Bringing the mystical essence of Halloween and music, New Orleans Voodoo Music + Arts Experience shook the grounds of City Park once again on October 27 – 29, 2017. With over seventy artists from rap and hip-hop to rock, these three days did not shatter our illusions of how diverse the music festival would be. More than 150,000 festival-goers in every costume imaginable dominated the spectacular space of City Park along with the illuminated oak trees that paved routes between the bars and tents. The atmosphere of Voodoo was sparked by spooky haunted houses, mini shops, a Ferris wheel, and endless amount of food vendors that filled the ghostly but thrilling park. As usual, though, the music was the main attraction. The weather was perfectly chilly while the first-day hype was entertained by Galantis, Flow Tribe, Kendrick Lamar, and LCD Soundsystem. Kendrick Lamar’s performance brought the most undoubtedly intense and greatest crowd of them all. From the moment he took the stage, he had the entire audience singing and rapping to his whole set–mostly from his DAMN album–which ended in fireworks and smoke.
Day Two did not disappoint as the Foo Fighters and Brand New rocked the stages along with DJ Snake and RL Grime. Although Black Pistol Fire is made up of only two guys, their sound was powerful and left the crowd wanting more of their energetic set. The second day was the chilliest but didn’t stop the crowds from pouring in and enjoying every corner of the park. The last day ended perfectly with the most comfortable weather and a lineup that had the audience on their feet nonstop. From the Killers and Cage the Elephant to Post Malone and Miguel, the acts led the way to the most pleasant and bittersweet end to Voodoo 2017. The Killers rocked the air, bringing nostalgia and chills to their massive audience with sing-along anthems like “Mr. Brightside,” and “Somebody Told Me.” As the afternoon turned to evening, a nice balance of genres changed the vibe as the sun went down. Post Malone and Miguel played simultaneously on separate crowds but still managed to overcrowd each of their spaces with the most enthusiastic rap and R&B fans. Miguel closed the stage Sunday evening with a very exhilarating performance, as he switched from smooth R&B songs to leading a trio band into jamming to funkier songs. As the final day came to a close, festival-goers mourned the last moments while flooding through the haunted maze of the grounds, leading to the exit gates. All in all, Voodoo 2017 gave us the highest spirits, to celebrate the enchanting weekend of Halloween and music in New Orleans and hats to organizers for an amazing and unforgettable experience. Dates for next year’s edition have already been announced – October 28, 29 & 30, 2018 and we can’t wait to see what tricks and treats Voodoo will have in store!
For more information on Voodoo go to the official website HERE.
Photos by Jordan Heller, Roger Ho, Charles Reagan Hacklemen, Rob Loud & Nooman Muhammad