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Simon & Garfunkel to Star at First Weekend of New Orleans Jazz Fest

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April 24 Performance To Be the Only 2010 U.S. Appearance by Legendary Duo

New Orleans, LA--"We are proud to announce that American music icons Simon & Garfunkel will be making their first-ever appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell," event organizers said today. The Saturday, April 24 performance by Simon & Garfunkel at Jazz Fest will be the only chance to see the legendary duo in the U.S. this year. The Festival is scheduled for April 23-May 2, 2010.

“Over the years I've always enjoyed performing at Jazz Fest," said Paul Simon. “Everyone connected with the Festival, and in particular Quint Davis, has created an atmosphere that is both musical and enjoyable. I am looking forward to the opportunity to perform with my old friend Art Garfunkel at this year's Festival."

Simon & Garfunkel join previously announced artists Pearl Jam, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, The Neville Brothers, Lionel Richie, Allman Brothers Band, Anita Baker, My Morning Jacket, Widespread Panic, Imagination Movers, B.B. King, Jeff Beck, Darius Rucker, Irma Thomas, Gipsy Kings, The Dead Weather, Elvis Costello & the Sugarcanes, The Black Crowes, Drake, Teena Marie, Keely Smith, Jonny Lang, Band of Horses, Allen Toussaint and hundreds more at the 41st edition of the beloved Festival. (A complete weekend-by-weekend schedule is available at nojazzfest.com. Jazz Fest's day-by-day schedule will be announced Wednesday, January 27.)

Simon & Garfunkel possess an unequaled and timeless songbook, and when they take the stage together at Jazz Fest on April 24 their wonderful blend of voices and energies will provide a once-in-a-lifetime thrill that only the best of live music performances can create.

“For Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel to agree to come together and create this historic Simon & Garfunkel concert for our Festival is not only a great honor, but it will bring to all who attend the rarest opportunity to experience the magic of one of America's greatest musical institutions," said Quint Davis, producer/director of Jazz Fest. “Thank you Paul and Artie, for bringing your special thrill to New Orleans. No American City can so relate to the need for a Bridge Over Troubled Water, and the power of being Homeward Bound."

Davis noted that Simon has a long history of being a part of Jazz Fest. “From his early visit to the Festival to experience the Neville Brothers in the 80's, to the thrill of his epic performance of Graceland, leading up to his never-to-be-forgotten closing-day set at the first post-Katrina Festival, Paul Simon has woven himself into the fabric of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival."

Tickets for the Festival, which takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course, are on sale now through Ticketmaster. A limited number of discount ticket packages including tickets to each day of a particular weekend of the Festival are available. Ticket packages purchased for all three days of the first weekend (April 23, 24 & 25) will be $120 ($40 per day), while second weekend packages purchased for all four festival days (April 29, 30, May 1, & 2) will be $160 ($40 per day). (Tickets included in each package are day-specific.) Advance single day Jazz Fest tickets are only $45; the gate price is $60. Children's tickets (ages 2 - 10) are still only $5 and are available at the gate only. Single day tickets to Jazz Fest are on sale by specific weekend, with each ticket valid for a single day's attendance.

Tickets are available at nojazzfest.com and ticketmaster.com, at all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (800) 745-3000. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Jazz Fest ticket office located at the New Orleans Arena Box Office or the Louisiana Superdome Box Office (Gate A, Ground Level). All Jazz Fest tickets are subject to additional service fees and handling charges.

The Jazz Festival offers three distinct VIP opportunities to experience the event in style: the Festival's popular Big Chief VIP Experience ticket package provides special viewing access at most of the Festival's stages; the Grand Marshal VIP Pass allows for up-close access at the three major stages; and the Krewe of Jazz Fest VIP Pass which entitles patrons to special covered seating at the Acura Stage audience area only. All of the hugely popular VIP packages are on sale now while very limited supplies last. The Festival offers a special layaway arrangement for any of the VIP packages.

A listing of hotels offering special Jazz Fest rates is posted at nojazzfest.com, where patrons can effortlessly reserve their hotel rooms for the event. Festivalgoers can peruse room availability and book their accommodations early taking advantage of some of the best prices offered at participating hotels.

Shell is the Presenting Sponsor of the Festival. Acura, Peoples Health, Miller Lite, Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots (A Churchill Downs Company), Pepsi, Bing, Rajen Kilachand, Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, Zatarain's and St. Charles Vision are all also official Jazz Fest sponsors.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, Inc. is the nonprofit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell. The Foundation uses the proceeds from Jazz Fest for year-round activities in the areas of education, economic development and cultural events. Education programs include the Don “Moose" Jamison Heritage School of Music and the Tom Dent Congo Square Lecture Series. Economic Development initiatives include the Community Partnership Grants, the Raisin' the Roof housing program, the Sync Up conference and the Jazz & Heritage Talent Exchange web site. Cultural events include the Jazz Journey concert series and free community festivals: the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, Fiesta Latina, the Congo Square Rhythms Festival, the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival and the Trem Creole Gumbo Festival. The Foundation also owns radio station WWOZ 90.7-FM, the Jazz & Heritage Archive, the Jazz & Heritage Gallery and the Jazz & Heritage Center. The Jazz & Heritage Gala raises funds for Foundation programming with a black-tie event to start the Jazz Fest season on Thursday, April 22. For more information, please call the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation at (504) 558-6100.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell is a co-production of Festival Productions Louisiana, LLC. (a wholly owned subsidiary of Festival Productions, Inc.-New Orleans) and AEG Louisiana Production, LLC.(a subsidiary of AEG Live).

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