Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival a.k.a. Jazz Fest is an annual event showcasing the local music, culture and heritage of New Orleans, Louisiana. It was established in 1970 and is attended by hundreds of thousands each year. The documentary features live performances and interviews from the 50th anniversary of the festival, featuring artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Katy Perry, Aaron Neville, Jimmy Buffett, Irma Thomas, Pitbull, Herbie Hancock, Samantha Fish, Al Green, Tom Jones, Gary Clark Jr. and bands such as Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Marsalis Family, Earth, Wind & Fire, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Mardi Gras Indians. Archival documentary footage from the past half-century also accompanies the film. Beyond the festival, the documentary also looks into the culture of New Orleans. It also documents the 2019 ceremony (the final event before being halted two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic) featuring local musicians and popular names from the music industry joining the event, as well as archival footages from the previous ceremonies.