Louisiana Readies Itself for JazzFest and Festival International

Two of the United States' most exciting world music festivals are about to take place in Louisiana. The New Orleans Jazz Festival runs on two consecutive weekends, April 25-27 and May 1-4. This year's world music headliners at JazzFest include Michael Franti & Spearhead, Burning Spear, Ozomatli, Buckwheat Zydeco, Beausoleil, The New Orleans Klezmer All-Stars, Fi Yi Yi and the Mandingo Warriors, The Pine Leaf Boys, Grupo Fantasma, and literally hundreds more. Also on the lineup are pop, rock and jazz superstars such as Sheryl Crow, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Billy Joel, Tim McGraw, and Stevie Wonder. Tickets are surprisingly cheap (only $40 per day - try finding a ticket to a solo concert by any one of those headliners for that price!) and can be purchased at The New Orleans Jazz Festival's Official Website.

Festival International de Louisiane runs on the first weekend of JazzFest (April 23-27) in Lafayette, Louisiana (a few hours West of New Orleans). Festival International is by far one of the best world music festivals anywhere on earth, and it's free! This year's lineup includes Mamadou Diabate, Habib Koite, a tribute to Andy Palacio, Samarabalouf, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, The Ryan School of Irish Dance, Etran Finatawa, and more Cajun and Zydeco musicians than you could shake a stick at... the festival is right in the heart of Cajun Country, after all!

Many people choose to include both of these amazing festivals in their vacation, and take the time off in between the weekends to explore Louisiana... I highly recommend this. Louisiana is one of the most culturally rich and naturally beautiful places in this country, and the best part - it's cheap, by the standards of most travel destinations. So who's going? And who are you most excited to see?