First live television broadcast of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival also included headliners Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Maroon 5 and The Black Keys
(Dallas, Texas – May 23, 2013) Billy Joel, together with AXS TV and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, are releasing his 4-song 2013 Jazz Fest broadcast performance exclusively on BillyJoel.com to fans worldwide. This extraordinary event launches today and will continue for the next 3 weeks with Joel posting one song, in set order to his website. Joel’s performance, and the opportunity to make it available beyond the festival, encapsulates the vision of AXS TV and Jazz Fest’s partnership to bring music fans everywhere a true live music experience with the spirit of Americana and New Orleans culture.
The legendary performer opened his set telling the tens of thousands of fans in the crowd along with the viewers at home that “New York takes its inspiration from New Orleans,” referencing the kindred cities hurricane disasters, as he kicked off his 4-song broadcast set with “Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out on Broadway).” “Big Man on Mulberry Street” followed. Joel continued his nod to the culture and music history of New Orleans with his third song saying, “We haven’t done this in a long time, but we’ve gotta play this song in New Orleans,” as he and his seven piece band performed the 1974 instrumental “Root Beer Rag.” Joel closed his television performance with a rousing rendition of fan favorite “Scenes From an Italian Restaurant” from 1977’s The Stranger that also included the Preservation Hall Jazz Band of New Orleans.
“Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out on Broadway)” Now Available courtesy of Billy Joel, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival & AXS TV:
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell and brought to you by StubHub, the official broadcast partner, anchored AXS TV’s monstrous month culminating with 80 hours of live music programming from over 100 artists. The 3-day live broadcast from New Orleans created a new standard for music television by providing fans with over 30 hours of programming featuring 32 artists from headliners Billy Joel, Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite, Maroon 5, The Black Keys, Little Big Town, Phoenix, Gary Clark, Jr., Widespread Panic and Willie Nelson to numerous fan favorites including many local New Orleans artists. AXS TV’s exclusive coverage of Jazz Fest marked a first of its kind programming commitment for both the network and festival providing viewers 10 ½ continuous hours live from New Orleans daily from Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5 covering the complete festival, which was held from April 26-28 and May 2-5, 2013. Additionally, continued artist commitments ensured the success of this inaugural music television event and increased AXS TV’s programming from 9 hours daily to 10 ½ hours in the days leading up to broadcast with Maroon 5 and The Black Keys added as surprise concerts for the television audience during the 3-day live event.
AXS TV stands alone in its programming commitment to live entertainment. Solidifying its position as the premier music destination for artists and fans alike, the network’s exclusive live events in 2013 alone include Carrie Underwood: The Blown Away Tour; So So Def 20th Anniversary Concert with Jermaine Dupri, Usher, Ludacris, Nelly and Jay Z; OutNumber Hunger Live! with The Band Perry, Brantley Gilbert, Greg Bates, Florida Georgia Line, Cassadee Pope and Justin Moore; Keep Memory Alive Power of Love Gala Honors Quincy Jones and Sir Michael Caine with 80th Birthday Celebration featuring Bono, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Snoop Lion, and more; AXS Live exclusive performances from the AXS TV Coachella House and an intimate acoustic set from Cody Simpson; plus special AXS Live broadcasts from Super Bowl Super Saturday with the first television footage of Justin Timberblake’s first performance in 5 years and The GRAMMY Awards pre-show including red carpet interviews and exclusive access to the only party inside Staples Center.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell is a celebration of the unique culture and heritage of New Orleans and Louisiana. Now in its 44th year, the Festival presents over five hundred bands on twelve stages performing virtually every style of music. “Jazz Fest” as it is affectionately known, draws almost a half million music and culture crazed fans from all over the world to the Fair Ground Race Course each spring. Many of the most important names in music history have performed at Jazz Fest over the years from Fats Domino and Duke Ellington to Jimmy Buffett and Bruce Springsteen. This year’s festival line-up included: Billy Joel, Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, The Black Keys, John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Phoenix, B.B. King, Frank Ocean, Willie Nelson, Band of Horses, Gary Clark Jr., and hundreds more. For more information on Jazz Fest, visit: www.nojazzfest.com.
###
About AXS TV
Launched in July 2012 under the vision and stewardship of entrepreneur Mark Cuban, AXS TV is the premier destination for live events, breaking news, and as-they-are-happening trends in the worlds of pop culture, music, fashion, and entertainment.
AXS TV Concerts is the premier source on television for 100% live music. From multi-day festivals to stadium tours to club acts, AXS TV delivers an unparalleled shared experience for fans of all genres. Leveraging the network’s vast landscape, artists expand their reach to live behind-the-scenes moments, live fan Q&As, social media engagement and more unique opportunities specifically for the AXS TV audience. With multiple live concerts weekly, AXS TV is the number one destination for artists and their fans to experience and share a pure live event in the world of music and pop culture. Live LIVE!
With production facilities at AEG’s owned and operated L.A. LIVE (which includes venues such as STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, Club Nokia and The GRAMMY Museum’s Clive Davis Theater), as well as their access to their worldwide network of the busiest venues of all sizes, AXS TV has the inside track to programming that connects audiences with the complete live experience.
From show creation and development to rehearsals, sound-check and performance and right thru the after-party, AXS TV viewers get an immersive look into their favorite acts touring today from across the globe.
The largest independently owned and operated network, AXS TV was developed by entrepreneur Mark Cuban and Philip Garvin. The network partners include Mark Cuban, AEG, Ryan Seacrest Media, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and CBS. For more information, go to www.axs.tv.