New Orleans Jazz Fest for beginners

Crowd Control Thousands gather to hear the Subdudes play during the 2009 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo)

Mud Bath Women with painted toenails stand in mud and puddles as they listen to Lionel Ritchie perform at the 2010 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Over two inches of rain from torrential downpours fell in two hours during the annual festival. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Seafood and Okra Gumbo with Alligator Sausage There are endless entertainment and dining options in New Orleans on a regular evening, but there are even more options during Jazz Fest. This dish from the Redfish Grill on Bourbon Street might be classified as more entertainment than dining, but should not be missed. (Red Fish Grill)

Fan Frenzy Buckwheat Zydeco performs before a large crowd at the 2009 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

Folk Art Artists paint portraits of rocker Jeff Beck during his performance in the 2011 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. (Gerald Herbert/AP Photo)

BBQ Oysters As far as food outside the parade grounds, the NOLA tourist board offered up some suggestions. The top of their list is the Redfish Grill, located on Bourbon Street and they say "get the BBQ Oysters." (Red Fish Grill)

Everyone Loves a Parade The Rebirth Jazz Band leads a parade through the crowd at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. (Bill Haber / AP)

Glory Days Bruce Springsteen has been added to the 2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival lineup. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are scheduled to perform on Sunday, April 29, 2012, his first Jazz Fest appearance since 2006, when he took the stage with his Seeger Sessions project less than a year after Hurricane Katrina devastated the area. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

NOLA Ne-Yo Musician Ne-Yo, who here arrives at the 3rd Annual Essence Black Women in Music event in Los Angeles, will also be headlining at New Orleans Jazz Fest this April. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Foo Fighting Foo Fighters frontman, Dave Grohl, and his band are slated to perform at this year’s Jazz Fest. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

Good Vibrations Mike Love and the Beach Boys will also be performing at the New Orleans JazzFest in April. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)