Jazz Fest: Weekend 2

Our picks for the second weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Does Jazz Fest need extreme weather to really get good? Or, was the first weekend's talent lineup good but not great? Whatever the case, Sunday was the most compelling day last weekend. The Screaming Eagle of Soul, Charles Bradley, was the highlight of the weekend, and A Tribe Called Red did the unthinkable for many and introduced festgoers to dubstep.

This weekend, Saturday afternoon ends with a trainwreck of conflicts with Fleetwood Mac, Phoenix, Frank Ocean and Los Lobos all play at the same time, and Sunday afternoon ends with The Black Keys opposite Hall & Oates, which will overlap with Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue's set closing the Acura Stage, which conflicts with Aaron Neville's first solo set closing Jazz Fest without his brothers.

On Sunday, I'll make an appearance on a Jazz Fest stage. I'll interview songwriter Jim McCormick, who last year had back to back number one hits on the country charts with Brantley Gilbert and Jason Aldean. He'll soon have a new album out on his own, The Middle of the River. We'll be at the Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage Sunday at 12:30 p.m.

Here's where we think we'll be - or hope to be - this weekend at Jazz Fest. Our lists aren't comprehensive, but they're artists we want to put on your radar, either because we want to make sure you know about them, or because we're looking forward to them. 

Thursday, May 2
Alex
The Mercy Brothers - Gentilly Stage, 11:15 a.m.
The Woodshed: Hammond B3 with Kyle Roussel and Joe Ashlar - Zatarain's/WWOZ Jazz Tent, 12:15 p.m.
Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys - Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage, 12:20 p.m.
Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns - Gentilly Stage, 1:25 p.m.
Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses - Peoples Health Economy Hall Tent, 1:45 p.m.
Roy Ayers Interview with DJ Soul Sister - Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage, 2:30 p.m.
Dee-1 - Congo Square Stage, 2:45 p.m.
Theresa Andersson - Gentilly Stage, 4 p.m.
Pokey LaFarge - Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage, 4:15 p.m.
Patti Smith - Acura Stage, 5:40 p.m.

Cherie
Eleanor McMain “Singing Mustangs” Choir - Gospel Tent, 11:15 a.m.
Hot 8 Brass Band - Congo Square Stage, 1:25 p.m.
Dee-1 - Congo Square Stage, 2:45 p.m.
Theresa Andersson - Gentilly Stage, 4 p.m.
Pokey LaFarge - Sheraton New Orleans Fais-Do-Do Stage, 4:15 p.m.
Patti Smith - Gentilly Stage, 5:40 p.m.

Friday, May 3
Alex
Royal Teeth - Acura Stage, 11:15 a.m.
Maggie Koerner - Lagniappe Stage, 11:40 a.m.
Brushy One-String - Jazz & Heritage Stage, 12:10 p.m.
Holly Williams - Gentilly Stage, 12:15 p.m.
Bill Miller - Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage, 1:30 p.m.
Malê Debalê of Bahia, Brazil - Congo Square Stage, 2:20 p.m.
The Mavericks - Gentilly Stage, 2:40 p.m.
Jerry Douglas - Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage, 4:25 p.m.
Jimmy Cliff - Congo Square Stage, 5:40 p.m.

Cherie
Royal Teeth - Acura Stage, 11:15 a.m.
Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys - Acura Stage, 12:35 p.m.
The Mavericks - Gentilly Stage, 2:40 p.m.
Brushy One-String of Jamaica - Blues Tent, 2:55 p.m.
Marc Broussard - Acura Stage, 3:35 p.m.
White Cloud Hunters Mardi Gras Indians - Jazz & Heritage Stage, 4:40 p.m.
Stooges Brass Band - Jazz & Heritage Stage, 5:45 p.m.
Willie Nelson & Family - Gentilly Stage, 5:45 p.m.

Saturday, May 4
Alex
Mariachi Jalisco - Jazz & Heritage Stage, 12:20 p.m.
The New Orleans Hip-Hop Experience feat. DJ Mike Swift, DJ Poppa, 3D Na'Tee, 5th Ward Weebie, Rocka B, Big Choo, N.O.V. and Dobama - Congo Square Stage, 12:45 p.m.
Luke Winslow King - Lagniappe Stage, 1 p.m.
Yvette Landry - Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage, 1:30 p.m.
Kevin Gordon Interview with Scott Jordan - Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage, 2:30 p.m.
Galactic - Gentilly Stage, 3:25 p.m.
Fleetwood Mac - Acura Stage, 5:10 p.m.
Frank Ocean - Congo Square Stage, 5:25 p.m.
Phoenix - Gentilly Stage, 5:30 p.m.

Cherie
Luke Winslow-King - Lagniappe Stage, 1 p.m.
Cowboy Mouth - Acura Stage, 1:35 p.m.
Lars Edegran’s New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra - Peoples Health Economy Hall Tent, 1:50 p.m.
MUTEMATH - Gentilly Stage, 1:55 p.m.
Eric Lindell - Blues Tent, 2:50 p.m.
Galactic - Gentilly Stage, 3:25 p.m.
Fleetwood Mac - Acura Stage, 5:10 p.m.
Frank Ocean - Congo Square Stage, 5:25 p.m.
Phoenix - Gentilly Stage, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 5
Alex
Creole String Beans - Gentilly Stage, 11:15 a.m.
Nicholas Payton Interview with Bruce Raeburn - Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage, 1:30 p.m.
Feufollet - Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage - 1:40 p.m.
The Black Keys - Acura Stage, 3:35 p.m.
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Gentilly Stage, 4 p.m.
Bobby Lounge & the Reclinders with Sister RuthAnn Kerr - Lagniappe Stage, 4:15 p.m.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue - Acura Stage, 5:35 p.m.
Aaron Neville - Gentilly Stage, 6 p.m.

Cherie
NOCCA Jazz Ensemble - Zatarain’s/WWOZ Jazz Tent, 11:15 a.m.
Jim McCormick Interview with Alex Rawls - Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage, 12:30 p.m.
The Meter Men - Acura Stage, 1:50 p.m.
Irma Thomas - Gentilly Stage, 2:10 p.m.
The Black Keys - Acura Stage, 3:45 p.m.
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Gentilly Stage, 4 p.m.
TBC Brass Band - Jazz & Heritage Stage, 4:10 p.m.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue - Acura Stage, 5:35 p.m.
Aaron Neville - Gentilly Stage, 6 p.m.