Jimmy Buffett performed at the New Orleans Jazz Festival on Sunday with his Acoustic Airmen and special guest Jake Shimabukuro.

New Orleans Jazz Fest producer Quint Davis introduced Jimmy Buffett’s close-out set on the Acura stage on Sunday (April 29) by saying, “This guy makes the world a little happier.”

For the next hour and a half, Buffett proved his point. Beach balls flew through the air, polka dotting the blue sky with primary colors. Hawaiian shirts clung to sweaty bodies. Parrothead hats bobbed to the beat. Vintage Buffett — and everyone, including the barefoot guy on stage, was eating it up.

For his 12th time at Jazz Fest (not counting his many guest appearances over the years), Buffett performed with the Acoustic Airmen, an all-start group of players that included Country Music Association Musician of the Year Mac McAnally along with Robert Greenidge, Eric Darken, Nadirah Shakoor and Tina Gullickson. Louisiana’s own Sonny Landreth joined on slide guitar, and Jake Shimabukuro stole the show on ukulele.

At one point, Buffett put down his guitar and walked aside, abdicating the stage to Shimabukuro and Greenidge as they performed “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” on ukulele and steel drums.

The Times Picayune has some photos from the show:

(Photos by Chris Granger, NOLA.com)

Buffett’s next show is May 19th in Kansas City. There’s still time to get tickets to see Jimmy during his 2018 tour.

Before a concert in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Thursday, Jimmy Buffett was inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi’s Alumni Hall of Fame.

photo Amanda Hargrove

Kiln native Brett Favre once again spent NFL Draft Day in South Mississippi. And while he wasn’t wearing “jorts,” the NFL Hall of Fame member was in Hattiesburg on Thursday to pay tribute to a friend — Pascagoula native Jimmy Buffet.

Favre inducted Buffett into the Southern Miss Alumni Hall of Fame before the singer’s sold-out show at the Saenger Theater.

“Brett, don’t put that on eBay,” Buffett said as Favre walked the award off the stage.

Kiln native Brett Favre once again spent NFL Draft Day in South Mississippi. And while he wasn’t wearing “jorts,” the NFL Hall of Fame member was in Hattiesburg on Thursday to pay tribute to a friend — Pascagoula native Jimmy Buffet.

Favre inducted Buffett into the Southern Miss Alumni Hall of Fame before the singer’s sold-out show at the Saenger Theater.

“Brett, don’t put that on eBay,” Buffett said as Favre walked the award off the stage.

We reported back in November that a Margaritaville Hotel may be coming to Manhattan and today the plans were officially announced:

Margaritaville Holdings, the global lifestyle brand synonymous with fun and escapism, today announced it’s building a new Margaritaville Resort in New York City. Located in Times Square at 560 Seventh Avenue, blocks away from the bright lights of the entertainment district and New York’s most popular attractions, the 234-room, 29-story property is expected to open in late 2020. Once complete, the $300 million project will boast several Margaritaville food and beverage concepts, a rooftop LandShark Bar & Grill and pool, retail space and more.

“From the beaches of Florida to the Great Smoky Mountains to the corner of Seventh Avenue and 40th Street, Margaritaville brings fun, relaxation and a much-needed escape from the every day to any set of coordinates,” said John Cohlan, chief executive officer of Margaritaville. “The Margaritaville Resort Hotel and the lifestyle experience it offers will be the perfect complement to the exciting, fast-paced energy of Times Square and we can’t wait to bring this destination to the travelers and residents of New York City.”

The Margaritaville Resort in New York City will bring an authentic “no worries” vibe to the city that never sleeps with Margaritaville’s signature ‘casual-luxe’ design elements, a rooftop pool, St. Somewhere Spa and lounge areas overlooking the city’s famous skyline.

In partnership with International Meal Company (IMC), food and beverage venues include a Margaritaville Restaurant, LandShark Bar & Grill, 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar, Floridays Airstream Café, and an all-new concept, Chill Bar. Retail space is planned for the lobby, allowing guests a way to extend their visit to paradise and bring the island life home.

The resort will be developed by Sharif El-Gamal’s Soho Properties, in partnership with Chip and Andrew Weiss and MHP Real Estate Services.

“Margaritaville at 560 Seventh Avenue is a perfect addition to the pulsing energy of the Times Square submarket, which continues to thrive as one of the city’s most visited neighborhoods,” said Sharif El-Gamal, chairman and chief executive officer of Soho Properties. “We are thrilled to collaborate with one of the world’s most beloved brands and bring New York’s first Margaritaville to Times Square, where it will undoubtedly be a top destination for visitors and NYC residents alike.

Additional details regarding the resort’s amenities will follow in the coming months.

Huey Lewis was set to play some shows this summer again with Jimmy Buffett, but in a note posted on his website he revealed that he will not make any tour appearances due to hearing loss:

Two and a half months ago, just before a show in Dallas, I lost most of my hearing. Although I can still hear a little, one on one, and on the phone, I can’t hear music well enough to sing. The lower frequencies distort violently making it impossible to find pitch. I’ve been to the House Ear Institute, the Stanford Ear Institute, and the Mayo Clinic, hoping to find an answer. The doctors believe I have Meniere’s disease and have agreed that I can’t perform until I improve. Therefore the only prudent thing to do is to cancel all future shows. Needless to say, I feel horrible about this, and wish to sincerely apologize to all the fans who’ve already bought tickets and were planning to come see us. I’m going to concentrate on getting better, and hope that one day soon I’ll be able to perform again. Sincerely, Huey

Best wishes to Huey on his recovery!

Jimmy Buffett will make a return to Phoenix in the Fall for the first time since 2013.

Phoenix, AZ
Saturday, October 13th, 2018
Talking Sticks Resort Arena

Tickets go on sale Monday, April 23rd through Ticketmaster and Ticketnetwork.

View all of the tour dates that have been scheduled so far on our Tour Dates page.