17, 2019, to check on the line of fans at the Superdome who wanted to buy tickets to see the Rolling Stones at the 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis arrived at 2:49 a.m.
When the Rolling Stones were booked in 2019 for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s 50th anniversary, rumors started flying far and wide well before the official announcement.
But the announcement that Jagger and company will try again, at the postponed 2021 Jazz Fest, caught just about everyone by surprise — even members of the Jazz Fest staff and board.
“There may never have been anything that was so big and so quiet,” said Quint Davis, the Jazz Fest’s longtime producer and director.
The six-day festival was all that was originally planned, Davis said, as organizers were cognizant of keeping costs down in the wake of a pandemic that depleted many potential attendees’ disposable income.
But then Jazz Fest’s production partners at live entertainment powerhouse AEG Live, which exclusively promotes Rolling Stones tours via its Concerts West division, informed Davis that the Stones might be available this fall.
After the 2019 cancellation, the Rolling Stones planned to make up the date at the 2020 Jazz Fest on its final Sunday, May 2.
Many of the same headliners who were supposed to play in 2020, including Dead & Company, Stevie Nicks, Foo Fighters and Lizzo, were rebooked for 2021.
He traveled the world to attend rehearsals and concerts, and built relationships with the band’s team, including manager Joyce Smyth.
That summer, the band did finally perform its first concert in New Orleans in 25 years.
Joyce was sympathetic.” The Rolling Stones “don’t play festivals, much less come play one on our stage under a tent.
Indeed, the Stones typically headline stadiums with their own stadium-sized production and staff.
“What happens behind the stage is recreating the entire Rolling Stones stadium tour, with hundreds of people,” Davis said.
“In 2019, we had everything approved and laid out, which took a lot of work and a big learning curve.
Following Jazz Fest’s first weekend, the production staff will have two full days to set up the Rolling Stones’ gear.
The stand-alone Wednesday date also lets the festival sell tickets specific to that day.
This year, anyone who buys a weekend pass, VIP package, official travel package or the WWOZ Brass Pass by this Saturday at 11:59 p.m.
The band will perform on the existing Acura Stage, but one augmented by a “thrust,” a runway-style extension.