Widespread Panic at New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, photo by Dino Perrucci

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival resumed on Thursday, April 30, with the fifth day of the formal festival programming at the heart of the citywide celebration of NOLA’s music, community and culture. Though a storm front forced attendees to cut the day’s festivities short – or at least move to any of the myriad indoor side-programming options – some quick schedule shifting from the festival’s organizers let the day’s biggest names perform before inclement weather struck.

Day five’s centerpiece was a two-hour, single-set performance from Widespread Panic, whose main stage headline performance was moved up to 2 p.m. The Southern jam sextet took the change of plans in stride, and still managed to rope in guest spots from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band’s Roger Lewis and Gregory Davis and keyboardist CR Gruver. Among other covers of J.J. Cale, James Taylor and General Echo, the band paid tribute to the late Col. Bruce Hampton on his birthday with a take on Skip James’ “I’m So Glad.”

Other highlights from the short but sweet day of performances included Lettuce, Lake Street Dive, Charmaine Neville, John Papa Gros and the legendary funk ensemble of Fred Wesley & The New JB’s. Get an inside look at the excitement in the gallery below, courtesy of photographer Dino Perrucci.