New Orleans JazzFest Announces Initial Line-Up

Encouraging news has come through the wire; The New Orleans Jazz Festival has announced its initial lineup. This is great news for the city, a sure sign of life and hope. It's great news for music lovers, too, as the initial lineup is nothing short of extraordinary.

On the superstar edge of things, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, The Dave Matthews Band, Elvis Costello, Ani DiFranco, Jimmy Buffett, Lionel Ritchie, Keith Urban and Katrina survivor Fats Domino will be performing.

For World Music fans, the offerings are equally tasty: Angelique Kidjo, Le Grand Ballet "Ngalam" du Senegal, New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, Fredy Omar con su Banda, Amina Figarova Band, Hugh Masekela, Ritmo Caribeño, and more to come!

World Music fans who lean toward the Cajun/Zydeco end of things will surely not be disappointed, either, for the list of C/Z performers is long, and growing daily. As of now, it includes Beausoleil, C.J. Chenier and His Red Hot Louisiana Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, The Pine Leaf Boys, T-Salé, The Jambalaya Cajun Band, Bruce Daigrepont, Wayne Toups and Zydecajun, Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, Willis Prudhomme and the Zydeco Express, Lil' Brian and the Zydeco Travelers, The Red Stick Ramblers and the Savoy Family Band. And they're just getting started.