The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has announced its 2026 Jazz Fest lineup, and as always, it’s a mix of legends, tradition bearers, and artists who continue to shape the New Orleans sound. While scanning the poster, a few familiar names jumped out at me—musicians I’ve had the chance to talk with over the years here on Red Beans & Eric.
Below are a few of the musicians I’ve interviewed over the years who will be performing at Jazz Fest in 2026. Of course, we talked about red beans and rice, but each conversation also offered a look at who they are and the path they took to become the musicians they are today. Who are you most excited to see at the 2026 Jazz Fest?
{photo credit Jeffrey Dupuis – georgeporterjr.com}
George Porter, Jr. – Legendary American funk bassist and singer, best known as a founding member of The Meters and for his deep groove that helped shape New Orleans funk.
For the interview: https://redbeansanderic.com/george-porter-jr/
[photo credit: Willow Haley]
Big Sam’s Funky Nation – A high-energy New Orleans funk and rock band led by trombonist Big Sam Williams, known for blending jazz, funk, punk, and dance influences.
For the interview: https://redbeansanderic.com/big-sam-williams/
John “Papa” Gros – New Orleans keyboardist, singer, and songwriter rooted in funk, R&B, and Americana, known for his work with his own projects and as part of the city’s musical lineage.
For the interview: https://redbeansanderic.com/john-papa-gros-how-do-you-red-bean/
{photo credit: David Grunfeld / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE}
Little Freddie King – Mississippi-born blues guitarist whose powerful electric style helped define the New Orleans blues scene; long-time festival favorite and Louisiana Music Hall of Fame member.
For the interview: https://redbeansanderic.com/little-freddie-king-how-do-you-red-bean/
Craig Klein – Grammy-winning New Orleans trombonist and brass band leader, co-founder of The New Orleans Nightcrawlers, and a longtime member of Bonerama and other key local music projects.
For the interview: https://redbeansanderic.com/craig-klein/
Erica Falls – Soul and R&B singer from New Orleans with a decades-long career as a frontwoman and collaborator with major artists, blending vintage and modern soul styles.
For the interview: https://redbeansanderic.com/erica-falls/
Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. – Mardi Gras Indian Big Chief and leader of The Wild Magnolias, carrying forward the city’s Mardi Gras Indian musical and cultural traditions.
For the interview: https://redbeansanderic.com/big-chief-bo-dollis-jr/
{photo credit: paulsanchez.com}
Paul Sanchez – New Orleans-based guitarist, singer-songwriter, and founding member of the band Cowboy Mouth, with a long solo career rooted in folk, rock, and blues traditions.
For the interview: https://redbeansanderic.com/paul-sanchez-how-do-you-red-bean/
For the full list of musicians performing and a breakdown of which weekends they’ll appear, visit the official New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival website at https://www.nojazzfest.com/.
If you’re heading to the Fair Grounds, keep an eye out for these performances. And if you’re curious about the paths that brought them there, the interviews linked above offer a closer look at the voices and experiences behind the music.
If you’d like to explore more conversations from my How Do You Red Bean? series, you can find the full archive here:
https://redbeansanderic.com/category/how-do-you-red-bean/
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for all the newest recipes, interviews, and more!
Eric Olsson is the food blogger of RedBeansAndEric.com. He publishes new recipes and interviews weekly. He has developed recipes and written articles for the famous Camellia brand in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has been mentioned in Louisiana Cookin‘ magazine and has had recipes featured in Taste of Home magazine – with his Creole Turkey recipe being runner up in their annual Thanksgiving recipe contest. He lives outside of Detroit, Michigan, with his wife and four children.
Leave a Reply