Photo Credit: Dino Perrucci
With two previous days of musical entertainment and cultural expression to show, Saturday’s schedule, April 27, for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage picked up with a formidable pulse of anticipation for a slate of over 70 billed performances set to amuse and delight at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Highlights from day three included Vampire Weekend, Chris Stapleton, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Fantasia, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and others.
Whereas mainstream favorites dominated late afternoon and evening frames, Crescent City personalities comprised many of the program’s earlier slots. Bounce-babe Big Freedia, as well as Nicholas Payton & The Nth Power, showed as stand-outs on the hometown front. Saturday’s lineup also included heartfelt paeans, such as The Batiste Brothers’ Tribute to the late Russell Batiste and New Birth Brass Band’s homage to Kerry “Fatman” Hunter.
While musical moments caused a break from reality, entranced by on-stage distractions, there was a noticeable air of loss stemming from the passing of Dumpstaphunk bassist Nick Daniels III, who died on Friday, April 26, at age 68. The alignment of timing also lent to the spirit of remembrance, bringing forth a softness and understanding of loss and change for a city rooted in the brightness of its residences.
Holding down one of the final festival slots on Saturday was the Ezra Koenig-led indie favorites Vampire Weekend–on the heels of their latest LP release, Only God Was Above Us. During the New York City-formed band’s stage time, they pulled heavily from their 2008 debut, a chart-topping self-titled set, 2019’s Father of the Bride, and their latest full-length drop.
Besides their self-scribed material, Vampire Weekend also offered a pair of bust-outs, including a first-time cover of Bruce Springsteen’s 1980 The River originator, “Hungry Heart,” and later on, after another serving of originals, Bob Dylan’s “When He Returns.” Apart from borrowed classics, VW also unleashed a first-time rendition of their own song, “Prep-School Gangsters.”
With the third day of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage in the books, more entertainment will pick up tomorrow, Sunday, April 28. Scroll down to view photos generously shared by boots on the ground photographer, Dino Perrucci.
