Despite bad luck with some major acts canceling before the 50th annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, fest officials today said the event was a success, drawing 475,000 visitors over eight days.
Highlights included jazz legend Ellis Marsalis and his just-as-legendary offspring, Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo, and Jason all performing together. Pop superstar Katy Perry made her Jazz Fest debut with a set especially designed for the festival. Vegas legend Tom Jones had audience members swooning.
The fest announced today that next year's Jazz Fest will also span eight days, kicking off Thursday, April 23 - Sunday, April for its first weekend and resuming Thursday, April 30, to close out on May 3, 2020.