New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2008 Guide (Week One) - - Oldies Music

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is an embarrassment of riches for music lovers, touching not just upon jazz music but also lots of R&B, blues, rock, gospel, world music, hip-hop, and cajun/zydeco. So how can an oldies fan best spend his time at the 2007 "Fest"? Here's a handy day-by-day guide for Week One from yours truly, who's been going since he was a child. Keep it here for Week Two!

Friday, April 25

11:20am - 12:05pm: Susan Cowsill Band
Acura Stage
Member of the Cowsills ("The Rain, The Park and Other Things"), Susan's been a New Orleans transplant for years now.

12:20pm - 1:10pm: J. Monque'D Blues Band
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
Ugly, ugly blues-rock from one of Uptown's best.

1:30pm - 2:30pm: Barbara Lynn
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
Lewis is best remembered as the ultra-romantic smooth soul songstress responsible for hits like "Hello Stranger," "Baby, I'm Yours," and "Make Me Your Baby."

3:45pm - 5:00pm Leo's "Rare Funk Gathering" feat. Leo Nocentelli (The Meters), Bernie Worell (P-Funk), & Doug Wimbish and Will Calhoun (Living Colour)
Congo Square "My Louisiana" Stage
A meeting of Seventies funk masters.

5:50pm - 6:55pm: Buckwheat Zydeco
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
The bluesiest of the accordion slingers, and a legend in his own right.

Saturday, April 26

11:30am - 12:20pm: Rockie Charles & The Stax Of Love
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
The "President of Soul" was a key player in the New Orleans, Nashville, Detroit, and Mississippi soul scenes of the Sixties.

12:25pm - 1:05pm: Interview: Roy Head Interviewer: Ira "Dr. Ike" Padnos
Allison Miner Music Heritage / Lagniappe Stage
Not many folks realize Jazz Fest is notable for its interviews, too, such as this no doubt revealing talk with a legend of blue-eyed soul ("Treat Her Right").

2:25pm - 3:25pm: Eddie Bo
Sheraton New Orleans Fais-Do-Do Stage
His "I'm Wise" became Little Richard's "Slippin' And Slidin'," and he's also responsible for mid-Sixties funk classics like "Pass The Hatchet."

3:55pm - 5:10pm: Warren Storm, Willie Tee and the Cypress Band
Sheraton New Orleans Fais-Do-Do Stage
The godfather of Swamp Pop meets up with the a king of Crescent City Soul.

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: The Ponderosa Stomp Revue featuring Tammy Lynn, Archie Bell, Roy Head, and Dennis Binder
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
New Orleans' other great roots-fest presents this cavalcade of Sixties R&B.

Sunday, April 27

11:30am - 12:30pm: Little Freddie King Blues Band
Southern Comfort Blues Tent
Hypnotic blues grooves and frightening tales from his own weird life.

12:40pm - 1:30pm: Zac Brown Band
Acura Stage
Acoustic-based Southern Rock from a laid-back Atlantean.

2:00pm - 3:10pm: Voice of the Wetlands All-stars feat. Tab Benoit, Dr. John, Monk Boudreaux, George Porter Jr., Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Johnny Sansone, Johnny Vidocovich & Waylon Thibodeaux
Acura Stage
You won't see this many New Orleans funksters on one stage anywhere else at this year's fest.

3:40pm - 4:45pm: Irma Thomas and the Professionals
Acura Stage
"It's Raining," "Ruler Of My Heart," "Time Is On My Side," "Break-A-Way"... her contributions to '60s soul are immeasurable. And she seems to have been invigorated by that Grammy win...

5:45pm - 7:00pm: Al Green
Congo Square "My Louisiana" Stage
The master of seductive Seventies R&B returns, and though still spiritual, isn't afraid to revisit his glory days on stage.