NEW ORLEANS, April 25 (UPI) -- Slide guitarist Roy Rogers says the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is an ideal event to open people up to new music.
Rogers, who has appeared at the festival four times during his career, said most attendees of the annual festival are discerning music fans open to learning about new types and approaches to music, USA Today said Saturday.
"It's a great place to check out people you don't know about," Rogers said at the festival, which began Friday. "You want to be exposed to new music, not just stuff you already like, and with all the changes in the music business, it's hard to know where to look. So much great stuff is off the beat path."
Among those performing at the 40th rendition of the festival include rocker Joe Cocker, the Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indians, jazz saxophonist Donald Harrison and blues-folk singer Chris Smither.
USA Today said the festival, which lost three sponsors amid the ongoing economic downturn, runs until May 3.
