Jazz Fest: Thursday's Schedule and Picks

Our highlights of for the start of the second weekend of Jazz Fest color-coded on our downloadable schedule.

For me, Jazz Fest gets real when the choices get tough, and by that metric, the festival really starts Thursday at about 2:30. An interview with folk legend Buffy Sainte-Marie is opposite Meschiya Lake, Helen Gillet and part of the Lost Bayou Ramblers' set with guests Rickie Lee Jones and Spider Stacy. Following that, you have Gary Clark Jr., Brandi Carlile, The Suffers, and Sainte-Marie's set. After that, choices get easier for me since I'm definitely more Elvis Costello than Tedeschi Trucks, but the additions of Jimmie Vaughan and Billy Gibbons has my attention.

At the end of last weekend, I would have predicted that we were through the outpourings of Prince love, but I already know of one band with plans, and the slow roll out of live Prince shows online gives me reason to think maybe we're not done yet. Since the Prince-ly elements gave a sense of occasion to an otherwise undistinguished weekend, I'm not complaining.

As usual, we've provided a schedule marked with where we plan to be Thursday, as well as Louisiana acts that ought to be on your radar. Print it or save it to your phone or tablet. I did both last weekend and found both handy. Our schedules are up to date as of Wednesday, April 27, which makes them more current than any of the slick ones distributed on the way to the Fair Grounds.