In 1970, the SS President was the last sidewheel steamboat in America, and it had called New Orleans home for three decades. But on the low-key evening of April 22, 1970, perhaps its most important cruise took place-- the very first event of a new multi-day festival. Read more

Musicians love to play at Jazz Fest, and Jazz Fest audiences love to see the consistently fantastic performances from their local favorites -- year after year, and decade after decade. Check out a few fan favorites in this WWOZ Jazz Fest at 50 Time Capsule. Read more

Dizzy Gillespie addresses the audience on May 5, 1979. Photo by Burt Steel, courtesy of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Archive.  In honor of Jazz Fest's 50th anniversary in 2019, we're featuring a Jazz Fest photo of the day with our audience. Keep your eyes here, and at ... Read more

Aaron Neville performs in the Gospel Tent at Jazz Fest 2012. Photo Leon Morris. In honor of Jazz Fest's 50th anniversary in 2019, we're featuring a Jazz Fest photo of the day with our audience. Keep your eyes here, and at our Jazz Fest 50 page, all year long to see them,... Read more

Second Mount Carmel Voices in the Gospel Tent at Jazz Fest 2008. Photo Leon Morris. In honor of Jazz Fest's 50th anniversary in 2019, we're featuring a Jazz Fest photo of the day with our audience. Keep your eyes here, and at our Jazz Fest 50 page, all year long to see t... Read more

Yellow Jackets Mardi Gras Indians at Jazz Fest in 1980. Photo by Burt Steel, courtesy of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Archive. In honor of Jazz Fest's 50th anniversary in 2019, we're featuring a Jazz Fest photo of the day with our audience. Keep your eyes here, and at ... Read more

Dancers in front of Stage 2 at the Louisiana Heritage Fair, May 1979. Photo by Burt Steel, courtesy of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Archive. In honor of Jazz Fest's 50th anniversary in 2019, we're featuring a Jazz Fest photo of the day with our audience. Keep your eyes... Read more

Professor Longhair waves to the camera in 1973. Photo by John Messina, courtesy of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Archive. In honor of Jazz Fest's 50th anniversary in 2019, we're featuring a Jazz Fest photo of the day with our audience. Keep your eyes here, and at our Ja... Read more

Audience at the Fairgrounds in 1976. Photo by Burt Steel, courtesy of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Archive. In honor of Jazz Fest's 50th anniversary in 2019, we're featuring a Jazz Fest photo of the day with our audience. Keep your eyes here, and at our Jazz Fest 50 p... Read more

Keith Spera has written about music, culture, and his kids for the New Orleans Advocate newspaper. Find out what it's like to come to Jazz Fest as a writer and what he hopes his readers come away with from his Jazz Fest articles, in this Jazz Fest Flashback. Read more