Delta

Kelly Clarkson, The Bangles, The Go-Go’s, Courtyard Hounds (Emily Robison and Martie Maguire of the Dixie Chicks), Martina McBride, Suzanne Vega, Anjulie, Anya Marina, Jesca Hoop, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lucy Schwartz, Miranda Lee Richards, Nikki Jean and The Rescues

The returning Lilith Tour, already boasting an eye-popping, genre-busting lineup of top female artists, added a bakers dozen new acts, including some major names.

Kelly Clarkson, The Bangles, The Go-Gos, Martina McBride, Suzanne Vega and the newly formed Court Yard Hounds with Dixie Chicks sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire top the second round list.

Also named wer Anjulie, Anya Marina, Jesca Hoop, Kate Miller-Heidke, Lucy Schwartz, Miranda Lee Richards and Nikki Jean and The Rescues.

The total lineup now numbers 63 and includes other star names like tour founder Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Mary J. Blige, Miranda Lambert, Colbie Caillat, Ke$ha, Emmylou Harris, Sugarland and Sara Bareilles.

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival announced its daily breakouts for the 2010 festival, making it possible to evaluate which weekend or which days you would most like to attend. Following are the first dozen names listed for each of the festval's seven days.

Friday, April 23: Lionel Richie, Black Crowes, Dr. John, Steel Pulse, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Baaba Maal, Elvin Bishop, Chocolate Milk, Jon Cleary, Frankie Ford, Deacon John, Joe Lovano

Saturday, April 24: Simon & Garfunkel, My Morning Jacket, Drake, Better Than Ezra, Ledisi, Sam Bush, the funky Meters, Campbell Brothers, Smokie Norful, Cowboy Mouth, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Walter “Wolfman” Wahington & the Roadmasters

Sunday, April 25: Allman Brothers Band, Anita Baker, Darius Rucker, Jonny Lang, The Levon Helm Band, Juan Luis Guerra y 440, Imagination Movers, Keely Smith,  King Sunny Ade & His African Beats, Blind Boys of Alabama, Marcia Ball, Shawn Colvin

Status: Bulk of acts named with date of performance. A few performers still to be named.

Headliners: Steel Pulse, King Sunny Ade, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Notables: Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars, Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni ba, Lunasa, Chiwonsio, Sonny Landreth, Los de Abajo, Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band, Grupo Fantasma, Mucca Pazza, La Excelencia, Taj Weekes and Adowa, Nation Beat, Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears, Les Breastfeeders, Kinobe and Soul Beat Africa, Fishtank Ensemble, Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, Feufollet, Donna the Buffalo

Comment: This festival seems to get better every year with its mix of African, reggae, zydeco and other world roots genres. There are more than 100 performers presented over five days—all free to the public. The festival in Lafayette LA coincides with the first weekend of New Orleans Jazzfest but starts several days earlier so out-of-towners can catch some of both.

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New Orleans Jazzfest scored a coup with its announcement of a rare performance date by legendary vocal duo Simon and Garfunkel for April 24, 2010, the second night of this year's festival. It will be the first appearance for the duo at Jazzfest (though Paul Simon has made notable appearances before), and it will be the only U.S. performance by Simon and Garfunkel in 2010.

Chief festival producer Quint Davis noted Simon's previous history at the festival, which is considered by many to be the most important U.S. music festival. “From his early visit to the Festival to experience the Neville Brothers in the 80’s, to the thrill of his epic performance of Graceland, leading up to his never-to-be-forgotten closing-day set at the first post-Katrina Festival, Paul Simon has woven himself into the fabric of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,” Davis said.

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