Cajun and zydeco music is not just for old people

http://www.cajunfrenchmusic.org/lecajun.html

Cajun (and Creole?) award nominations. Winners have not been posted yet

x-post--that video is of folks dancing to speedy Steve Riley Cajun, but I read elsewhere that such arm movements have been adapted by zydeco dancers as well

http://mysite.verizon.net/vzev7054/dancingbythebayoufalldancefestival/

Nice bill next weekend in the D.C. burbs with bands led by Rusty Metoyer, Step Rideau and Jesse Lege

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2013/10/04/shutdown-wont-put-a-damper-on-step-rideaus-zydeco-party-this-weekend/

My interview with H-town's Step Rideau

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrjKbv0-UF8

WPFW radio keeps playing 2 years later this zydeco/southern soul song "Ride it like a Cowboy (like a rodeo/back that thing up)"
by Kenne Wayne (spelling?) that has inspired a line dance

Great song

I had posted this on the chitlin circuit southern soul thread

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/03/240744661/accordions-beer-and-god-zydeco-in-gran-texas?utm_content=socialflow&utm_campaign=nprfacebook&utm_source=npr&utm_medium=facebook

I heard a great zydeco meets southern soul meets autotuned vocal song on the radio Saturday... "Zydeco swag" maybe? Not sure of the title

http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/its-a-new-day-for-rachel/134360

Wanna help zydeco musician Curley Taylor's wife beat cancer

And hope for the best re Cajun guitarist from the Basin Brothers band

Al Berard had a brain hemorrhage early this morning. Details are not known at this time.

Not happy Mardi Gras news alas

I think Al's health took a turn for the worst according to an Acadiana google group

RIP Al

http://www.theadvertiser.com/viewart/20140226/ACADIANA04/302260012/Musicians-friends-recall-Al-Berard

Only 53 years old

Some of the same zydeco acts that always come to my area, are returning around Mardi Gras; I wish there was a way to get the hip-hop inflected Houston zydeco acts that rarely tour to come up here (but unless I win the lottery and book 'em myself that likely won't happen). Need to go visit Houston

Not familiar at all with zydeco. Any songs you'd recommend for the 'younger', 'hip' crowd? I want to see if I can throw some of these at my next party.

Yes. There are zydeco cuts that add autotuned r'n'b vocals and synths to the traditional accordion, rubboard and rhythm section sound that should work.

Leon Chavis
These days, Leon and artists like Chris Ardoin, Travis Matte and others continue the tradition of innovation by incorporating elements of hip-hop and contemporary R&B, like Autotune, sampling and drum machines, while keeping the signature rubboard and accordion sounds. Keith Frank had a regional hit last year with a remix of his song “Haterz,” which featured Baton Rouge rapper Lil Boosie; Chavis and pretty much an entire generation of zydeco young bloods guest on R&B singer Cupid’s zydeco hit “Do It With Your Boots On.”

http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2012/11/new-school_zydeco_from_leon_ch.html

I found mention of more new sounding zydeco tracks on Big Daddy Nice's Southern Soul r'n'b blog. Will post 'em here later today, Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras....

x-post re death of youngish guitarist Al Berard

'http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/698055/emal/847040'

Here is the copy of the link to the campaign fund we have set up for anyone who wishes to contribute to Al's guitar project CD. This could be a great gesture in lieu or in addition to flowers for the service Saturday.
We lost an amazing man, father, husband, musician, cultural ambassador and beautiful spirit in the passing of Al Berard. Days before he passed, he finished a lifelong dream of recording a guitar album of his original music. Please help fund the production and distribution costs to help his dream come to life. Many thanks.

Contributors will get a copy of his album -- a digital download, an actual CD, or both.

Even if you're unable to contribute, please share this campaign with others. And even more true to Al's amazing spirit, continue to share the LOVE.

x-post -from Daddy B. Nice's soul blog-

Tyree Neal - "She Gone Make Me Fall In Love"

Avail Hollywood-Zydeco shuffle and "Club in da Woods"

It is with great sadness we note the passing of Kevin Carrier. In his prime he was one of the best damn bass players in all of Zydeco.

Kevin Wayne Carrier Age 40

Kevin Carrier died Sunday, April 6 from complications of Congestive Heart Failure at Opelousas General Health System.

Was a member of Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe, and was Chubby Carrier's brother I think

Sun. 4-27- Koray Broussard & Zydeco Unit from the bayou at Gypsy Sally’s in W. DC. (funky modern zydeco with some hiphop accents it appears)

Koray Broussard comes from a strong heritage of Zydeco greats—grandson of Delton Broussard and nephew of the legendary Jeffery Broussard

I bet he's doing some other east coast gigs too

Missed the DC gig, plus the various Cajun & Zydeco bands playing last weekend in Louisiana festivals...

http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Zydeco-Mexican-Connection-hits-all-the-right-notes-5460769.php

Zydeco-Mexican Connection hits all the right notes
Jesse Hamlin
Eugene Rodriguez: Connecting zydeco with the traditional music of Mexico hits all the right notes
Eugene Rodriguez was playing a gig last year in Pescadero with Los Cenzontles, the Mexican American roots band from the vital San Pablo cultural center of the same name, when the sound man told him he had to meet another rocking musician from the Richmond area, the zydeco accordionist Andre Thierry. The name vaguely rang a bell, but Rodriguez didn't know Thierry's music or much about Richmond's Louisiana Creole community and its rich music and dance tradition.

He got up to speed after checking out Thierry - major instrumental chops, soulful singing voice - and connecting with him online. Rodriguez invited the accordionist to jam with Los Cenzontles and David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, a longtime Los Cenzontles collaborator who knew that Queen Ida had been part of a lively zydeco scene in Richmond and who was eager to come play with this young Creole dude. Hidalgo and the band were bowled over by Thierry, with whom they're creating a new multimedia project called the Zydeco-Mexican Connection.

British pop singer Lily Allen listens to Louisiana swamp pop (Wish I could get Lil' Band of Gold to play my wedding. They're a great band. Robert Plant likes 'em too):

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/arts/music/lily-allen-at-home-in-england.html?ref=music

My husband is a big fan of the whole kind of Louisiana swamp pop scene, so we listened to a lot of Cajun stuff. We actually flew a band called the Lil’ Band o’ Gold over for our wedding, and they played here. There’s another guy called Tommy McLain, who did this song called “Before I Grow Too Old,” and that was our first dance.

Lil' Band of Gold are an awesome supergroup of sorts with Steve Riley and others

i have a question... does zydeco still have a lot of popular currency in louisiana/texas? i mean, i know that lots of roots-music heads etc. listen to it, but is it still played in bars and stuff? and what's the usual age of the audience?

Zydeco does still have popular currency in Southern Louisiana and in the Houston region of Texas among Afro-Creole raised residents. It's a passed down family genre that also generates youtube videos of folks dancing to hiphop-inflected, autotuned vocal zydeco songs (upthread I mention and link to some). I shamefully must admit to not having been to those portions of Louisiana and Texas myself, but heard discussions of this at last year's EMP Pop Conference in New Orleans, and I've read and heard and watched stuff myself online and in print (plus seen young zydeco bands on tour and in New Orleans). I think the audience down there may be aging a bit, but there are still young folks into it

http://www.zydecoevents.com/texaszydecoevents.html

Check out the flyers and listings

The Revelers (newish group that contains some folks from the Red Stick Ramblers and the Pine Leaf Boys) play some swamp-pop (yes!)

The Revelers add 1950s and ’60s Louisiana rock ’n’ roll and New Orleans R&B-derived swamp pop to their recordings and set lists. Currently recording the second Revelers album in Lafayette (for release next winter), the band will issue “The History of Swamp Pop, Vol. 1,” in 7-inch vinyl and digital formats in July.

http://theadvocate.com/utility/homepagestories/9084760-129/swamp-pop-supergroup-the-revelers

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/entertainment/music/2014/06/17/new-zydeco-project-heading-philly-beyond/10704687/

excerpt:

Philadelphia public radio station WXPN announced Tuesday that "Zydeco Crossroads" will present the music's past and present through a 15-month series of concerts, educational events and a new documentary film by producer Robert Mugge.

Supported by a grant from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, "Zydeco Crossroads" is a multimedia project that includes a website with field recordings, music streams, performance footage and original contributions from authors and scholars Nick Spitzer, Ben Sandmel and others.

x-post--I listened to the Revelers on Spotify and they sound great. Some nice rhythmic Cajun tunes plus catchy swamp pop ones that have an almost NRBQ at their most pop phase feel

http://www.rhythmandroots.com/ws/pages/artists.php

Lots of Northeast US zydeco dancers heading to this Labor Day weekend fest in Rhode Island with zydeco, Cajun, Tex-mex, roots and ugh--- jam bands

I'll be there Sunday. The most wonderful time of the year.
Looking forward to The Handsome Family and Charles Bradley in particular.

Chares Bradley sounds great and he and his band put on an enjoyable James Brown inspired show.

Go see the Revelers for me--Swamp pop and Cajun band I mentioned a few posts up. I have never been to the fest. It does look like it has lots to offer

This jam is some dope-smoking long-haired swamp pop from 1972 - has a bit of a Doug Sahm vibe. It's a borderline novelty song - all the youtube comments are from locals who remember loving it when they were little kids - but it's catchy as hell. It's on one of the Aquarium Drunkard Louisiana mixes too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=018Wyc36YGc

also Arhoolie's selling off their 45's at 5 bucks a pop, and saying they won't be repressing them. lots of classics here:
http://www.arhoolie.com/vinyl-lps-and-45s/45-rpm/

Cool. Thanks

thank you! this thread is great, wish I had more to add.

Wish I could fly down to Louisiana for this Thursday event and a festival that's going on through the weekend (with good music plus alligator po-boys to eat). Spitzer, Ancelet, and Sandmel are smart and entertaining, and the musicians panel should be great too (based on having heard some of them speak before)

http://www.festivalsacadiens.com/music/40th-anniversary-events.html

Thursday, October 9

Hamilton Hall Auditorium - University of Louisiana at Lafayette

9:00 - 9:45

"Themes of Cultural Conservation, Creolization and Modernization in the Work of Alan Lomax and Ralph Rinzler"
Nick Spitzer, keynote

10:00 - 11:30

"Academic and Journalistic Perspectives on Festivals Acadiens et Creoles"
Mark DeWitt (moderator), University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Barry Ancelet, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Josh Caffery, Indiana University
Nathan Salsburg, Association for Cultural Equity
Ben Sandmel, writer and folklorist
Nick Spitzer, Tulane University

11:30 - 1:30

Lunch

1:30 - 2:15

"The History of Festivals Acadiens et Créoles"
Barry Ancelet, keynote
With personal observations by Keith Cravey

2:30 - 4:00

"Musicians and Family Members Reflect on the Festival"
Pat Mould, moderator
Lawrence Ardoin
Christine Balfa
Michael Doucet
Ann Savoy
Gary Newman

http://www.festivalsacadiens.com/music/

Hmmm, the Thursday through Sunday music schedule is not opening for me right now...

http://www.arnb.org/louisiana.php?genre=cz

Plenty of listings here. Ooh, Warren Storm's gonna be at that fest, swamp-pop fans!

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/46442/lil-pookie-and-the-zydeco-sensations-at-college-park-american/

A current fave of mine. He's gonna be at the Dancing by the Bayou fest in Glen Echo, MD near DC Saturday; and in College Park, MD Sunday

It bugs me that the folks who do that American organization in Nashville and do an annual festival now (that was covered by NPR/Bob Boilen and by Ann Powers reverently) do not emphasize zydeco

Americana I mean...

KRVS is hosting two events at the Blue Moon Saloon Thursday, October 30th. From 7-10pm, we're celebrating a KRVS member-only LIVE broadcast and taping of WXPN's Zydeco Crossroads featuring Creole United with hosts David Dye of World Cafe and KRVS' own Herman Fuselier. This will be followed by an after party from 10pm-12midnight with music by Soul Creole.

Creole United is an all-star band made up of six Zydeco band leaders: Andre Thierry, Sean Ardoin, Edward Poullard, Rusty Metoyer, Jeffery Broussard and Lawrence Ardoin.

This is how they do zydeco in Houston...an upcoming January gig:

Come pass a good time with the Wolf Pack Riders and Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers! If you were there last year you know that it was bananas inside! FREE FOOD! This yr we are offering reserved tables with bottle service starting at $80!

It's Jabo, the Texas Prince of zydeco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OXEtnhGZLI

http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-03-09/how-cajuns-reinvented-rock-n-roll-swamp-style

swamp pop history lesson (leaves out some but still worth hearing)