The day started out gloomy and rainy, but ended on quite the opposite note: with sunshine and tons of energy. Day seven of Jazz Fest, the final Saturday of the 2019 festival, featured big-name acts including headliners Dave Mathews Band, Diana Ross, and Pitbull. Other notable performances from Day 7 included Tank and the Bangas, Galactic, The New Orleans Classic R&B Legends, Amanda Shaw, and more.
The biggest crowds of the day watched Matthews at Acura, Pitbull at the Congo Square Stage and Diana Ross at Gentilly.
Dave Matthews Band
In true jam-band fashion, DMB played out some songs for well over ten minutes. Starting the day by declaring “What a beautiful day in the neighborhood,” Matthews opened with the hit “What Would You Say,” extended with multiple solos, which segued into “Too Much.” The crowds that gathered to watch DMB were deep as ever, and Dave surely let the fans know how appreciative he was for that.
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Dave feeling jumpy at #jazzfest in #NOLA @davematthewsband @redlightmanagement
Pitbull
Pitbull made up from lost times in 2017 as he was forced to cancel due to thunderstorms and bad weather. The Latin rapper performed hit after hit, and the crowd was a rambunctious bunch for the majority of his 90-minute set. Pitbull paid his respects to playing the 50th anniversary of Jazzfest, announcing several times how honored he was. This might have been the most energetic set of the entire day.
Diana Ross
Diana Ross was absolutely stunning. What seemed like the largest crowd of the weekend, the singer pulled fans all the way back onto the dirt track for her set. She remarkably made nine outfits changes during her set, which gave her performance a grammy-esq type vibe. Ending with “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “I Will Survive,” she proved to hold crowds from every generation, with fans as little as children to elderly adults dancing in unison. It was truly a special way to end Saturday night.
Big Freedia
We can’t leave out our favorite act of Saturday: none other than the Queen Diva Big Freedia. There is one thing about a Big Freedia set that no other artist can say; the sheer enjoyment and shock brought on by her performance is pure energy. Twerking is an understatement when watching Big Freedia. Freedia is a staple of New Orleans and deserves to be on that stage year after year.
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Jazz Fest 2019 ends today with final performances from Jimmy Buffett, Trombone Shorty, Herbie Hancock, and more! Full schedule for today found here.
Featured Image: Jeff Coffin
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