Jazz Fest is fast approaching, and with an incredible lineup, it can be tough to know which sets to catch. To help you plan your festival experience, we’ve put together a list of 10 sets you can’t miss. Dive in below, and grab tickets to this year’s festival HERE.
Pearl Jam
Show Details: Saturday, May 3 – 5:00 – 7:00 – Festival Stage
Pearl Jam is set to headline the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for the third time on Saturday, May 3. This is the first time the band has been back since 2016.
Formed in Seattle in 1990, known for their raw sound, powerful live performances, and frontman Eddie Vedder’s distinct vocals. As pioneers of the grunge movement alongside Nirvana and Soundgarden, they rose to fame with their debut album Ten and have remained influential in alternative rock ever since.
HAIM
Sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim grew up playing music together in a family cover band before officially forming HAIM in 2007. The California trio quickly gained mainstream attention with their 2013 debut album, Days Are Gone. Their 2021 release, Women in Music Pt. III, featured a collaboration with Taylor Swift on the track “Gasoline.” Swift also teamed up with HAIM on her song “no body, no crime.”
Show Details: Sunday, April 27 – 5:30–7 p.m. – Gentilly Stage
My Morning Jacket
Show Details: Sunday, May 4 – 3:55 – 4:55 – Gentilly Stage
My Morning Jacket has been a frequent contributor to Jazz Fest. On May 5, 2012, they delivered a memorable set that featured collaborations with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They last played Jazz Fest in 2016. They closed the day with a set on the Gentilly Stage and included a tribute to Prince. Known for their eclectic sound blending rock, psychedelic, country, and soul, with frontman Jim James’ reverb-heavy vocals at the center. Since forming in 1998, they’ve built a devoted following through expansive, genre-blurring albums and emotionally charged live shows
Lil Wayne & The Roots
What a sweet collab of music and fun. Fans are in for a treat on the first Saturday. Last year, The Roots backed Weezy to close out the annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. Now, it’s their turn to visit Lil Wayne in his home city. If the energy and setlist are anything like their 2024 collab, Jazz Fest is in for a treat.
Show Details: Saturday, April 26 – 5:30-7 p.m. – Festival Stage
Lenny Kravitz
Show Details: Sunday, May 4 – 3:40 – 5:20 – Festival Stage
Known for his genre-blending style that fuses rock, funk, soul, and blues, with hits like “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and “Fly Away.” Beyond his music career, he’s also an actor and style icon, recognized for roles in The Hunger Games and his signature retro-inspired fashion. He last performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2011, and he’s set to return in 2025 as one of the festival’s headliners.
Cage The Elephant
Show Details: Thursday, May 1 – 5:35 – 7:00 – Gentilly Stage
Energetic performances and a sound that blends garage rock, punk, and alternative influences. Fans can hear hits like “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and “Come a Little Closer.” The band last performed at Jazz Fest in 2018 and is set to return in 2025, much to the excitement of indie rock fans.
Big Freedia
Show Details: Saturday, April 26 – 1:55 – 3:00 – Festival Stage
Ain’t no Jazz Fest show like a Big Freedia show. We always welcome back the queen diva, and this year is no different. Catch Big Fredia and her Krewe twerking and delivering high-energy bounce music on Saturday, April 26.
PJ Morton
Show Details: Friday, April 25 – 4:30 – 5:20 – Congo Stage Square
We love hometown hero performance, and this one is know different. Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer from New Orleans, celebrated for his soulful blend of R&B, gospel, and pop. In addition to his solo work, he’s known for his role as the keyboardist for Maroon 5. Morton performed at Jazz Fest in 2024, marking a homecoming with new music and a memoir. In 2025, he looks to capitalize on that for another homecoming show.
Goose
Show Details: Thursday, April 24 – 5:10 – 7:00 – Gentilly Stage
We have a first-time headliner at Jazz Fest on April 24. Congrats to Goose! Renowned for their improvisational live shows that blend rock, funk, and electronic elements. They have quickly risen in the jam band scene with their dynamic performances. While Goose hasn’t performed on the main Jazz Fest stages, they headlined the “Daze Between” festival in 2023, a series of shows held in New Orleans between the two Jazz Fest weekends.
The Revivalists
Show Details: Sunday, May 4 – 3:55 – 4:55 – Festival Stage
Let’s face it, The Revivalist is basically on a Jazz Fest residency at this point, and we are not hating on it. As their popularity continues to grow, they will get larger set times and stage appearances they will get. This year, the group looks to headline the main festival stage on the final day of the festival. Led by vocalist David Shaw, they gained national attention with their 2016 hit “Wish I Knew You,” which topped Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart and earned platinum certification.
Jazz Fest is fast approaching, and with an incredible lineup, it can be tough to know which sets to catch. To help you plan your festival experience, we’ve put together a list of 10 sets you can’t miss. Dive in below, and grab tickets to this year’s festival HERE.
Pearl Jam
Show Details: Saturday, May 3 – 5:00 – 7:00 – Festival Stage
Pearl Jam is set to headline the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for the third time on Saturday, May 3. This is the first time the band has been back since 2016.
Formed in Seattle in 1990, known for their raw sound, powerful live performances, and frontman Eddie Vedder’s distinct vocals. As pioneers of the grunge movement alongside Nirvana and Soundgarden, they rose to fame with their debut album Ten and have remained influential in alternative rock ever since.
HAIM
Sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim grew up playing music together in a family cover band before officially forming HAIM in 2007. The California trio quickly gained mainstream attention with their 2013 debut album, Days Are Gone. Their 2021 release, Women in Music Pt. III, featured a collaboration with Taylor Swift on the track “Gasoline.” Swift also teamed up with HAIM on her song “no body, no crime.”
Show Details: Sunday, April 27 – 5:30–7 p.m. – Gentilly Stage
My Morning Jacket
Show Details: Sunday, May 4 – 3:55 – 4:55 – Gentilly Stage
My Morning Jacket has been a frequent contributor to Jazz Fest. On May 5, 2012, they delivered a memorable set that featured collaborations with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They last played Jazz Fest in 2016. They closed the day with a set on the Gentilly Stage and included a tribute to Prince. Known for their eclectic sound blending rock, psychedelic, country, and soul, with frontman Jim James’ reverb-heavy vocals at the center. Since forming in 1998, they’ve built a devoted following through expansive, genre-blurring albums and emotionally charged live shows
Lil Wayne & The Roots
What a sweet collab of music and fun. Fans are in for a treat on the first Saturday. Last year, The Roots backed Weezy to close out the annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia. Now, it’s their turn to visit Lil Wayne in his home city. If the energy and setlist are anything like their 2024 collab, Jazz Fest is in for a treat.
Show Details: Saturday, April 26 – 5:30-7 p.m. – Festival Stage
Lenny Kravitz
Show Details: Sunday, May 4 – 3:40 – 5:20 – Festival Stage
Known for his genre-blending style that fuses rock, funk, soul, and blues, with hits like “Are You Gonna Go My Way” and “Fly Away.” Beyond his music career, he’s also an actor and style icon, recognized for roles in The Hunger Games and his signature retro-inspired fashion. He last performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2011, and he’s set to return in 2025 as one of the festival’s headliners.
Cage The Elephant
Show Details: Thursday, May 1 – 5:35 – 7:00 – Gentilly Stage
Energetic performances and a sound that blends garage rock, punk, and alternative influences. Fans can hear hits like “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and “Come a Little Closer.” The band last performed at Jazz Fest in 2018 and is set to return in 2025, much to the excitement of indie rock fans.
Big Freedia
Show Details: Saturday, April 26 – 1:55 – 3:00 – Festival Stage
Ain’t no Jazz Fest show like a Big Freedia show. We always welcome back the queen diva, and this year is no different. Catch Big Fredia and her Krewe twerking and delivering high-energy bounce music on Saturday, April 26.
PJ Morton
Show Details: Friday, April 25 – 4:30 – 5:20 – Congo Stage Square
We love hometown hero performance, and this one is know different. Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer from New Orleans, celebrated for his soulful blend of R&B, gospel, and pop. In addition to his solo work, he’s known for his role as the keyboardist for Maroon 5. Morton performed at Jazz Fest in 2024, marking a homecoming with new music and a memoir. In 2025, he looks to capitalize on that for another homecoming show.
Goose
Show Details: Thursday, April 24 – 5:10 – 7:00 – Gentilly Stage
We have a first-time headliner at Jazz Fest on April 24. Congrats to Goose! Renowned for their improvisational live shows that blend rock, funk, and electronic elements. They have quickly risen in the jam band scene with their dynamic performances. While Goose hasn’t performed on the main Jazz Fest stages, they headlined the “Daze Between” festival in 2023, a series of shows held in New Orleans between the two Jazz Fest weekends.
The Revivalists
Show Details: Sunday, May 4 – 3:55 – 4:55 – Festival Stage
Let’s face it, The Revivalist is basically on a Jazz Fest residency at this point, and we are not hating on it. As their popularity continues to grow, they will get larger set times and stage appearances they will get. This year, the group looks to headline the main festival stage on the final day of the festival. Led by vocalist David Shaw, they gained national attention with their 2016 hit “Wish I Knew You,” which topped Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart and earned platinum certification.
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