The day has come, and fest goers are counting down the minutes until JazzFest kicks off in the Fairgrounds! After the fest, see giant puppets, Anders Osborne, Dumpstaphunk, Rebirth, and more. Happy Birthday to Tannon “Fish” Williams, born April 26, 1975. Now, more to do this first fest Friday!

Local bands are used to playing along the murky Mississippi, but a handful them are headed to the bluer side of the coast for the fourth edition of Hangout Fest. The Revivalists, Galactic, Anders Osborne, and Colin Lake are headed to Gulf Shores, Alabama, May 17-May 19. The fest is only a short drive away, and includes headliners Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Kings of Leon, and Stevie Wonder. Click for the full lineup. 

This year’s T-Bois Blues Festival in Larose is expanding again, and not just through additions to the lineup.  Members of the NOLA Burners art collective will be establishing a new area on the campgrounds called the Burning Bayou at this year's fest, slated for April 5-6. Borrowing the mentality and creativity of the famous Burning Man festival, this micro village will kindle a little extra creativity amongst campers and culminate in a giant gator effigy being engulfed in flame.

Tonight, enjoy the brisk March evening at the first Wednesday at the Square of the year. Anders Osborne and the Colin Lake band are kicking off the annual Lafayette Square concert series, and proceeds from the free show's food and beverage sales go towards the Young Leadership Council of New Orleans.

by Sarah Esenwein

Once the Mardi Gras hangover wears off, New Orleaians gear up for a near-constat barage of festivals celebrating the spirit, sights, sounds and art of the city. Quickly becoming a strong thread in the fiber of this culture is the annual Young Leadership Council (YLC) and New Orleans City Council concert series, Wednesday at the Square. Click through for this year's schedule.

The holidays are here, and there’s plenty of stuff to do to start your weekend off with some festive fun. Enjoy art and music in Central City all weekend, Allen Toussaint at the Mint, and Anders Osborne and friends at Tip’s. Happy Birthday to Big Chief Joseph “Monk” Boudreaux. The leader of the Golden Eagles Mardi Gras Indian tribe turns 71 today. Now, more to do this Friday. 

by April Siese

Harvest the Music, the concert series benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank returns tomorrow to Lafayette Square. Running every Wednesday from September 19 - October 24, Harvest the Music acts as the benevolent fall incarnate of Wednesdays at the Square, a springtime tradition also in Lafayette Square. In addition to bountiful music offerings, the series supports the work of Second Harvest Food Bank. As the run starts this year, need in the community from the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac, as well as at Second Harvest itself.

It's Saturday night, and JazzFest bursts out of the Fair Grounds and into the clubs once again. Tonight, The Meters reunite, a legendary British music master plays at the House of Blues and supergroups abound. Check out the full rundown:

May 2, the day that President Johnson offered a $100,000 reward for the capture of Jefferson Davis, in relation to his being behind Lincoln’s assassination, 1865. Eight days later, Jefferson would eventually be captured by Federal/Union troops. On this day in 1949, Arthur Miller received the Pulitzer for his ‘Death of  Salesman’; ironically, Joseph McCarthy died eight years later, on this same day, as did Leonardo Da Vinci, in 1519. Lake Charles, LA’s favorite astronaut Domonic L Pugwill Gorie was born (1957), and Diane Crump became the first female jockey to compete in the Kentucky Derby (1970).

During JazzFest there's plenty of music to see, but with the constantly conflicting cubes, chances are high that you'll miss a few. Luckily, there are plenty more shows at night, and most of them feature very special lineups. It's the kind of thing that makes us want to create NOLA music trading cards, or start a fantasy league. In addition to our Fest picks, check in with NOLA Defender everyday during the Fest to see what's going on at night. Click through for today's: