Gloucester Cajun and Zydeco Festival
Friday 25 to Sunday 27 January 2008
UK’s Number One International Cajun and Zydeco Festival!
A Three Day Cajun and Zydeco Party!
Celebrating its 15th year the Gloucester International Cajun and Zydeco Festival promises a non stop party headlined by the new Cajun Supergroup from Louisiana, The Racines who are flying in from Lafayette for this exclusive appearance!
One of the big highlights of Gloucester's prestigious festival calendar, the International Cajun & Zydeco Festival is now firmly established as the premier event of its kind in the whole of the UK and brings a little piece of Louisiana culture right into the heart of our winter! There is quite simply no better festival in the whole of the UK for this music. It may be cold outside but inside the beautiful historic Gloucester Guildhall things are hotter than ever!
Featuring all the best bands this non stop party attracts people not just from all over the UK but regularly brings in visitors from Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Ireland and even the USA. The line up is hand picked by Chris Hall, the guy who kick started the Cajun Scene in this country almost 30 years ago and has given us such bands as R.Cajun and the Zydeco Brothers, The Bearcats, Zydecomotion and has played and recorded with the likes of Paul McCartney, Kate Bush and Bill Wyman. Needless to say you can be assured that with a line up this year that features musicians from Louisiana, France, Holland, Germany and the UK there’s no better time to join us for the best Cajun and Zydeco Party this side of the Atlantic.
Come and join us and let the good times roll to the hot sweet sounds of Cajun and Zydeco Music. Talk about a party! Read on for more details.
Chris Hall, Swampmusic
Festival updates, more news, links to artists sites on www.swampmusic.co.uk
The Racines- (USA)
Steve Riley gave it a lot of thought. If he were to form a band outside
his venerable Mamou Playboys aggregation, who of his favourite musicians
would be in it? Fortunately, the answers weren’t exactly rocket science—Feufollet
whiz kid Chris Stafford on guitar and Balfa Toujours/Red Stick Ramblers’
fiddler Kevin Wimmer. Toss in a couple of Red Stick Ramblers’ Glen
Fields behind the traps, and Eric Frey on bass, and of course Riley
himself on accordion and voila! The Cajun super group was born, a dream
team outlet of Acadiana’s best talent. To top it all off, the christened
moniker of “Racines” couldn’t be more apropos; it’s French for roots.
They are undoubtedly grounded in the Louisiana traditions that reach
back as far as history can go yet they push forward at the same time,
bringing the music new light and air. Their debut CD simply entitled
Racines gathered rave reviews and their reputation has already spread
far and wide. This exclusive appearance at Gloucester festival is their
first time in Europe. Unmissable!
The Cajun Roosters – (Germany/Holland/UK)
Winners of best European Cajun Band in 2006 and 2007, best band outside
USA in 2007 CFMA Awards (Louisiana based Cajun French Music
Association). The Cajun Roosters grew out of the ashes of The Cajun
Pioneers, a Cajun band who did much to raise the awareness of this music
in Germany during the 1990’s. Now fronted by the accordion/vocals of the
UK’s Chris Hall and joined by drummer Sam Murray the band have
reinvented themselves as The Cajun Roosters, one of most authentic
outfits outside Louisiana. Their debut album won many awards and has
helped them become probably the busiest Cajun band in Europe playing
most weekends in Germany, France, Holland, Denmark, Luxembourg, and now
at last in the UK. They play straight down the line Cajun with a side
order of Zydeco, Swamp Blues, and Louisiana Rock N Roll with passion,
intensity, spirit and a deep respect for the traditions of the past.
Petit et la Grosse – (UK)
Petite et la Grosse are a Cajun band featuring some old faces and some
new! Put together by swamp supremo Chris Hall it features Hazel Scott on
guitar and vocals (formerly with Hazel Scott Playboys) Lil Jim on Cajun
accordion (Deepzone Zydeco), Mitch Proctor on fiddle (Bearcats/ RCajun)
and Chris Hall himself on drums. Lil Jim is only 20 years old but has
already established himself as one of the brightest hopes for the future
of this music in Europe. He’s already played major festivals in Holland,
France, and Germany and of course the UK where audiences have been
amazed at his natural talent. Hazel Scott likewise has played all over
Europe and has astounded Cajun fans with her amazingly authentic vocals
and driving guitar style. The band make traditional Cajun music of high
calibre played with passion, skill and grace and specialise in some of
the less well known Cajun songs gathered from old recordings and archive
materials. Traditional Cajun music featuring the amazing accordion of
Lil Jim and awesome vocals of Hazel Scott…petite et la grosse.. the big
and the small.
Unplugged – (USA)
A chance to catch The Racines in a seated concert setting, Unplugged
and intimate. These unplugged concerts are a chance for the band to tell
a few stories, play some different stuff and generally interact with the
audience. They’ve proved to be one of the festival highlights. Don’t
miss it. A laid back leisurely start to your Saturday and a chance to
get to know The Racines and find out about their roots.
Joe Le Taxi Zydeco Band - (UK)
A mix of authentic Creole blues, sleazy shuffles, old school waltzes
influenced by the raw dance music of such legends as John Delafose and
Bebe Carriere to the more funky, Zydeco Nouveau style influenced by
Boozoo Chavis, Beau Jocque and Keith Frank. With an energetic line up of
great musicians, Joe Le Taxi & The Zydeco Band continue to pack the
dance floors across the UK and Europe with their laid back, Zydeco
groove that is guaranteed to keep that dance floor jumping! Over the
last few years the band has stepped up their presence on the European
roots music scene. As well as selling out venues in their own right,
they have also supported some of the biggest Zydeco, Creole and Cajun
acts coming out of the USA including Keith Frank, Steve Riley, Curley
Taylor, Leroy Thomas, The Pine Leaf Boys, Sheryl Cormier and Kevin
Naquin. Things are hotting up for Joe Le Taxi & The Zydeco Band, as 2008
looks to be their busiest year yet!
ZFunk – (UK)
Since their last appearance at Gloucester Festival ZFunk have revisited
their roots and changed the line up to incorporate Andy Watson on drums
(Joe Le Taxi / Deepzone Zydeco) and Sioned Camlin on scrubboard. This
has re-invigorated this 5 piece Zydeco Band and they now sound better
than ever. Expect hard core Zydeco inspired by Keith Frank , Chris
Ardoin, and Beau Joque. Zydeco played with passion and skill by a band
with a reputation second to none. A great hard rocking Zydeco show in
the intimate surroundings of the Cinema Zydeco Club! Also featuring
Gavin Lewery (accordion), Tommy Mills (bass), and Dave Luke (guitar)
come along and see for yourself the all new, rejigged, Zfunk.
Pain D’Mais – (France)
This band recently played The Baasem Cajun Festival in Germany and
rocked the house from the first note. Its hardly surprising when you
consider the pedigree of the band. Its made up of some of biggest names
on the French Cajun Music scene of the last 30 years. With Vincent
Giarrusso on Fiddle (Vermonton Plage) Alain Serres on Guitar (Vermonton
Plage) Olivier Sarreau on bass, Eric Martin on accordion and Jean–Louis
Laubry on drums this band cook like a well seasoned gumbo. Their groove
is second to none and their instrumental virtuosity means they play a
wide variety of two steps / waltzes and Cajun blues any old way they
choose it with a backbeat you cant lose!
Hottboxx – (UK)
Hottboxx are a 5 piece band fronted by the energetic accordion and
smooth vocal stylings of Carla Simmons - the Queen of UK-Zydeco ! Carla
is a well known personality on the scene, noted for her enthusiastic
approach and her sense of mischief and fun. The band take Zydeco songs
by Louisiana stars like Rosie Ledet and Keith Frank and make them their
own by adding a Hottboxx twist. However they don't limit themselves to
one genre: they also throw into the gumbo some sleazy blues, raunchy
country, 50's rock'n roll and the odd soul sensation. In all, a 5 piece
rocking combo that will keep you dancing with a variety of grooves from
A - Z: from Americana to Zydeco. Hotter than a box of chilli beans!
Whipoorwills – (UK)
Here's a trio of familiar faces in a Cajun band formed specially for
Gloucester 2008 and beyond. For many years, the British Cajun music
scene has been thrilled by the accordion dynamics of Gavin Lewery, the
awesome vocals and rock steady guitar rhythm of Rod Boyes and the
bittersweet fiddling of Ian Tothill. Now for the first time in public
you can dance to old school traditional Cajun waltzes and two steps from
The Whipoorwills, the band who bring you the very best in acoustic
Cajun. The Whipoorwills are the self proclaimed tip for the top, set to
be the Cajun sensation of 2008. See them first at Gloucester.
Lil Jim’s Lil Jam – (UK)
Lil Jim came to prominence after jamming with The Mamou Playboys several
years ago at Gloucester Festival. Still in his early teens he was
instantly heralded as the future of Cajun music in the UK. Shortly after
he emerged with his own band, Deepzone Zydeco and proceeded to tear up
the festival and dancehall circuit all over Europe. If you were around
on Friday night you will have caught him playing Cajun accordion with
Petite et La Grosse. Now he’s reached the ripe old age of 20 its time he
started to take on some fresh challenges! In Lil Jims Lil Jam you’ll be
exposed to Jims Zydeco side (with a little Cajun thrown in for good
measure) with his Jimness upfront on accordion. That will be followed by
Lil Jim spreading his wings to do a little jamming himself on bass,
guitar, drums and fiddle. His band will be hand picked by The Jimster
himself from the various artists appearing at The Festival. Can he pull
it off? Come along and witness history in the making!
Cajun All Star Jam
After the Whipoorwills trio set on Sunday night the finale once again
sees members of bands from the festival (including our Louisiana guests)
combining into a glorious organised jam session which many consider to
be the highlight of the weekend. Don't miss this show. If you are
working on Monday take the next day off work and stick around. You won't
ever see the likes of it!
Cajun dance workshops led by Cajun Kay Anderson from the thriving S.E. coast Cajun scene. She will be running three workshops over the weekend catering for all abilities.
Zydeco dance workshops led by Zydeco Cowboy Phil Underwood of Zydeco band Zyderythmics. He will be running three workshops over the weekend catering for all abilities.
Accordion Workshop with Steve Riley and friends (US)
Fiddle Workshop with Kevin Wimmer and friends (US)
Guitar Workshop with Chris Segura and friends (US)
Jam Sessions
This year we’ve again set aside the bar area where people can get
together, jam, eat, and drink. Check it out - pop in for an acoustic jam
or just hang out and chill. We’ve moved the afternoon shows into the
cinema which leaves the bar available as jamming space and put some
Cajun Roosters and Gavin Lewery in there as hosts to kick things off.
Bring your instruments and join in or try out your own tunes and songs.
Obviously you will hear Cajun and Zydeco but all musical styles welcome.
There’s also other smaller rooms in the building which are available for
those who want to jam in a quieter less public environment.
Festival updates, more news, links to artists sites on
www.swampmusic.co.uk
Instrument Workshops
Fiddle: Sat 2.00 to 3.00pm with Kevin Wimmer from The Racines
Accordion: Sat 3.00 to 4.00pm with Steve Riley and friends
Guitar: Sun 3.00 to 4.00pmpm with Chris Stafford and friends
Dance workshops
Sat 10.30 to 11.30 Cajun1 with Kay Anderson and Satu Philipps
Sat 3.30 to 4.30 Zydeco1 with Phil Underwood
Sat 5.00 to 6.00 Cajun2 with Kay Anderson and Satu Philipps
Sun 10.30 to 11.30 Zydeco2 with Phil Underwood
Sun 3.00 to 4.00 Zydeco3 with Phil Underwood
Sun 4.30 to 5.30 Cajun3 with Kay Anderson and Satu Philipps
Jam sessions
Saturday afternoon bar 3pm onwards hosted by festival guests
Sunday afternoon bar 3pm onwards hosted by festival guests
Festival updates, more news, links to artists sites on
www.swampmusic.co.uk