Attendees at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival were treated to even more picture perfect weather at the Fair Grounds Race Course yesterday. The fifth day of this year’s event was something of a blast from the late 1990s, as both No Doubt and Macy Gray graced the Acura Stage for packed sets.

While No Doubt made for an atypical Jazz Fest headliner, the band quickly dispelled the crowd’s skepticism with a well executed, hits heavy performance that had more than just their diehard fans singing along. Frontwoman Gwen Stefani noted that the show was the band’s first New Orleans gig in 13 years as they worked through a litany of chart toppers like “Underneath It All,” “Hey Baby,” “Ex-Girlfriend,” “Spiderwebs,” “Don’t Speak” and their Talk Talk cover “It’s My Life,” while also nodding to the city with a “Second Line” intro before “Bathwater.” However, the set’s surprising highlight came in the form of an acoustic rendition of the group’s 2000 hit “Simple Kind of Life,” which was followed by similarly stripped down takes on “Magic’s in the Makeup” and “Excuse Me Mr.”

Gray, on the other hand, was going for a more explicitly New Orleans vibe when she took over the Acura Stage with Jazz Fest main stays Galactic prior to No Doubt’s set. The neo-soul icon seemed a bit underwhelmed with the crowd’s reaction (cut us some slack Macy, it’s really hot out here), but nevertheless delivered on some of her signature tunes, including the 1999 classic “I Try.” Gray wasn’t present for the entirety of the set, which gave Galactic—who were augmented by percussionist extraordinaire Mike Dillon for the duration of their slot—a little time to play their own material, including a few high-energy tunes with their latest touring vocalist Erica Falls.

As No Doubt and Gray/Galactic were busy holding down the main Acura Stage, fans at the Gentilly Stage were busy getting down to Chicago, who worked some extended jams into songs like “Love Me Tomorrow,” “Colour My World” an “Questions 67 and 68.” The set also included hits like “Saturday in the Park” and “You’re The Inspiration,” as well as a lengthy a drum segment from drummer Tris Imboden and Santana-turned-Chicago percussionist Walfredo Reyes Jr.

Friday also featured a rousing Gospel Tent performance by local legend Irma Thomas, as well as a Blues Tent headlining performance from the Voice of the Wetlands Allstars. That group saw Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, George Porter Jr., Cyril Neville, Johnny Vidacovich, Michael Doucet and Johnny Sansone rip through an hour and a half of only-in-Louisiana material, including a few tracks from Benoit’s 2005 release Voice of the Wetlands.

However, Jazz Fest wasn’t the only big musical event that went down in New Orleans on Friday, as the annual one-day mini-festival Fiya Fest took over Mardi Gras World on the other side of town. The fundraiser featured a headlining set from Lettuce, as well as an assortment of one-time-only super jams with names like Diesel Fiya (Karl Denson, Lee Fields, Tony Hall, Doug Wimbish, Russelll Batiste, Robert Walter, Big Sam, Farnell Newton and DJ Williams) and Mack Ten (Johnny Vidacovish, Skerik, Mike Dillon, Papa Mali, Will Blades, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, Raleigh Kincheloe, Andrew Block and Eric Vogel). The event—which raised money for the Roots of Music and the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic—also included a tribute to the late, great Big Chief Bo Dollis of the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians.

Grateful Dead fans were treated to a variety of late night options after the festival proper wound down yesterday, as Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Voodoo Dead and Axial Tilt took the stage at different venues. Joe Russo’s Almost Dead were in top form during their two set show at the Joy Theater, which featured the New Orleans-referencing tunes “Truckin’” and “Reuben and Cerise,” as well as classics like “Uncle John’s Band,” “Eyes of the World,” “Help On The Way/Slipknot,” “Viola Lee Blues” and “Franklin’s Tower.”

Over at The Republic, Bill Kreutzmann’s latest project Voodoo Dead made its debut with a one-set performance that didn’t start until well after 2am. The show found the Grateful Dead drummer teaming up with Steve Kimock, Dave Schools, Keller Williams and Jeff Chimenti for the first gig of a three-night run. Highlights included “Scarlet Begonias” and “China Cat Sunflower,” as well as covers of “Hey Pocky Way,” “Boogie On Reggae Woman” and “It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry,” while the show drifted into space territory with a “Dark Star” that followed “Stella Blue.”

Last night also had plenty to offer festivalgoers that weren’t interested in hearing the music of the Grateful Dead. The Howlin’ Wolf kept things going til sunrise with sets from The Bayou Rendezvous All-Stars, Orgone vs. Monophonics, Kung Fu, California Honeydrops, TAUK, Gravity A and Gravy, the last of which played an early morning Breakfast Jam. Meanwhile, the Mike Dillon Band took over the Blue Nile upstairs for a late night rager, just as The Main Squeeze got the party started in the venue’s downstairs room. Earphunk did the same at nearby d.b.a., while The New Mastersounds held down the 2am, post-Joe Russo’s Almost Dead slot at the Joy Theater. Last night also included a Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey performance at the Dragon’s Den, while Boatlive saw Soulive set sail on the Steamboat Natchez Riverboat with special guests Lee Fields, Nigel Hall, DJ Logic and the Shady Horns.

Additionally, Tipitina’s hosted an exciting show with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe and special guest Jimmy Herring. The Widespread Panic guitarist joined the band for most of the 3.5 hour show, which also featured Roosevelt Collier.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival will continue today with sets Elton John, Aaron Neville, Ed Sheeran, T.I., Jerry Lee Lewis, Vintage Trouble, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Kermit Ruffin & The Barbecue Swingers, Marc Broussard, Astral Project, Woodenhead and many more.

Friday, May 1, 2015, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, Joy Theater, New Orleans, LA

Set One
Truckin *(SM) >
The Wheel #(All) >
Uncle John’s Band (All) >
He’s Gone (TH) >
Easy Wind (SM)
Ruben & Cherise (TH) >
Eyes of the World

Set Two
Help On the Way (TH) >
Slipknot! $ >
Throwin’ Stones % (SM)>
Viola Lee Blues ^ (All) >
Cumberland Blues & (All) >
Viola Lee Blues ** (All)

Enc:

Slipkot! Reprise + >
Franklin’s Tower (TH)

(*) With “Other One” Teases/Jam (Band)
(#) With “Song Remains The Same” Jam (Led Zeppelin) (Band)
($) With “Black Peter” Jam (Band)
(%) With “Dark Star” Teases (Band)
(^) Verses 1 & 2
(&) Unfinished
(**) Verse 3
(+) First Time Played