band might be candidates for 2021 with the new record and all but I read they don't plan to tour until 2022...

Before moving back to New Orleans 4 years ago next week from NJ, I saw 3 Bruce shows at Met Life Stadium in NJ over a week or so, all over 4 hours with no real encore break. All three shows had mostly different songs but the last night 22 out of the first 23 songs were from Born In The USA or earlier, kind of a thank you to his NJ fans. I'm so glad I saw those shows as The E Street Band has not toured since and I just do not see him playing that long anymore as they are all getting up there in age. Bruce himself looks so much older these days. I do hope this new album is a good one as it's been a long time since he has put out a real winner. Jazz Fest again would be cool but I'd prefer him playing his own show at Smoothie Center, The Dome or wherever.

[20/20]

Before moving back to New Orleans 4 years ago next week from NJ, I saw 3 Bruce shows at Met Life Stadium in NJ over a week or so, all over 4 hours with no real encore break. All three shows had mostly different songs but the last night 22 out of the first 23 songs were from Born In The USA or earlier, kind of a thank you to his NJ fans. I'm so glad I saw those shows as The E Street Band has not toured since and I just do not see him playing that long anymore as they are all getting up there in age. Bruce himself looks so much older these days. I do hope this new album is a good one as it's been a long time since he has put out a real winner. Jazz Fest again would be cool but I'd prefer him playing his own show at Smoothie Center, The Dome or wherever.

Agree with what you say from start to finish

[Marignygregg]

I can't imagine having an expired passport. I'm chomping at the bit to leave the US as soon as humanly possible. And unless you intend to drive to jazzfest next time, you're going to need a pssport or Real ID.

The real ID deadline has been pushed back AGAIN due to Covid. Maybe Jazzfest 2024 ?

[Marignygregg]

The finances are what they are. I know there is a lot more competition in the music festival world (not at the moment, of course) than in the early Fest days and I know that the Fest had some hard financial times and made some decisions for economic reasons. I get all that. I’m talking about my personal experience as a music lover at Jazz Fest and I know that doesn’t count for much. JF has always had national and international acts, it’s just that the emphasis has gone towards popularity rather than quality or connection to New Orleans. There are a lot of super-talented acts who labor in relative obscurity and could be greatly appreciated by the JF crowd. FQF is strictly local so that isn’t really comparable.

Could Jazz Fest thrive with less emphasis on BNAs? Well, the folks running it don’t seem to think so so that’s that. I was just responding to the comment I quoted. I don’t expect any changes.

My point being the BNA's are the gateway drug that gets you to the regional acts. I bet if you ask everyone on this board what got them to Fest, half would say it was a BNA and most of the local acts they currently love were discovered after they booked they're trip and walked thru the gates.

[20/20]

My point being the BNA's are the gateway drug that gets you to the regional acts. I bet if you ask everyone on this board what got them to Fest, half would say it was a BNA and most of the local acts they currently love were discovered after they booked they're trip and walked thru the gates.

Au Contraire. At least for me it was the festival. The party. I did not even know who was playing.

[revjimk]

I'm guessing no.....

[revjimk]

Great description of JF since about 1996: “a classic rock festival with a local undercard.” Of course, the “local undercard” is fabulously deep and rich and broad and that’s what makes Jazz Fest Jazz Fest. I would like to maintain the local undercard, but minimize the BNAs and add heft to the middle range acts. I think that’s where JF has suffered over the years as the BNAs suck all the oxygen (and money) from the other non-local performers. The “unknown” greats I discovered at the Fest were always one of the best features for me. It doesn’t happen much anymore.

I'm with you

[revjimk]

Hmm. He better stop, children, what's that sound..... I've been thinking about this question more broadly and I think if i were the king of NOJHF i would either be planning for an October 2021 festival or taking another full year off to reinvent myself completely. If anything this plague may force the festival to deal with its demographics relating to age of performers and age and race of attendees. Is this a classic rock festival with a local undercard, or is it something more meaningful than that? In retrospect, should people like Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones taken over the Acura stage when we lost artists like Aretha and Ray Charles? Or is the Acura stage only for people who put asses in the seats?

"Is this a classic rock festival with a local undercard, or is it something more meaningful than that?"
Perfect...

[revjimk]

My point being the BNA's are the gateway drug that gets you to the regional acts. I bet if you ask everyone on this board what got them to Fest, half would say it was a BNA and most of the local acts they currently love were discovered after they booked they're trip and walked thru the gates.

If you asked me, I would tell you I came to see performers like Professor Longhair, Clifton Chenier, Lightnin Hopkins & Robert Pete Williams....... all Big Names (except Robert Pete) if you're into that kind of music. Booker was a "local discovery".... Holy Shit!
BNAs vs. Louisiana music? kinda like McDonalds vs. Angelo Brocato's...

[chopitulas]

It was the amount of "roots" music the Festival had when I first started coming in 1990 that made me love it. As has been stated, the "BNA's" then were pretty solidly blues-based artists. Coupling that orientation with what you would encounter on smaller stages and around town when it was, again, blues and "roots" artists not Dead-music and funk ad hoc groupings, and I was in heaven.

[20/20]

Once again a differentiation. For some it was a family affair that featured music as a plus. An additional reason to come together for a day or two. Others had heard about the music or some specific performers. That got them to attend. In any event, early on it was just something of a communal gathering.

[revjimk]

Once again a differentiation. For some it was a family affair that featured music as a plus. An additional reason to come together for a day or two. Others had heard about the music or some specific performers. That got them to attend. In any event, early on it was just something of a communal gathering.

You can do that anywhere..

[cp_deb]

The real ID deadline has been pushed back AGAIN due to Covid. Maybe Jazzfest 2024 ?

It was only pushed back a year...until 10/2021

[MormonMatthew]

Hmm. He better stop, children, what's that sound..... I've been thinking about this question more broadly and I think if i were the king of NOJHF i would either be planning for an October 2021 festival or taking another full year off to reinvent myself completely. If anything this plague may force the festival to deal with its demographics relating to age of performers and age and race of attendees. Is this a classic rock festival with a local undercard, or is it something more meaningful than that? In retrospect, should people like Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones taken over the Acura stage when we lost artists like Aretha and Ray Charles? Or is the Acura stage only for people who put asses in the seats?

How many people will be willing to pay $80 for a music festival headlined by Anders, Galactic or Trombone Shorty?

Sure you could say that by focusing on smaller, local bands they could charge less, but we all know that is NEVER going to happen, the NOJ&HF is not going to go back to the days of $30 or $40 tickets. (Back in 1997, which was just 23 years ago, it cost only $16 per day for tickets at the gate)

I am not sure what music festivals can do to stay viable in the new age of people fearing for their health and safety by going out to the grocery store while doing their damndest to stay at least 10 yards away from any other living human beings, how long will it be before tens of thousands of people will feel comfortable standing in a sea of strangers and be willing to pay big bucks for the privilege?

It's not pretty to think about...

[Lit]

I am not sure what music festivals can do to stay viable in the new age of people fearing for their health and safety by going out to the grocery store while doing their damndest to stay at least 10 yards away from any other living human beings, how long will it be before tens of thousands of people will feel comfortable standing in a sea of strangers and be willing to pay big bucks for the privilege?

Whenever it is, at least we know Van is one BNA who will be first in line to play it.