All Louisiana festivals postponed March 2020

All Louisiana music festivals have been postponed or canceled.  This includes the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Festival International.  See their websites for additional information.   Stay safe and healthy, everyone!

 

2020 Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival moves to March

The Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival, put on by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, is moving from high summer to March 28 and 29.  This will be a very welcome change from holding it outdoors in June!  The lineup so far:

Saturday, March 28, 2020
11am-12:30pm Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys
12:45-2:15pm Rosie Ledet
2:30-4pm Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
4:15-5:30pm Sean Ardoin
5:45-7pm Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas

Sunday, March 29, 2020
11am-12:30pm Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots
12:45-2:15pm Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
2:30-4pm Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band
4:15-5:30pm Lil Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers
5:45-7pm Beausoleil avec Michael Doucet

Also:  “New this year: On March 27th, the Foundation will host a free an indoor concert made for dancing at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center.”  This is a splendid event space and should be a lot of fun.

 

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2020 Cajun, Louisiana Creole and Zydeco acts

Taken from: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Looks like the number of Cajun, Louisiana Creole and zydeco acts is down this year.  Also listed are acts where a musician has played in one of these three areas or an area related, like swamp pop.

Thursday, April 23, 2020
Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys
Corey Ledet Zydeco
The Daquiri Queens

Friday, April 24, 2020
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
C.J. Chenier and the Louisiana Red Hot Band
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band
Les Frérès Michot

Saturday, April 25, 2020
The Revelers
Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band
Jourdan Thibodeaux et les Rôdailleurs
Also: Tribute to Paul ‘Lil Buck’ Senegal featuring Sonny Landreth, Carol Fran, Lee Allen Zeno, and CC Adcock; Michael Doucet, Sarah Quintana and Chad Viator, Major Handy & the Louisiana Blues Band

Sunday, April 26, 2020
Zachary Richard
Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots
Jambalaya Cajun Band
Also: Amanda Shaw & the Cute Guys

Thursday, April 30, 2020
Wayne Toups
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
Lil’ Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers
Feufollet
Cedric Watson et Binjou Creole
Huval-Fuselier Cajun Band

Friday, May 1, 2020
Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
Savoy Family Band
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie
The Mid-City Aces
Also: Sweet Crude, Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars, Gregg Martinez & the Delta Kings with special guests Johnnie Allan and T.K. Hulin, Gina Forsyth and Friends

Saturday, May 2, 2020
Pine Leaf Boys
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
T’Monde
Also: Yvette Landry & the Jukes with special guest Warren Storm, Tommy Mclain + CC Adcock, Sweet Cecilia

Sunday, May 3, 2020
Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Jo-El Sonnier & Friends
Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble
Burke Riley Cajun Quintet (son of Steve Riley)
Also: Ryan Foret & Foret Tradition

 

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2019 Cajun, Louisiana Creole and Zydeco acts

All at the Sheraton New Orleans Fais Do-Do Stage unless otherwise noted.
Jazz Fest web site

THURSDAY, APRIL 25
Goldman Thibodeaux & the Lawtell Playboys
Balfa Toujours
The Revelers
Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. And The Zydeco Twisters – Acura
David Doucet – AARP RHYTHMPOURIUM

FRIDAY, APRIL 26

Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers
Le Vent du Nord of Canada
Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band

SATURDAY, APRIL 27

Terry & the Zydeco Bad Boys
The Cypress Band featuring Warren Storm & Willie Tee
Jourdan Thibodeaux et les Rôdailleurs
Lil’ Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers
Pine Leaf Boys
Sweet Crude – Acura
Swamp Pop Legends Warren Storm and Willie Tee. Interviewer: Nick Spitzer
Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage 2:45 PM – 3:30 PM

SUNDAY, APRIL 28

The Daiquiri Queens [CD release in August!]
Jambalaya Cajun Band with special guest Johnnie Allan
Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots
Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars
Curley Taylor

THURSDAY, MAY 2

Brandon Moreau and CajunGrass
Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band [also kids tent]
Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie
Sean Ardoin

FRIDAY, MAY 3

T’Monde [also at AARP Rhythmporium]
Cedric Watson et Bijou Creole
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas
Wayne Toups – Acura Stage
Michot’s Melody Makers – AARP Rhythmporium

SATURDAY, MAY 4

Mid-City Aces
Savoy Music Center Orchestra Saturday Morning Jam
Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band
The Kings of Zydeco: A Tribute to Clifton Chenier and Buckwheat Zydeco featuring C.J. Chenier, Nathan Williams, and the Ils Sont Partis Band
Amanda Shaw – Gentilly
Clifton Chenier and Buckwheat Zydeco Tribute C.J. Chenier, Reginald Dural, Nathan WIlliams, and Lee Allen Zeno // Interviewer: Michael Tisserand – Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage
53rd Anniversary of the Savoy Music Center Saturday Jam with Marc, Ann, Joel, and Wilson Savoy // Interviewer: Ben Sandmel – Allison Miner Music Heritage Stage

SUNDAY, MAY 5
A Tribute to Aldus Roger featuring Jimmy Breaux, Johnny Sonnier & the New Lafayette Playboys
Tribute to GG Shinn featuring Gregg Martinez & the Delta Kings with guests TK Hulin & Charlene Howard (swamp op)
Savoy Family Cajun Band
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band – Blues Tent
Magnolia Sisters – Lagniappe
Aucoin Family Cajun Band – Kids Tent

 

D. L. Menard dies July 26, 2017

One of Cajun music’s great writers and performers, 85-year-old D. L. Menard, has passed away.   Menard was often called “the Cajun Hank Williams,” because of his well-written songs with catchy melodies and partly because of his meeting with Williams.  Menard had a warm voice and a percussive guitar style, often copied.  His song “The Back Door” (“La porte d’en arrière”) was one of Rolling Stones’ 100 Best Country Songs of all Time.  KLFY-TV Lafayette coverage. He was a favorite at music festivals, mostly playing with the Jambalaya Cajun Band in the last decade.

Selected discography:

D. L. Menard. Cajun memories. Swallow Records. SW 6125-2. 1995. CD.
D. L. Menard. No matter where you at, there you are. Rounder Records. C-6021. 1988. CS.
D. L. Menard. Sings The Back Door and other Cajun hits. Swallow Records. LP-6038. 1980. 33.
D. L. Menard. Happy Go Lucky. Swallow Records SW6219. 2010. CD.
Dewey Balfa, Marc Savoy & D. L. Menard. En bas d’un chêne vert. Arhoolie Productions, Inc.. CD 312. 1976 & 1989. CD.
Marc Savoy with Dewey Balfa & D. L. Menard. Made in Louisiana. Voyager Records. VCD 325. 1998. CD.
Eddie LeJeune, D.L. Menard, Ken Smith. Trio Cadien. Rounder Records. 6049. 1992. CD.

 

 

Zydeco rubboards history video

New Orleans’ WDSU-TV Channel 8 aired this short (2:58) video recently with background on the rubboard used so much in zyeco music.  It shows one being manufactured, in stop motion, by Tee-Don Landry.  Landry claims it was his father who made the first one for Clifton Chenier’s brother Cleveland to play in the band.  A transcription is included, if you’re having problems with Louisiana-accented English.

 

Belton Richard dies

Accordionist and vocalist Belton Richard has passed away at age 77.  Richard was a popular musician whose major local hit was the song “Un autre soir ennuyant (Another Lonely Night) [originally released as “Autre soir d’ennui (Another lonely evening)”].”  His band was known as the Musical Aces.  Richard quit active performing for a while but returned to it in the 2000s.  His songs have been covered by many Cajun musicians and are considered classics in the genre.  Swallow Records released many of his tracks as 45s, but they are found on these LPs:

Belton Richard. At his best. Swallow Records. LP 6043. 1981. 33.
Belton Richard. Good n’ Cajun. Swallow Records. LP-6021. n.d.. 33.
Belton Richard. Modern sounds of Cajun music. Swallow Records. LP-6010. n.d.. 33.
Belton Richard and the Musical Aces. Louisiana Cajun music. Swallow Records. LP-6032. 1978. 33.
Belton Richard and the Musical Aces. Modern sounds of Cajun music volume two. Swallow Records. LP-6013. n.d.. 33.

His CDs include:

Belton Richard. Essential Belton Richard. Swallow Records. SW 6117-2. 1994. CD.
Belton Richard. I’m back! Swallow Records. 6135. 1996. CD.
Belton Richard. Modern sounds in Cajun music. Ace Records. CDCHD 378. unk.. CD.

 

Trailride photo exhibit in Ohio

There’s an exhibit of photography of Louisiana zydeco trailrides currently on at Columbus State University in Georgia.  The photographer says that trailrides go back to “the 17th century,” which seems rather early.  Still interesting reading.  The photographer lives in Baton Rouge.

 

Free-to-view Creole music documentary

The excellent documentary film “Dry Wood” can now be viewed online for free.  As the description says: “A glimpse into the life, food, and Mardi Gras celebrations of black Creoles in French Louisiana, featuring the stories and music of “Bois Sec” Ardoin and Canray Fontenot. Dry Wood is one of a number of Les Blank’s critically acclaimed films on Lousiana life and culture. Hot Pepper, a film on zydeco great Clifton Chenier, is a companion to Dry Wood. These films and many other important documentary films about American folklife are available on DVD at Les Blank’s Flower Films.”  It is for “Home streaming only.”

 

Buckwheat Zydeco dies Sept. 24, 2016

Stanley “Buckwheat Zydeco” Dural, Jr. has passed away in Lafayette on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016.  Buckwheat had a history of cancer since 2013, and was thought to be cancer-free, but it returned recently.  It is hard to overestimate the importance of Buckwheat to zydeco music.  He started as Clifton Chenier’s keyboard player, went out on his own on accordion, and has recorded a massive catalog over the last 40 years.  Our sincerest condolences to family, friends, and colleagues.