After a few restful days between, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival returned on Thursday to kick off its second weekend. “Locals’ Thursday,” as its known because of the discounted Jazz Fest ticket prices for Louisiana residents, included top sets from Santana, Cage the Elephant, Morris Day & The Time, and more.
Guitar legend Carlos Santana made his first trip back to the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots since 2023 when he similarly closed Locals’ Thursday on the Festival Stage. Even at 77 years old, Santana was a ray of sunshine with his jubilant playing, joyous onstage demeanor, and a bright yellow parka emblazoned with the image of jazz legend John Coltrane. Across the massive festival grounds, ’00s/2010s indie-rock throwback Cage The Elephant persevered through sound issues to deliver a nostalgic set to a crowd of enthused millennials.
Throughout the dozen-plus stages, fans were given the range of options that make Jazz Fest one of the country’s greatest and most historic music festivals. Professor Craig Adams led a moving tribute to trailblazing gospel singer Raymond A. Myles in the beloved Gospel Tent. Prince associates and Purple Rain film participants Morris Day & The Time brought the Minneapolis sound to the Congo Square Stage, where shortly before, former Galactic multi-instrumentalist Shamarr Allen got us all to do our “Weekend Dance”, even if it was only Thursday. Under the bright blue skies of New Orleans, surrounded by friends, incredible music, and some of the best food in the country, it was hard to disagree with Allen that the weekend was upon us.
Check out a gallery of images from Jazz Fest Locals’ Thursday courtesy of photographer Dave Vann. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival returns to the Fair Grounds today, Saturday, and Sunday for hundreds more performances including Pearl Jam, Luke Combs, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Dumpstaphunk, Lenny Kravitz, festival closers Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, and many more. Find tickets and the full lineup here.
If you’re in New Orleans, make sure to check out Live For Live Music’s Fest by Nite concert series taking place at venues around the city like The Joy Theater and Toulouse Theatre throughout Jazz Fest’s 2025 run (Thursday, April 24th–Sunday, May 4th). This year’s Fest by Nite series features 20+ evening and late-night shows following each night Jazz Fest. Find a calendar of upcoming Fest by Nite concerts here or explore what’s happening on an interactive map via the tryply app.
