15th annual Voodoo Fest kicks off
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chiptune rock, indie pop, funk, folk, jazz, classic rock, electronic music and a little rap are what's on hand for fans of Voodoo, the alternative music festival in its 15th year held over the Halloween weekend in New Orleans.
The three-day festival opens Friday just before noon. It ends Sunday on the festival grounds at City Park.
Single-day tickets are sold out, leaving only three-day weekend passes available for $250 at the gate. LOA VIP three-day passes are $650 on site. An additional $50 will cover parking with the VIP passes.
Friday's lineup includes performances by New Orleans' own Preservation Hall Jazz Band as well as American folk duo Shovels & Rope, Seattle-based rapper Macklemore and his producer Ryan Lewis and festival newbie Pearl Jam, which will close out the Ritual Stage. The set will also be Pearl Jam's first in the city since 2010.
Anamanaguchi will bring its synthesized music, produced by sound chips of vintage computer, video game consoles and arcade machines, to this year's festival on Friday. Scottish DJ Calvin Harris is among several disc jockeys who will entertain fans on opening day, including Louisiana's own Jfernell, who began playing venues in the Lafayette area at the age of 18.
Rock band Nine Inch Nails will close Saturday's concert series in its first public appearance since 2009. The band's lead singer, Trent Reznor, once lived in New Orleans and received the keys to the city when the band played a free, post-Hurricane Katrina concert at Voodoo in 2005.
Paramore also performs Saturday as will rapper F. Stokes, Ruby Amanfu, Afrojack and The Scorseses.
British rock band The Cure is the closing act for Sunday's final day. Multi-genre artist Kid Rock, who takes the stage before The Cure, returns to New Orleans for a second performance this year. His "Rebel Soul" tour stopped at the New Orleans Arena in February.
Voodoo founder and producer Stephen Rehage has said that an artist as diverse as Rock is a perfect fit for a festival that's seen some 2,000 artists from nearly every genre perform.
Indie pop duo Matt & Kim, Bassnectar and Fleur Debris, featuring David Torkanawsky, George Porter Jr. and Nicholas Payton are among other acts closing this year's festival.
