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New Orleans celebrates with music

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - DAY 5
Fair Grounds Race Course
New Orleans, LA
April 26 - May 5, 2013
Jazzfest - DAY 1 Jazzfest - DAY 2 Jazzfest - DAY 4
Jazzfest - DAY 5 Jazzfest - DAY 6 Jazzfest - DAY 7

Willie Nelson

Laura Bell Bundy

Maroon 5

Review and photos by Mary Andrews

Willie Nelson Day
This Jazz Fest has become the festival of legends! Willie Nelson brought a bright light to a dreary day. He celebrated 80th birthday two days ago and today, at Jazz Fest he was in his prime. He has to be the coolest 80-year old in the world and his audience was filled with fans of all ages. There was a twenty-something girl who jumped the front barricade and tried to get on stage. Willie's voice and his guitar picking were in top form as he always seems to relish playing in front of a crowd - be it large or small. His sister, Bobbie, on piano, long-time friend, Paul English, on percussion, Mickey Raphael, on harmonica and Kevin Smith, on guitar, accompanied him. The audience was huge and ready to see and hear their outlaw hero! They sang along with Willie and he let them know if they were not loud enough!

Maroon 5 were playing at the same time across the fairgrounds at the Acura Stage. Adam Levine hit the stage like gangbusters and moved from side to side throughout the set. He was thrilled to play the muddy, New Orleans crowd! The set started with their new hit, "Daylight," Adam announced that he wanted to go see Willie Nelson at the Gentilly Stage, but duty called! The finale was last year's big hit, "Moves Like Jagger."

Earlier in the day, Marc Broussard performed a rousting set before Maroon 5. Broussard is an exceptionally talented, Louisiana native, singer-songwriter. His set was high energy and he pulled songs from his catalogue from the beginning of his career.

Laura Bell Bundy is a country songstress who has appeared on broadway ("Legally Blonde"), and on television ("How I Met Your Mother"). She has just finished her sophomore album of country music. Her first album garnered her the hit, "Giddy On Up." Her set was high energy with choreographed dancing and a fusion of country and hip-hop sounds. That is her description not mine!

Amanda Shaw is a local favorite prodigy who started the day. She is a fiddle player and singer with raw but polished talent who has toured since the age of eight. She has three critically acclaimed albums under her belt.