We arrive later than the previous days. You know right away, because of the rain, there won't be any sitting. Mud everywhere. Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters get the crowd all riled up with his high-energy singing, dancing and washboard playing.Scrambling into position about 25 yards from the stage for Paul Simon is no easy feat, but Johnny Gumbo is the man to lead. He has festival friends who camp out about 50 yards in front of the Acura Stage and we're going down there. It's PACKED!!! No worry, says Gumbo, just follow me. Glen, Paula and I obediently fall in line and Gumbo gets us there. Great set, the highlight of which was Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas and Buckwheat Zydeco joining Paul for Bridge Over Troubled Water. Simon closed the show with a nice version of Graceland with Toussaint accompanying on piano.
We were then advised that Fats Domino would not be performing due to health problems. Fats agreed to fill in at this year's festival when the Neville Brothers declined. Apparently, Aaron Neville has asthma and his doctor advised him not to go into the city.
With Fats out, the festival organizers had to scramble. Lionel Richie was moved from the Southern Comfort Blues Stage to the Acura Stage, while Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) extended his set at the Blue Stage. I'm not a big Lionel Richie fan, so we walked over to the Congo Stage to catch Ivan Neville & Dumpstaphunk. The omnipresent Ed Bradley introduces the band and they live up to their name with some very good PHUNK. We decide to catch the end of Lionel Richie's set.
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