Cajun and zydeco music is not just for old people

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2016/09/24/dural-leader-buckwheat-zydeco-passes-away/90910752/

accordionist, bandleader, keyboard player too...

RIP, dead at 68 from lung cancer

*Sat. Oct. 22-Cajun and Zydeco Music Festival at Glen Echo w/ Cedryl Ballou & the Zydeco TrendSetters; Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys; T'Monde; Squeeze Bayou Cajun Band; and Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble 2pm to 12mdt.

I want to see Ballou (who's also playing tonight) but am gonna have to miss both gigs

From Big Daddy Nice's southern soul r'n'b blog/website

Finally, Zydeco continued to influence and infiltrate southern soul, with none other than traditionalist Ecko Records' John Ward picking up tricks from newbies like Baton Rouge producer Beat Flippa (last year's winner) and giving strong proof for producer of the year. Ward incorporated the cajun-style button accordion into percolating fast jams by Jaye Hammer, ("Trail Ride") and O.B. Buchana ("Why Can't I Be Your Lover"). And on the other side, zydeco's Chris Ardoin (following in Keith Frank's footsteps) moved ever closer to a zydeco-southern soul hybrid with the rhapsodic "Boo Thang."

Southern soul singer Ms. Jody on Ecko has a zydeco mentioning and influenced song too

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/28/travel/louisiana-zydeco-music-capital-accordions-etouffee-dancing.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fmusic&action=click&contentCollection=music®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=sectionfront

Travel article piece with a kinda generic zydeco overview plus a focus on The Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette, and Buck & Johnny’s in Breaux Bridge. Some good info

Southern soul act Mr. Sam does "Zydeco Sum Mo"

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2017/06/22/cajun-music-legend-belton-richard-dies/418555001/

In her book, “Cajun Music: A Reflection of a People,” author Ann Savoy wrote “Belton Richard is the most widely imitated singer and musician in southwest Louisiana today. Not only has his vocal style set the new standard for Cajun singers, but his songs are played at every dance. Belton Richard’s poetry looks at life with a tough romanticism that appeals to the earthy Cajuns.”

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-d-l-menard-20170728-story.html

The 85-year old Cajun Hank Williams, D.L. Menard has passed. He was enjoyable when I saw him live.

Houston-born zydeco musician Cory Ledet and band are ok according to twitter (re the flood), but stuck in a Houston subdivision

John Nova Lomax article from January 2017

http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/houston-heightss-cajun-invasion/

Houston experiences the same sweltering and sticky climate that afflicts New Orleans and Lafayette. Our Bayou City braces for the same natural disasters—hurricanes and floods—as the Bayou State (Houstonians barely know the tornados that afflict northern and western Texas or the ice storms that paralyze Dallas). Like South Louisiana, the Houston area has seen large-scale sugar and rice production. The I-10 corridor is lined with oil refineries from east Houston all the way to Lake Charles. You can still hear Cajun and Creole music regularly on the radio on noncommercial stations like KPFT and Majic 102, a commercial R&B station.

I could go on, but here is the kicker to my bold declaration. I invite you to drive past the Spanish moss-draped live oaks and swampy prairie landscapes west of Houston on Interstate 10. I promise, it won’t feel as though you’ve entered “real Texas” until you hit the Peach Ridge Road exit out by Brookshire, where the ground finally starts to get a little roll to it. That, and not the Sabine River, is where you are finally truly leaving Louisiana.

According to the “best guesstimate” of Jim Gossen, chairman of Houston-based Sysco Louisiana Seafood, Houstonians now annually consume more crawfish than the entire state of Louisiana.

Marcus Ardoin & the Zydeco Legendz

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kwVvmfuR9T0

Lost Bayou Ramblers , Cajun band, won the best regional traditional music Grammy for their Kalenda album beating out Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers and Northern Cree (a Canadian native/aboriginal North American group) .

Meanwhile Houston has a big zydeco fest April 7th 2018

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-houston-zydeco-fest-tickets-40606022707

LIL NATE & THE ZYDECO BIG TYMERS

BRIAN JACK & THE ZYDECO GAMBLERS

KEYUN & THE ZYDECO MASTERS

RUBEN MORENO & ZYDECO RE-EVOLUTION

LIL JABB & THE ZYDECO SOLDIERS

OFFICIAL DJ: DJ JACK FROST

http://www.99playboys.com/

A new project by Jean Bertrand (of the Pine Leaf Boys)

Anthony Bourdain episode last night recorded at Mardi Gras time in southwestern Louisiana was worth watching. Marc & Anne Savoy & family, Lost Bayou Ramblers, zydeco writer Herman Fuselier, Sid Williams, drunk guys in costumes, talented women costume makers, good food, and Bourdain talking with them all.

i stumbled on the louisiana cajun-zydeco festival in armstrong park in new orleans this past week and caught the first 2 sets (and the final set) on the second day. there were indeed a lot of old people there but 1) they did not appear to be tourists 2) they were dancing with more enthusiasm and genuine mirth than i have seen in years 3) they were for the most part good dancers. there was one (not OLD old but not young) couple in particular whose chemistry was mesmerizing -- they were beautiful to watch.

also i saw a guy there wearing a RLYR tshirt (Chicago band featuring former members of Pelican & idk what other bands, def not a well known band)

<3 <3 <3 zydeco music & people

was kind of bummed to miss the cajun portion of the lineup but i enjoyed it regardless

In the Washington DC area zydeco caught on with a sizable group of white roots music fans who became fanatics of the style and pretty good at dancing to the genre couples style. Alas, no subsequent generation similarly caught on. In zydeco's southwest Louisiana home, Afro-creole parents teach their kids how to dance to it, and I think it is also taught now in schools (or at least I have seen video of white Cajun kids learning Cajun dance in class like settings).

Wow, that was a great lineup!

2018 LOUISIANA CAJUN-ZYDECO FESTIVAL MUSIC SCHEDULE

Saturday, June 23:
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Bruce Daigrepont
12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Sean Ardoin
2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Les Freres Michot
4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunpie & the Louisiana Sunspots
5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Lost Bayou Ramblers

Sunday, June 24:
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Li'l Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers
12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Chris Ardoin & NuStep
2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Corey Ledet & His Zydeco Band
4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers

Oops, I meant to say that zydeco caught on in DC in the 1980s

Watching stylish and adept dancing couples at zydeco (and Latino styles and old-school r'n'b) captivates me and makes me jealous. Despite a handful of lessons, I would need to take many more and practice multiple nights a week I think to get that good.

I think it was Chris Ardoin & his band who covered Ginuwine's "Pony" -- that number yielded some *fire emoji* dancing
this was the first time i have experienced actual zydeco music played live in an appropriate context. super duper enjoyable and def not just for old people.

i was too hot and had no partner but i could follow and was dancing by myself in the shade :)

https://open.spotify.com/track/15QtWl5i8h5d8E0KIDvRcW?si=pvK1SagGT_Wf0dCbU0XveQ
I know f all about this genre but this track makes me smile

So, there's no dedicated swamp pop thread on ILM, and barely a mention of my new favorite singer: Jimmy Donley. I stumbled into him because Bill Kirchen (one of my favorite guitarists and performers) covered a song on a Black Top Records Christmas compilation called "Santa! Don't Pass Me By." I loved it so much my band learned it for a Christmas party, and research on the original record let me to Donley.

Holy smokes what a voice, somewhere between Fats Domino, Freddy Fender, and Charlie Rich. And what a tragic life story: Married six times, prone to bouts of both heavy drinking and domestic violence, committed suicide at 33 by asphyxiating himself with his car's exhaust fumes.

Kirchen covers "Think it Over" as well, and I currently think it's the best song ever:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FmANhYiPQU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HseZ53q7M8E

Here’s another swamp pop group

http://www.aaronforet.net/calendar/December2019.html

Aaron Foret Band

Watching Lil Nate (son of Nathan Williams ) livestream right now from Lafayette on his youtube channel Little Nathan's tv

oh no sound just went out. Was gonna contribute to their cash app

lil' Nathan's tv

Saw Steve Riley do some Cajun shows on Facebook from his home . Also saw Jay and the Zydeco Backwood Boyz who mix zydeco w/ modern r’n’b

https://www.kqed.org/arts/13883253/if-cities-could-dance-houston-zydeco

Great video on Afro-creole zydeco dancing in Houston

Been digging into the whole Louis Michot universe (mentioned upthread several places). The Lost Bayou Ramblers are a lot of fun. I also really like this, from earlier this year — https://soulcreole.bandcamp.com/album/trois-rangs-single-dub-mix. Ethereal cod-reggae zydeco? The dub version is pretty cool too.

And this document from Michot's residency at The Stone is quite a thing. Hard to describe. 45 minutes of improv Cajun drone and tin whistles (courtesy of Spider Stacy) with song bits mixed in: https://lesdouze.bandcamp.com/.

Oops, meant to link directly to this one: https://lesdouze.bandcamp.com/album/the-stoned

Although the second disc is good too.

Will check that out, thanks. Just saw this sad news about 4 Senior Cajun musicians dying of Covid, and other Creole and Cajun musicians struggling financially

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/28/938574647/covid-19-hits-hard-for-south-louisianas-cajun-musicians

Cajun & zydeco Sunday afternoon radio show hosts fave albums of 2020

Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours. "Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours." Self-released. (Grammy nominee)

Daiquiri Queens. "Daiquiri Queens." Self-released. Features New Orleans’ own John Dowden on accordion and fiddle.

Feufollet: Prends Courage: A 20 Year Retrospective (Feufollet Records)

Lost Bayou Ramblers: On Va Continuer! (DVD & CD) (Worklight Records)

Michot's Melody Makers. "Cosmic Cajuns from Saturn." Nouveau Electric Records NER 1012, 2020.

Sweet Cecilia. "A Tribute to Al Berard." Self-released. (Grammy nominee

Part of the list from another WWOZ DJ:

Michot’s Melody Makers "Cosmic Cajuns from Saturn"
Soul Creole (45) a.) Trois Rangs (Three Rings) b.) Trois Rangs dub
L.E.S. Douze (2. Le String Noise) Recordings from Louis Michot’s residency at The Stone in NYC’s Lower East Side
Lost Bayou Ramblers "Asteur"
Goldman Thibodeaux & The Lawtell Playboys "La Danse A St. Anns"
Daiquiri Queens "Dauquiri Queens"
Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band "Live from Mamou Volume 1") digital release only
R. Scully "New Confusion"
Static Static "The Future As Dark"
Lakou Mizik "HaitiaNola"
79’rs Gang "Expect the Unexpected

Good article by Joe Nick Patoski on South Texas Cajun and Creole culture
https://texashighways.com/culture/people/cajun-culture-flourishes-texas-golden-triangle/?fbclid=IwAR3eQWO-Nyzf56EVZ0NM3f8MXpCMd_mhpAfqxv4YqUEzWqU6aZEZpSJs-EQ

How are Feufollet 20 years old? I remember seeing them as little kids. I still need to check out Sweet Cecelia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRRW3aine6Y

Lots of Houston zydeco acts are on Instagram

I have to catch up on some of the above

Plus some from this Offbeat magazine list. I am not always into some of the stuff they like ( bar band blues-rock and lame corporate rock) but there’s often a few good choices

https://www.offbeat.com/articles/the-50-best-albums-of-2020-in-louisiana-music/

Great films about James Booker, Mardi Gras Indians, jazz parades, the Rebirth Brass Band ; plus rare showing of "Promised Land: A Swamp Pop Journey," a portrait of Lil' Band o' Gold on Tipitina's TV today Sat 2-13, Feb 14 & Mardi Gras

on their own page and their Youtube page

https://tipitinas.tv/?fbclid=IwAR2dOL9iM-suPRrWwt_QYd-P7QFRYFj5za0k-5i33pjM70NSPGOsCJG90pM

Sat, Feb 13, 2021 Streaming Schedule (All times in Central Standard Time):
10am / Bury The Hatchet
11:27am / Donald Harrison
11:30am / Bayou Maharajah (James Booker)
1:08pm / Henry Butler (2001)
1:30pm / American Patchwork: Jazz Parades (“Feet Don’t Fail Me Now”)
2:28pm / Tipitina’s TV Exclusive
2:30pm / The Promised Land: A Swamp Pop Journey
3:47pm / Bruce Daigrepont (2004)
4pm / Never A Dull Moment: 20 Years of the Rebirth Brass Band
5:30pm / Dr. John (2004)
6pm / Bury The Hatchet
7:27pm / Donald Harrison
7:30pm / Bayou Maharajah (James Booker)
9:08pm / Henry Butler (2001)
9:30pm / American Patchwork: Jazz Parades (“Feet Don’t Fail Me Now”)
10:28pm / Tipitina’s TV Exclusive
10:30pm / The Promised Land: A Swamp Pop Journey
11:47pm / Bruce Daigrepont (2004)
12am / Never A Dull Moment: 20 Years of the Rebirth Brass Band
1:30am / Dr. John (2004)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwflNeY0HPM...

This swamp doc on Lil Band of Gold showing now is awesome.

Cajun musician and author Ann Savoy's new book re history of Cajun music volume ii is out. I don't think I ever read volume 1, but have seen Savoy sing and read some of her writing and seen her in docs, so I am sure both volumes are worthy.

As it happened, the stay-at-home constraints of the pandemic kept Ann off the road last year and she was finally able to realize the vision herself.

Bluebird Press will publish Cajun Music A Reflection of a People Volume II on February 17. Like its predecessor, the new book is lushly illustrated with historic and recent photographs, transcriptions of thirty-five English and Cajun French interviews and biographies and more than 100 songs with French translations and phonetics and musical notation.

The book is not only a reference resource but also is, itself, a repository of cultural artifacts that document an idiosyncratic music and way of life focusing on such artists as Boozoo Chavis, Happy Fats, Harry Choates, Nathan Abshire, Octa Clark, Chester “Pee Wee” Broussard, Wilfred Latour, and many others from the entire spectrum of Cajun and Zydeco music. As an adjunct to the books, the Arhoolie Foundation’s website will host the Ann Savoy Collection, an aggregation of audio assets, almost 200 interviews that are part of the books, as well as interviews with Cajun, Creole and zydeco artists that were conducted over the past 60 years by Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz.

https://www.americanbluesscene.com/second-volume-of-ann-savoys-cajun-music-a-reflection-of-a-people-out-next-month/

Ann Savoy and Louis Michot on Out To Lunch!

podcast.We had a fun time doing the show plus got a free lunch from French Press, one of my top favorite restaurants.

You can also hear the show any time and see photos from the show here: https://link.chtbl.com/Vj_kXlwb If this link takes you to our podcast platform, which it can if you’re on a mobile device, and you want to go to our website, the direct link is https://itsacadiana.com/show/out-to-lunch/

Korey Broussard, young zydeco musician whose uncle had/has a band, is often doing Instagram lives

https://www.theadvocate.com/acadiana/news/article_d09c4722-1053-11ec-a31d-c7bc38709d20.html

RIP The great Louisiana swamp pop, Cajun, & rock and roll singer drummer Warren Storm at 84. On ballads could sound a bit like Roy Orbison. I saw him in New Orleans when he played with Lil Band of Gold. Was healthy and gigging on occasion there until August when he got sick and was hospitalized.

Regrettably, I am announcing that Lagniappe Productions is suspending all operations immediately. As a result, the 24th Annual Rhythm & Roots Music, Dance and Food Festival scheduled for Labor Day weekend 2022 is cancelled.

I have not come to this decision lightly. After consulting with my doctors and my family, we’ve decided that I should step away from festival production for health issues that have taken their toll for the past 12 years. Most recently, a major medical event hospitalized me for two days during the last Rhythm & Roots festival. You can imagine the frustration and disappointment that I experienced missing the festival that I planned for two years. The consensus of all involved is that I must step away from festival production immediately....

I wonder if someone else will pick up the slack and do a Northeast fest.

I am following on Instagram various zydeco acts and they’re back gigging In Louisiana and Texas ( especially in Houston area)

**June 9 -12 Strawberry Park Blast From The Bayou
@Strawberry Park, 42 Pierce Rd., Preston, CT 06365
Steve Riley & Mamou Playboys, Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie,
Jesse Lege’ & Bayou Brew, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble,
Pineleaf Boys, Jeffery Broussard & the Zydeco Cowboys,
Lil’ Wayne & Same Ole Two Step,
Rusty Meter & Zydeco Krush
Dennis Strouggmatt & Honky Tonk Dance Band
Plus more bands, too many to list
FFIC: http:www.strawberrypark.net
860 886 1944 for Reservations