The Gumbo Pot - October 1999
Darrel Toepfer
Well, Fall is now upon us. The weather's starting to change, temperatures
are getting cooler and fall festivals are plenty. From now on until
Christmas, every weekend will be filled with the strains of music
Louisiana calls its own-blues, jazz, Cajun and Zydeco. And food! Who can
touch our sizzling reputation in this department? Sample hot sausage
po-boys, shrimp broulettes, chicken fricasse and a whole lot more.
October 1-3 is St. Augustine's Fall Festival & Bazaar on the St. Augustine
Catholic Church grounds in New Roads. Bingo, fish pond & duck catching,
dunk tank, color wheel, face painting, basketball, space walk, dart games,
children's dance and much more. Traditional festival foods such as fried
fish, sausage jambalaya, red beans & rice and gumbo to name a few items.
Admission for dance contest is only $2 per person. For info call
(504)638-7553.
The same weekend in Abbeville on Concord St. is the Louisiana Cattle
Festival. Livestock show, barbeque cookoff, pageants, parade, food booths,
fais do-do, street fair, martial arts demonstration, dance teams.
Admission for pageants only. Scheduled to perform is Patrick Henry and The
Liberation Band, Richard LeBouef and Two Step, Kip Sonnier and Hurricane
plus others. This festival was established in 1949. For a complete
schedule of
activities call (318)893-6328.
Roberts Cove Germanfest is October 2nd and 3rd in Roberts Cove. This
family oriented festival on the grounds of St. Leo's Catholic Church on
Hwy. 98 offers plenty of live entertainment (German singing and dancing,
of course) and German foods. Lots of children's activities, folklore
presentations and humorists. Hours are Saturday 10AM-9:30PM, Sunday
9AM-6PM. German costumes are welcome. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for
children 15 and under. For more info call (318)334-8354 or check out
http://members.aol.com/germanfest
Down the road in Mamou on October 2-3 is the Mamou Zydeco & Blues
Festival.
Down-home blues and zydeco music from local artists. Turtle and alligator
are some of the creole dishes served. Fun for the whole family! French
signage will be available. For a band schedule or information call
(318)468-2370.
On the weekends of October 2-3 & 9-10 is the Swamp Festival in New
Orleans. Held at the Audubon Zoo and Woldenberg Riverfront Park, this
exciting festival features Cajun food, music and crafts in a four-day
salute to Louisiana's bayou country. Three music stages with the finest in
Cajun and Zydeco sounds from Louisiana artists, including Beausoleil,
Evangeline, Hunter Hayes, Hadley J. Castille, Balfa Toujours, Waylon
Thibodeaux,
Chubby Carrier, Hackberry Ramblers, Savoy Doucet Cajun Band, Magnolia
Sisters,
Sean Ardoin & ZydeKool, Geno Delafose, Les Freres Michot, T-Mamou, C.J.
Chenier, Terrance Simien, LaTouche, Zydeco Joe, Bruce Daigrepont, Boozoo
Chavis,
Rockin' Dopsie Jr. and more. Authentic Cajun cuisine including fried
alligator, boudin, cochon de lait, catfish po-boys, fried okra and
cracklins. Arts & crafts including mud paintings, watercolor, fish print
rubbings, woven cypress baskets, doll making demonstrations, animal
feedings & encounters, gift shop, dance hall. For info and a complete
schedule phone (504)861-2537 ext. 366 or 1-800-774-7394 or visit
http://www.auduboninstitute.org
KBON's Paul Marx will relinquish his crown as King Cotton the weekend of
October 6th thru the 10th in Ville Platte. The festivities begin Thursday
evening with music by Don Fontenot and Les Amis de la Louisiane. The
Cotton Queen is crowned Saturday followed by a harvest Mass Sunday morning
and a parade in the afternoon. Le Tournoi de la Ville Platte is also on
Sunday. Originally begun in the 1800's and then revived in 1952, the
Tournoi (French for tournament) draws on the ancient tradition of
jousting. Riders on
horseback carry lances, which they use to try to collect seven small iron
rings located around a quarter-mile circular track at Ville Platte's
Industrial Park. Authentic Acadian-French music, traditional street dance,
carnival, great food and more. French language signage and music. For info
call (318)363-2193.
Also held from October 6-10 is the Jefferson Davis Parish Fair in
Jennings. Annual celebration at the fairgrounds with pageant, talent show,
rides, parade and food booths. Call (318)824-1773 for more information.
The 2nd Annual International Music & Cultural Festival is October 8-10 in
downtown Lake Charles. Call 1-800-456-7952 for details or visit their
website at http://www.visitlakecharles.org
October 14-16 is the International Rice Festival in downtown Crowley. Here
is the rice capital of the world, according to the folks in Crowley. Join
them for rice-eating and cooking contests, rice threshing demonstrations,
carnival, parades, food and much more. Live music featuring Lafayette's
Bayou Boys, Richard LeBouef, Spank The Monkey, Nik L Beer, Karlo
Broussard, Kip Sonnier, Thomas "Big Hat" Fields, Danny Collet, Kevin
Naquin & The Ossun Playboys, Lee Benoit, Ferral Manuel and more. Free. For
a schedule phone
(318)783-3067.
On October 15-17, top performers and actors like Clarence "Gatemouth"
Brown, Buddy Guy, Tab Benoit, Evel & Robbie Knievel, Dan Haggarty, Lorenzo
Lamas and many more are expected to be in New Orleans commemorating the
1969 film Easy Rider, during The Big Easy Ride Festival. The three day
festival will include a Friday night concert at the House of Blues, a
party on Saturday at Ormond Plantation, a Sunday morning charity ride
along the Mississippi by thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts, followed by
an all-day festival of music, motorcycles, Cajun food and more. For ticket
information call
(504)566-7433 or visit http://www.thebigeasyride.org
Jennings comes alive October 15-20 for Jennings Alive. Cajun heritage
demonstrations, food, music and live entertainment on Jennings' historic
Main Street. For info call (318)821-5500.
October 16th and 17th is Jeff Fest at Lafreniere Park in Metairie. This
years lineup of music will include more than 30 of the most exciting bands
from the classic rock, blues and zydeco genres featuring Clarence
"Frogman" Henry, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets featuring Sam Myers, War,
Eddie Money, Kim Carson, Rockin' Dopsie Jr., Irma Thomas, Little River
Band, Three Dog Night and more. Kids will enjoy visiting booths based on
safety, creativity, shows and learning. Savory food selections at this
community-oriented festival. For all the scoop call (504)888-2900 or visit
http://www.jfest.com
Loads of fun can be had October 16th and 17th in Kaplan for the Vermilion
Fair & Festival. This event features a livestock show open to all
school-age children, a rodeo and plenty of good Cajun food. Call
(318)643-2400 for more information.
Things get really hot October 17th at the Pepper Festival in St.
Martinville. This festival features a pepper-eating contest and
pepper-cooking demonstrations. Also scheduled are a 5K run, 1-mile fun
run, children's activities, arts & crafts, live music and a motorcycle
poker run. Featured bands this year are Nik L Beer and the appropriately
named Corey
& The Hot Peppers. Admission is only $1 and proceeds benefit the foster
children of St. Martin Parish. For all the hot'n'spicy info call
(318)394-5264.
The weekend of October 22-24 is October Fete at Maltrait Memorial Catholic
School on Hebert St. in Kaplan. This fundraiser for Holy Rosary Church
features live music and entertainment, Cajun food, boutique, bingo and
carnival rides. Grand raffle with first prize of $1,000. To purchase a
raffle ticket or if you need more information call (318)643-6472.
October 27-31 is the Louisiana Yambilee Festival in Opelousas. One of the
state's oldest festivals, this year's Yambilee celebrates its 54th year
with a pageant, carnival, crop exhibits, various concerts, arts & crafts
show, flower show, the traditional sweet potato auction, Cajun & Zydeco
music and more! Various events and times. The Grand Louisyam Parade begins
at 12PM on the 31st on Landry St. and travels west to the Yambilee
Building. The festivities are held on the grounds of the Yambilee
Building. Free, but
parking is $3 per vehicle. Call 1-800-210-5298 for details.
The Miss Louisiana USA Pageant/Miss Louisiana Teen USA Pageant 2000 will
be held at the Heymann Performing Arts Center on October 29th and 30th.
For ticket information call (318)291-5540. Visit their website at
http://www.misslouisianausa.com
The Lafayette Natural History Museum presents Bach Lunch every Friday in
October. Bach Lunch is a free lunch-hour concert series featuring
different musicians performing from noon until 1PM. Area restaurants
provide a limited number of lunches that may be purchased for $5 on a
first-come, first-serve basis (beginning around 11:45AM). Bach Lunch is a
free event. Performing this month is Steve Cohen Blues Band on October
1st, USL Steel Drums-Pangea on October 8th, Kevin Danzig on October 15th,
Modern Jazz Movement on October 22nd and Les Freres Michot on October
29th. For more information, call the Museum at (318)291-5544. Grab a
blanket or lawn chair and join
the crowd for a toe-tappin' taste-temptin' good time.
Also, every Friday is Downtown Alive! in downtown Lafayette. This free
concert series is held Fridays from 5:30PM-8:00PM. This month you can
dance to the sounds of Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band on October
1st, Krossfyre on October 8th, True Man Posse on October 15th, Cookin'
Alive! is October 22nd with Lil' Band O' Gold featuring Warren Storm, C.C.
Adcock, Steve Riley and the St. Martin Horns and The Hubcats perform on
October 29th.
Visit downtown Eunice every Saturday for Rendez-Vous des Cajuns which is
held at the Liberty Theater from 6-8PM. Also scheduled every Saturday next
door to the Liberty Theater at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center is a
music program at 3PM, followed by a cooking demonstration at 4PM.
Performing this month at the Liberty Theater is Cory McCauley & The
Evangeline Aces, Junior Melancon & The Comedown Playboys on October 2nd.
October 9th is Kenneth Thibodeaux & Cajun Dance along with Jesse Belleau &
Cajun Melody. October 16th is Blackie Fruge & The Hicks Wagon Wheel
Ramblers and The Creole Zydeco Farmers. October 23rd is Jackie Callier,
Ivy Dugas & The Cajun
Cousins and Woody Daigle & The Cajun Five Band. On October 30th is The
Cajun
Tradition Band, Peppy Carmello & Friends and Beau Thomas & Jaime Berzas.
Some great CD's hit the stores this month. KBON's Paul Marx unveiled a new
record label. The Louisiana Proud Record label made its debut with two new
releases. Elton, Louisiana-based 190 Express debuts with "Back To
Basics"(LOUISIANA PROUD RECORDS LP-0001). If you love bluegrass, gospel
and old time country music, this album is for you. And if you love
Swamp-Pop, "Louisiana Legends" (LOUISIANA PROUD RECORDS LP0002-2) is the
record for you. Here's fourteen new Swamp-Pop tunes sung by "Louisiana
Legends" Johnnie Allan, Warren Storm, Rod Bernard, Lil' Alfred and Willie
Tee. You get the Gumbo guarantee on this one!
Don Rich has a new disc out titled "I Want You To Know"(JIN-9063). This
disc contains fifteen songs. Don Rich was voted Male Vocalist of the year
for 1994 and 1995 by the South Louisiana Music Association, as well as
musician of the year and group of the year in 1995. In 1996, this
association gave Don the "People's Choice Award". The Don Rich Band is one
hot entertaining group of talented musicians!
"I Miss Ya'll(The Unreleased Masters)"(CLUB LOUISIANNE CDCL-2001) by John
Fred is a great collection of rare and until now, unreleased goodies from
the man known around the world for his 1968 #1 multi-million seller "Judy
In Disguise". Check it out at http://www.LouisianasMusic.com
"Pour la premiere fois"(SWALLOW SW-6159) is the new release by Kevin
Naquin
& The Ossun Playboys. This is Kevin's third recording, his second for
Swallow Records. True to their Cajun background, the Ossun Playboys
perform traditional tunes, but they also like to experiment a little in
pushing thelimits of Cajun music. A mixture of old and new is available on
this disc. You can visit them on the web at http://www.ossunplayboys.com
Swallow Records also released the debut from T-Mamou called "Cajun and
Creole Jam"(SWALLOW SW-6160). T-Mamou is Bob Reed, Al Berard, Sam
Broussard,
Keith Blanchard and Kyle Hebert. This is an unusual album of traditional
Cajun music. It highlights the deep groove at the heart of all Cajun songs
and the influence of our Creole country neighbors. It is a joyous blend of
the prairie and the bayou. This album is full of funky, sensuous dance
music.
Formerly of Chris Ardoin and Double Clutchin', brother Sean Ardoin
unleashes
ZydeKool Records with his debut "Sean Ardoin and ZydeKool"(ZYDEKOOL
ZK1911-1). This is a groovin' record that picks up where Double Clutchin'
left off. You can visit Sean Ardoin at http://www.zydekool.com
Baton Rouge Blues guitarist Troy Turner is on the comeback trail with his
latest release "Blues On My Back"(TELARC BLUES CD-83448). The performances
and songs on this recording reflect the life the artist has lived for the
last ten years. It also shows a seriousness and depth of perception often
missing from his early works. Sometimes dark and occassionally showing a
sign of hope, this record is the beginning of a great creative period in
the life of Troy Turner.
Congratulations to all of the 1999 inductees into the Louisiana Blues Hall
of Fame. This years inductees are Irma Thomas, Rudolph "Rudi" Richard, J.
Monque'D, Cornelius "Lonesome Sundown" Green, Roy B. Stewart, Roscoe
Chenier, Paul "Lil' Buck" Sinegal and Henry Roeland Byrd AKA "Professor
Longhair". If you need more information on the Louisiana Blues Hall of
Fame, contact Gary Daigle:Director at (318)478-7645 or write the Louisiana
Blues Hall of Fame, 2605 Glen Lea Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605.
Blueswoman Katie Webster, known as "The Swamp Boogie Queen", died Sunday,
September 5, 1999 of heart failure at her home in League City, Texas, at
the age of 63. Webster was acknowledged around the world as one of the
premier blues artists of her generation for her stomping, boogie-woogie
piano style and soulful singing. Katie was nominated for three W.C. Handy
Awards(the Grammy of the blues community) and she was the recipient of the
1997 Jay D. Miller Award which is given out by the Louisiana Blues Hall of
Fame.
Beau Jocque, a big man who made an even bigger impact on Zydeco music by
melding Zydeco with other musical forms, died of a heart attack Friday,
September 10, 1999 at his home in Kinder, LA. He was 45. Jocque, born
Andrus Espre, was among the leaders of the new, more energetic style of
Zydeco.
Remember, when you're visiting Cajun Country or just passing through, be
sure to tune into Acadiana's favorite radio station, "LOUISIANA PROUD"
KBON 101.1FM. You'll hear the best in Country, Cajun, Swamp Pop, Zydeco,
R'N'B, Blues and Gospel and a whole lot more, all mixed up, 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week. KBON is your variety music station with a Louisiana
Flavor. Tune it in...101.1FM. http://www.kbon.com
As always, there's plenty going on here in Cajun Country, so yall come
visit. Remember, you can always have a whole lot of fun in Acadiana. Until
next time...Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!!!
"Gumbo" Phil Daigle
--
Darrel Toepfer
Administrator
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