Cajun and zydeco music is not just for old people

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

Swamp Pop Legend Tommy McLain has a new all-star backed record coming out in August, and also will be touring with Nick Lowe this summer.

https://yeproc.11spot.com/tommy-mclain-i-ran-down-every-dream.html

I Ran Down Every Dream is the first album in over four decades by swamp pop legend Tommy McLain. Produced by his musical protege C.C. Adcock, I Ran Down Every Dream was recorded in Louisiana, Texas, California, and England, with a similarly disparate group of friends and fans, including Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe (both of whom contribute co-writes), plus Jon Cleary, Denny Freeman, Ed Harcourt, Roy Lowe, Augie Meyers, Ivan Neville, Van Dyke Parks, Mickey Raphael, Steve Riley, Speedy Sparks, Warren Storm and more.

As an album, I Ran Down Every Dream is both a celebration and a requiem. It bookends a career that has seen Tommy scale the upper reaches of the Billboard charts, share the stage with the likes of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, The Yardbirds and ZZ Top, and become a global ambassador for the swamp pop sound - that singularly affecting combination of rhythm and blues, country and western, gospel, and traditional French Louisiana styles. The album also looks back, with more than a little heartache, in tribute to some of the fellow musical travelers that McLain has lost. Two tracks on the album were written by McLain’s dear friend and Louisiana music royalty Bobby Charles, and it also marks the final sessions for two legendary musicians who died in 2021; Texas guitar slinger Denny Freeman, and Tommy’s close collaborator Warren Storm. For McLain himself, the years-long road to I Ran Down Every Dream was beset by a heart attack, two hurricanes and a house fire. With every obstacle he overcame, McLain's resolve to complete I Ran Down Every Dream grew stronger.

oooo, that sounds like it will be good. Swamp pop is good stuff

Friend and archivist Michael Klausman dug into the demos sent to cajun label Goldband Records, now housed at UNC-Chapel Hill. Most were unlabeled, and many were utter shit, but after listening to most of them, he whittled down a selection of 30 tracks for our listening pleasure. Some very weird and also very cool stuff here.

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/cdcf39a6b68dd876a5940ada55dd835620220808160758/be740f?src=dnl

Missed the above, and the we transfer of Goldband 30 tracks has expired

https://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/20245/
UNC has this link but I wonder if I can access the music that way

Saw Lafayette, Louisiana band the Revelers for free today in DC. Real nice set of swamp pop, Cajun waltzes, and fast-tempoed Cajun and zydeco songs. Plus a cover of "I got Loaded" that I know from Los Lobos but haven't looked up who wrote it

The original is by Lil' Bob & The Lollipops

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNOlcNAmcz4

It's a serious Gulf Coast Standard. Somebody's probably dancing to it in a bar/dancehall right now.

I guess this is as good a place as any to mention that writer John Nova Lomax (poster 'novamax' upthread) needs help: https://www.gofundme.com/f/john-nova-lomaxs-road-to-recovery

Thanks for both of those posts.

Nova Lomax has done some great writing about Houston area zydeco and old school r’n’b over the years.

Tommy McLain was on JAMES CORDEN last night...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26qB_zTRzKs

oh nice. A good album.

http://bayoutechedispatches.blogspot.com/2022/05/state-of-genre-swamp-pop-in-21st-century.html

Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas and Sean Ardoin are both nominated for Best Regional Roots Music Album n Grammys

https://www.nola.com/gambit/music/with-new-solo-music-louis-michot-plays-weekly-residency-at-maple-leaf-in-january/article_90b685ca-82fb-11ed-98a9-5fdea198a1ac.html

Louis Michot from Lost Bayou Ramblers has a solo album in the works with some experimental aspects ( mixing in Alan Lomax items) and a series of shows in New Orleans with some collaborations. Looks cool to me

https://wherewegotozydeco.com/

This site lists upcoming live zydeco and Cajun shows in DC, Md, Va , PA, NY & sometimes New England states

Steve Riley is giving zoom Cajun accordion lessons. He and a band are also touring the northeast

From his Dad's Go-Fund Me for him: John Nova Lomax is in his last days with liver and kidney failure, an infection, bleeding ulcers and lesser issues, all of which came to a head today (Monday 5.8)

He wrote some great articles about Houston zydeco

Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz died a few days ago as well. Been listening to some of Clifton Chenier's classic records from his label.

I listened to some Clifton Chenier on YouTube as I couldn’t find his Black Snake Arhoolie album on Spotify, and I only own a few Arhoolie releases on vinyl.

FWIW, I always thought this was a solid "best of" that Strachwitz put together. This and Bayou Blues (from Specialty) make a pretty great intro to Chenier.

https://www.discogs.com/master/730702-Clifton-Chenier-60-Minutes-With-The-King-Of-Zydeco

Thanks. Will check those out. I am still interested in some current zydeco too-

I wish some of these 2023 Houston zydeco bands would come to the east coast. I haven't researched what they have available for purchase or stream yet.

Looking for a great time in Houston? The upcoming Houston Zydeco Fest will be fun! Dancing, Food and more! See You There! 💥 #Houstontx @Eventbrite #EmancipationPark @epconservancy pic.twitter.com/hGeVheyfWB

— LaVerne St.Mary NMLS #113731 Equal Housing Lender (@MortgageLaVerne) April 28, 2023

Lawrence "Black" Ardoin, patriarch of family of Creole and zydeco music has died. He played music & was son of Creole music legend Bois Sec Ardoin, & the father of musicians Sean Ardoin, Chris Ardoin and uncle to Ernest Ardoin and Gus Ardoin

https://www.katc.com/news/around-acadiana/lawrence-black-ardoin-creole-music-patriarch-has-died

Lawrence Black Ardoin died in December 2022.

RIP writer John Nova Lomax at 53 who wrote about Houston , Texas culture including music like zydeco, hiphop and more

"Whether covering crime or culture, streets or songs, Lomax overturned all stones."

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/lifestyle/article/john-nova-lomax-writer-houston-texas-dies-18088579.php?utm_source=marketing&utm_medium=copy-url-link&utm_campaign=article-share&hash=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaG91c3RvbmNocm9uaWNsZS5jb20vbGlmZXN0eWxlL2FydGljbGUvam9obi1ub3ZhLWxvbWF4LXdyaXRlci1ob3VzdG9uLXRleGFzLWRpZXMtMTgwODg1NzkucGhw&time=MTY4NDc4ODIwOTczNw==&rid=YzVkMmE5M2QtNGU1Yy00ZmI4LWI0YzEtMjBjMjFjZGUyMTNm&sharecount=MQ==

Every Grammy Awards nominee for best Regional Roots Album is from Louisiana:

New Beginnings
Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band

Live At The 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers

Live: Orpheum Theater Nola
Lost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

Made In New Orleans
New Breed Brass Band

Too Much To Hold
New Orleans Nightcrawlers

Live At The Maple Leaf
The Rumble Featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/16/travel/things-to-do-cajun-country-acadiana.html

No mention of zydeco club El-Sido's

RIP Jo-El Sonnier Louisiana Cajun and country musician from what sounds like a heart attack

https://kpel965.com/louisiana-cajun-country-music-artist-jo-el-sonnier-dead/