For the first time since 2005, Jazz Fest will occur for seven days, April 25-27 and May 1-4, as the event brings back the opening Thursday of its second weekend with a special advanced ticket price of only $25. And The Neville Brothers, the iconic band of New Orleans, a.k.a. The First Family of Funk, are coming home for their first post-Katrina performance in the city, appearing in their traditional spot as the Festival�s closing act on Sunday, May 4.

The Festival also announced that Tim McGraw, the country music superstar and Louisiana native, will make his Jazz Fest debut on Sunday, April 27. �I'm really looking forward to playing Jazz Fest this year," said McGraw. "The event has such a storied history and New Orleans is one of the greatest cities in the world."

New Orleans favorite Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, the legendary soul group, will appear on Sunday, May 4. The Festival will announce its complete music lineup in late January or early February.

A listing of hotels offering special Jazz Fest rates is posted at www.nojazzfest.com, where the Festival is launching a new hotel booking initiative to allow patrons to effortlessly reserve their hotel rooms for the event. Festivalgoers can peruse room availabilities and book their accommodations early taking advantage of some of the best prices offered at participating hotels.

Tickets for the Festival, which takes place at the Fair Grounds Race Course, went on sale today. Early advance Jazz Fest Thursday tickets are only $25. After January 22 they will be $30 with the gate price TBD. Early advance tickets to all other Festival days are $35. After January 22 they will be $40 with the gate price TBD. Children�s tickets (ages 2 - 11) are only $5 in advance or at the gate. Tickets to Jazz Fest are on sale by specific weekend, with each ticket valid for a single day�s attendance.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is the nonprofit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, proceeds from which support the foundation�s various community development activities. Programs of the foundation include: radio station WWOZ 90.7-FM; the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Archive; the Don Jamison Heritage School of Music; the Tom Dent Congo Square Lecture Series; the Jazz Journey concert series; the Community Grants Program; the Raisin� the Roof housing initiative for artists and musicians; and the S.E.E.D. micro-loan program for entrepreneurs. For more information, please call the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation at (504) 558-6100 or visit www.jazzandheritage.org.