Cajun and zydeco music is not just for old people

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)

ace records has been putting out a seemingly never-ending string of swamp-pop and louisiana R&B compilations that are all pretty smokin'

Old school swamp pop singer and drummer Warren Storm used to drum and sing for Steve Riley & CC Adcock's side-project swamp pop and rock group Lil Band of Gold. Saw them live twice and they were awesome.

Baton Rouge or New Orleans based Stephanie McDee did this song a few years back and it was more recently covered by Neneh Cherry and the Thing (the jazz group she worked with for awhile)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ayo2iTVpOI

Quintron & Ms Pussyvcat also covered that song, plus Keith Frank's "Haterz"

http://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2015/03/30/feufollet-capably-mixes-alt-country-and-cajun-music

Feofollet have changed singers and their sound a bit. They're getting good reviews. I haven't heard it yet, and missed their most recent show in town

Feufollet

The Annual Easter Zydeco, Trail Ride, and Rodeo Weekend is April 3rd, 4th and 5th the Trinity Valley Exposition Fairgrounds, FM 563 in Liberty.

Gates open 12 noon Fri., April 3. Lil’ Nate & The Zydeco Big Timers will perform 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Friday evening.

Sat., April 4, Calf Roping begins at 9 a.m. Gospel singing by Chester Baldwin starts at 10 a.m. The trailride is at 2 p.m.

Leon Chavis & The Zydeco Flames will perform 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Saturday evening.

The Easter Rodeo is Sun., April 5. Sunday evening’s entertainment is Brian Jack & The Zydeco Gamblers from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

http://www.thevindicator.com/history/article_557196ca-d8af-11e4-bb85-3b3f6754cb18.html

Liberty is a Texas town in the Houston area

Turner Classic Movies cable channel(TCM) is showing a bunch of Les Blank movie docs tonight Tuesday the 28th through the wee hours of Wednesday morning. They are starting at 8 EST with

8 pm Les Blank 1 hour doc Always for Pleasure from 1978 New Orleans that includes Professor Longhair, Irma Thomas , the Wild Tchoupitoulas and more;

Later there will be docs about Creole and Cajun culture and cooking plus a post-midnight showing of a doc about zydeco legend Clifton Chenier

TCM website has the listings

You are fucking kidding me? I canceled cable not four days ago and I've been wanting to see these for years. I was going to buy the Les Blank Blu-Ray set, which includes "Always for Pleasure," but I was hoping for the price to come down. I would have DVR'd all of these. Fuck me.

I was up way too late and saw a little of the Clifton Chenier Hot Pepper one. It had some great footage of him onstage; and also playing on a front porch with his cousin. I got my dad to dvr some of 'em for me.

There's an interesting Christgau commentary on Les Blank from back in 1979 I think (someone just tweeted it). Will add it here later

http://www.tcm.com/watchtcm/movies/

The Les Blank movies are available on TCM on Demand until August 5th

http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/misc/blank-79.php

Christgau re Les Blank

The Les Blank movies are available on TCM on Demand until August 5th

I still need a cable provider to watch TCM on demand, and all I’ve got is Apple TV. Think I’m just going to shell out $65 for the Blu-Ray box set. The more I read about these films, the more they’ve got me salivating.

And I did. Package is expected to arrive tomorrow.

I watched some of the 1978 one about New Orleans on my 'puter, as I pay too much for cable.

http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150823/ENTERTAINMENTLIFE/150829859#

Rhythm and Roots fest in Rhode Island organizer struggles a bit, but he's got zydeco and more this year

My wife and I will be there Saturday. Always our favorite day of the year. However, I heard they were getting rid of the main stage dance tent this year, which sucks if true.

I know some zydeco dancing folks from my part of the US who are traveling up there for the fest. I am not gonna make it.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/10/15/sonnier-responds-tragedies-healin-song/73923682/

Sonnier unveiled “The Healin’ Song” and its all-star lineup of musicians at a press conference Wednesday at the Community Foundation of Acadiana. Sonnier and organizers hope the song and video move listeners to donate to the Healin’ Song Fund, an account with funds that the CFA will administer to community needs on an as-needed basis.

Sonnier called on Cajun and zydeco musicians who account for nearly 40 Grammy nominations and 10 Grammy wins to sing or play on the project. Wayne Toups, Steve Riley, Chubby Carrier, Buckwheat Zydeco, Yvette Landry, Roddie Romero, Eric Adcock, Michael Doucet and Sonny Landreth were among the participants

been watching a bunch of les blank docs and it's making me think i need more cajun/zydeco music in my life. also more cajun food.

Those Les Blank docs will do that. I am not enough of a foodie to know which is Cajun food and which is Creole food...

Just me being pedantic re Cajun being country (French Acadian-Louisiana), and zydeco being Creole (afro-Louisiana but also a bit French Acadian)...

I take Xgau's point about Blank, but I love his stuff because I'm more of a rank sentimentalist/folkie

This looks great but a roadtrip is not in the cards for me this weekend

WXPN's Zydeco Crossroads Weekend
in Philadelphia October 23 & 24

Details here:
http://tickets.worldcafelive.com/event/934713

Featuring:
Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band
Rosie Ledet
Ruben Moreno
Corey Ledet and His Zydeco Band
Wayne Singleton & Same Ol' 2 Step

and the premiere of Robert Mugge's film
Zydeco Crossroads: A Tale of Two Cities

I think director Mugge has been influenced by Blank. I have seen and danced to Keith and Rosie, but not the others, although I have heard good things from them all.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/12/07/revelers-feeling-really-cool-grammy-nomination/76934820/

Cajun band from Louisiana with former members of the Red Stick Ramblers

Watched a bunch of zydeco dancing YouTube videos yesterday. Looks fun

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e3pjfeOj9HE

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

It is although some folks try a little too hard to be all fancy with too many spins and such. It takes a lot of practice too.

And some folks who get really good at couples zydeco dancing, sneer at those who are not so good. Or maybe that's just me being paranoid...

Sad news. I always wanted to go there and now its closing

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/entertainment/music/2016/01/17/after-69-years-slims-ki-ki-closing/78942360/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

January 17, 2016

After 69 years, Slim's Y-Ki-Ki closing

Herman Fuselier

Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki, a zydeco dancehall in Opelousas since 1947, has closed its doors. Owner Tony Gradney confirmed Sunday that the club is no longer in business and held its last event Dec. 29. The world-renowned dancehall will likely be appraised soon and put up for sale. As word of the club’s closure spread last week, Gradney has had at least six people inquire about buying it.

But Gradney, 58, said he’s had enough. Since they were teenagers, Tony and his sister, Cynthia, 67, have worked in the club, opened by their late father, Arnold “Slim” Gradney. Grammy winners, like Clifton Chenier, Rockin’ Sidney and Terrance Simien, cut their musical teeth at Slim’s. Clifton Chenier, the late King of Zydeco, are among the Grammy winners who have performed at Slim's Y-Ki-Kin in Opelousas.

Media outlets across the globe have visited the club. “Passion Fish,” a 1992, Oscar-nominated movie starring Mary McDonnell and Alfre Woodard, features a frenetic dance scene with John Delafose and the Eunice Playboys on stage at Slim’s. But Gradney said, in recent years, the atmosphere has changed. Ever-increasing expenses, along with young, often unruly crowds, caused him to close the doors. “It’s a lot of changes with the crowd that’s coming out now,” said Gradney, who works as a pipeline welder. “My sister is at the age where she couldn’t handle it anymore. We decided, after 43 years, it was time for a break.

“It’s a younger crowd and a lot of disrespect. They’ll take off their shirt and want to dance with no shirt. It’s not like it used to be with the older people. People would just come out and have a good time. You’re under four hours of nothing but stress now.” Gradney said band fees have only elevated the stress level. Top zydeco bands have charged him $3,500 or more for one performance. Gradney said there’s little money left to make a profit. “They don’t look at the overhead you have, the utilities and things like that. They tell me, ‘We’ll take the door (cover charge.) They’ll start off charging at $10, then $15 and $20. By midnight, they’ll have a packed house.

“They’ll put the money in their pockets and go home. Then you have all the stress of what the night crowd destroyed and what you have to fix. It got to where we weren’t hardly making any more money.” Gradney longs for the days when parents, often dressed in their Sunday best, brought the entire family to Slim’s. Besides the legendary musicians, he recalls numerous couples who married after meeting at the club. Gradney said he’ll miss the good times and cherish the old memories. But recent memories haven’t been pleasant.

“Things changed when the older crowd stopped coming out. Before you used to be able to kick back, enjoy it and let the night go on. “Now, you have to be on your Ps and Qs at all times. The things they do now are very disrespectful. "We said, 'Let’s close and have good remembrances.' My sister and I did 43 years of this for the public and we never had bad, bad stuff at the place. We need to go out with it like that. Back in the day, it was a nice place to come out and enjoy yourself.”

So the late Houston, Texas music scholar Mack McCormick helped Chris Strachwitz of Arhoolie find Lightnin Hopkins who introduced them to the live zydeco music of CJ Chenier, way back when. Of course.

https://books.google.com/books?id=30-bCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA201&lpg=PA201&dq=houston+zydeco+mack+mccormick&source=bl&ots=_bexZC2lep&sig=VA2YWhU2nNmjw3Xs9zkOhDY5jHI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9za6G8bjKAhVN7mMKHSZmAqMQ6AEIPDAF#v=onepage&q=houston%20zydeco%20mack%20mccormick&f=false

I am really liking this Revelers album "Get Ready." It was Grammy nominated but lost. The Revelers are a rockin Cajun band who also do swamp pop, made up of members from the Pine Leaf Boys and the red Stick Ramblers. They have horns and an accordion. They are coming to the DC area March 11th and 12th

Well, some of the album is not all that. The songs with the country-swing influence from the Red Stick Ramblers. Their swamp pop is good but not quite at the Lil Band of Gold level

i enjoyed lil nathan & the zydeco big timers' 2015 record face 2 face, good mix of covers and originals. definitely in the modern digital zydeco style that i know some find offputting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSna6r2cJZc