By Randy Lewis

Los Angeles Times

(TNS)

Elton John, the Who, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, No Doubt, Pitbull, Trombone Shorty, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ed Sheeran and T.I. are among dozens of acts slated to play the 2015 Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, one of the biggest and most diverse music festivals in the world.

Jazz Fest, as it’s often called, is scheduled to run for seven days over two long weekends — April 24-26 and April 30-May 3 — and also include performances by Jimmy Buffett, Kacey Musgraves, John Legend, Hozier, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Steve Winwood, Ryan Adams and Wilco spread across nearly a dozen stages at the New Orleans Fair Grounds Race Course.

Festival organizers note that this year’s event is to include more than 500 acts representing jazz, rock, soul, R&B, gospel, folk, country, hip-hop, Cajun, zydeco and world music, and that more than 80% of the performers are from New Orleans and the surrounding region.

“With today’s announcement,” festival producer-director Quint Davis said in a statement, “we proclaim once again that New Orleans is the soul of American culture, and the Festival that carries its name is the Soul of New Orleans.”

Among the New Orleans and Louisiana performers due to play this year are Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, Irvin Mayfield, Aaron Neville, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Kermit Ruffins, the Meters, Buckwheat Zydeco and the Radiators.

Tickets are $58 per day in advance, $70 day of the show, and are available through Ticketmaster’s website or by calling (800) 745-3000. Additional details are available at Jazz Fest’s official website.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, presented again this year by Shell.

The Foundation uses proceeds from Jazz Fest, and other revenues, for year-round activities in the areas of education, economic development and cultural enrichment.

©2015 Los Angeles Times

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