By Karen Brem, Marketing Director
New Orleans Guest House
Coming Soon!!!
If you thought Jazz Fest 2025 was going to ease into the groove, honey, think again. The first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival—April 24 through April 27—is stomping onto the Fair Grounds with a lineup so legendary it should come with a warning label and a pair of earplugs. We’re talking hip-hop royalty, jazz royalty, country-pop sparkle, classic rock grit, and yes, that smooth NOLA charm. So go ahead and mark your calendars, cancel whatever boring thing you were doing that weekend, and grab your sun hat—because New Orleans is about to lose its ever-loving mind.
Let’s start with the elephant in the boom-boom room: Lil Wayne & The Roots are co-headlining Friday, April 25. Let me repeat that for the people in the back of the streetcar—Lil Wayne. And. The. Roots. Together. I haven’t seen a combo this unexpected and delicious since someone deep-fried a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at the State Fair. Lil Wayne, our very own son of New Orleans (with more platinum albums than I have umbrellas), will no doubt drop classics like “A Milli,” “Lollipop,” and “6 Foot 7 Foot.” Add the musical genius of The Roots to the mix—yep, the same band from The Tonight Show who can play anything—and you’ve got a genre-bending performance that’s going to make musical history, not to mention give your dancing shoes a full cardiovascular workout.
Next up on Saturday, April 26, we’re going full guitar-slinging granola vibes with Dave Matthews Band. Whether you’re a long-time “Crash Into Me” type or more of an “Ants Marching” enthusiast, Dave and the gang will be giving us those iconic jam-band moments that make you question all your life choices while swaying in a crowd of strangers holding beer in souvenir cups. Word of advice? Hydrate early. These guys tend to play like they’ve got all the time in the world—and honestly, we’re not mad at it.
Then comes Harry Connick Jr. on Thursday, April 24, to kick off the whole festival with that good ol’ Crescent City charm. He’s basically a jazz festival in human form. If you’re not swooning by the time he gets to “It Had to Be You” or “Recipe for Love,” you may want to check your pulse—or perhaps you’ve had too many crawfish pies. Harry brings that velvet voice and a grand piano to the stage, and just like that, New Orleans reminds you that it is the birthplace of jazz and romance and everything delicious.
On Sunday, April 27, pack your fringe and boots, because Kacey Musgraves is closing out the weekend with rhinestone realness. She’s that rare unicorn who can write a breakup song that sounds like a lullaby and a psychedelic country banger that doubles as life advice. Expect hits like “Follow Your Arrow,” “Rainbow,” and “Space Cowboy.” It’s country, but make it dreamy. And fabulous. And probably sponsored by glitter.
And let’s not forget John Fogerty, also on Sunday, who will most definitely be rolling in with Creedence Clearwater Revival classics like “Bad Moon Rising,” “Proud Mary,” and “Fortunate Son.” If your idea of a good time includes screaming “Born on the Bayou” under the actual Louisiana sun while eating jambalaya out of a paper boat, congratulations—you’re in the right town.
🎺 Want the full schedule, stage maps, food vendors, and maybe a napkin to wipe the excitement off your face? Visit www.nojazzfest.com for all the spicy details.
And now for the important part (you know I was going to work this in): when it comes to where to crash between all the trombones and tequila shots, our charming little slice of heaven—the New Orleans Guest House—is your perfect Jazz Fest headquarters. We’re located just one block outside of the fabulous French Quarter, so when Jazz Fest promptly ends at 7 PM (they do try to keep things “respectable,” bless their hearts), you can hop on the streetcar visible from our front door—or if you’re feeling wild and wobbly, just walk on back.
Let’s be real: nobody wants to be tucked into bed by sundown when you’re in this city. New Orleans at night is an entirely different festival of its own. Think burlesque shows, zydeco bars, absinthe-fueled adventures, and more beignets than any human should consume in a single sitting. So book a long weekend stay, soak up the music, then turn up the after-hours rowdiness in the Quarter. We offer clean, affordable accommodations and a warm, welcoming staff who are just as excited about your weekend plans as you are. FOR INFORMATION ON ACCOMMODATIONS CALL US DIRECTLY AT 504.566.1177 OR 1.800.562.1177. YOU MAY ALSO VISIT US ONLINE AT neworleansguest.house.
And remember: life’s too short to miss Jazz Fest. Or Lil Wayne. Or bacon-wrapped shrimp po’boys. Come stay with us. You’ll leave tired, sun-kissed, overfed, and blissfully happy.
🎷See you at the Fair Grounds. I’ll be the one in a floppy hat with a bloody mary in hand and a permanent grin.
— Karen Brem, Marketing Director
New Orleans Guest House