René O'Deay gBlog

"New Orleans, meet New Jersey: Bon Jovi is coming to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival presented by Shell.

The veteran Jersey rock band that lorded over MTV in the 1980s and continues to fill arenas worldwide performs at the Fair Grounds on May 2. That is the biggest surprise on the day-to-day Jazz Fest schedule released today.

After Hurricane Katrina, Bon Jovi donated $1 million to build 28 homes in Houma in conjunction with Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network and Habitat for Humanity. A street was renamed Bon Jovi Boulevard.
Bon Jovi joins New Orleans Jazz Fest roster as daily schedule is announced - Keith Spera - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com

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Satchmo SummerFest 2008 | WWOZ 90.7 FM: "WWOZ will be broadcasting live from the Satchmo SummerFest, a free two-day music festival at the Old U.S. Mint that also includes a world-reknown music symposium, an art show and the Satchmo Club Strut, all in honor of New Orleans' favorite son, the great Louis Armstrong.

The Mint will host live performances on four stages all day on Saturday and Sunday with some of New Orleans' finest traditional jazz, brass band and contemporary jazz music, along with hands-on workshops and performances for children. Check back soon for the full Satchmo live broadcast schedule."

Listen Live Online on WWOZ-FM Radio the Best Jazz Radio in the World!

My Love to You: Enjoy!

René O'Deay

And it rained, and it rained! Up to 8 inches in some areas.
Some areas experienced major flooding, with cars floating down the strehttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifets.
Do see the Times-Picayune front page to view photos of street flooding and of the JazzFest.

Billy Joel's singing in the rain - Keith Spera - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com: "As Billy Joel plowed through 'Keeping the Faith' at the Acura Stage, a roadie armed with a squeegee swept standing water off the top of the black grand piano.

That tells you all you need to know about the weather Saturday evening at the Fair Grounds. A hard, steady rain fell throughout Joel's set. 'Why, God, why?' shouted a guy standing in the puddle behind me.

Joel, too, had some questions for the Almighty. More than once, he shook his fist and glared at the foreboding sky. 'Is that the best you got?' he shouted at one point. 'C'mon, bring it on.'"

Maybe that was the wrong thing to say, as the rain came down even harder.

More Thunderstorms predicted for Sunday, though it is partly sunny this A.M.
Hopefully the forecast will be better for next weekend's four-day event at JazzFest. Hopefully I will be going on one of those days.

René O'Deay

New Orleans is ready for JazzFest, starting this Friday. Two weekends, seven whole days, of music, food, beer, and fans.

JazzFest website has all the schedules, news, tickets, etc.

Some of the musical greats coming include: Robert Plant, Jimmy Buffett, Sheyrl Crow, Billy Joel, Count Basie's Orchestra, and Egg Yolk Jubilee. The Gambit has an interesting roundup this week of the artists and what stage they will appear on.

Chris Rose has a plan for Jazzfest, but will he stick to it?

Chris Rose: The man with a Jazzfest plan

I've studied the positions. I've researched everything. I've talked with friends and others whose opinions I respect.

I want to make an informed decision. I want to make the right choice. It's important. You only get one chance at this thing.

The presidential election? Humbug. What I'm talking about is much more important than that.

Source: blog.nola.com via René

Tags: Culture