Jazz Fest insider: Keith Spera and Ian McNulty on what to hear and eat on Thursday, May 2

On what promises to be one of the most unique days in the history of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, the music options are far more limited than most days. 

That’s because every stage but the main Festival Stage will shut down by 3:45, ahead of the Rolling Stones’ historic performance at 5 p.m.

If you plan to sit in front of that stage all day, you’ll hear a pretty great sampling of New Orleans music. First up is the New Breed Brass Band with special guest Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews.

Next up is Samantha Fish, the blues-rock guitarist, singer and songwriter who is from Kansas City originally but has called the Crescent City home for several years.

The act just before the Stones is Dumpstaphunk, the New Orleans funk/R&B band anchored by Keith Richards’ buddy and X-Pensive Winos bandmate Ivan Neville. 

If you do wander elsewhere, consider catching:

Ricky Sebastian and Pat Casey present the music of Jaco Pastorius

12:55 p.m., WWOZ Jazz Tent

Drummer Ricky Sebastian, a native of southwest Louisiana, actually played with Pastorius, the brilliant but troubled bassist, in New York for a time. He’s one of the great modern jazz drummers; he and bassist Pat Casey will showcase some of Pastorius’ compositions.

John “Papa” Gros

12:45 p.m., Shell Gentilly Stage

A student of Art Neville and Dr. John, Gros carries on the New Orleans piano tradition via his own funk/roots music songs.

Also catch the soulful Cole Williams Band on the Congo Square Stage, the Allman-esque Honey Island Swamp Band on the Gentilly Stage, and southwest Louisiana rock ‘n’ roll guitar hero C.C. Adcock & the Lafayette Marquis in the Blues Tent.

WHAT TO EAT

Yakiniku Po-Boy, Food Area II

This Japanese style po-boy is like a marriage of a banh mi and a cheesesteak. The bits and strands of meat give a delicious jus, cucumber and carrots add crunch and an (optional) overlay of chunky garlic chile sauce brings the heat. The Vietnamese-style French loaf holds it all together and completes this multicultural mash up.