Jazz Fest lineup includes Aretha Franklin, Pearl Jam, Van Morrison

Van the Man and the Queen of Soul are headlining next year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Joining Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin will be Pearl Jam, making its inaugural appearance at the fest, as well as Lionel Richie and actor Steve Martin, who plays banjo in his bluegrass outfit, Steep Canyon Rangers. Darius Rucker, former Hootie and the Blowfish front man-turned-award-winning country singer, also is slated to appear. Marking its 41st year, the festival is scheduled for the weekends of April 23-25 and April 29-May 2 and features hundreds of acts in genres ranging from pop, rock and gospel to R&B, jazz and zydeco. Though dotted with major national acts, the festival is made up of more than 80% Louisiana artists such as the Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, Pete Fountain, Dr. John, rapper Juvenile, Trombone Shorty and Buckwheat Zydeco. Tickets for the festival, which is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, go on sale Tuesday. For a list of all announced acts, visit the Jazz Fest Web site here.