For everyone else, Aug. 30-31 is Labor Day weekend. For zydeco music fans, these are holy days of festival obligation.
Seismic cultural shifts take root that weekend. St. Landry Parish and the surrounding countryside serve as the soil, where generations of accordion-playing families were born and continue to live.
The Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music planted the seed in 1982. The Treasures of Opelousas, a social group affiliated with Holy Ghost Catholic Church, were concerned that the music’s pioneers were dying.
A flatbed trailer in a soybean field in rural Plaisance served as the stage. Four hundred people came for an event they had never heard of — a zydeco festival. The next year, 4,000 people showed up. Forty-three years later, there are zydeco festivals across the United States and Europe.
The roster includes “The Big Weekend,” held earlier this month in North Shropshire, England. The event featured Opelousas native and third-generation accordionist Koray Broussard, Ruben Moreno of Houston and at least a half dozen zydeco and Cajun bands based in the UK and Ireland.
That’s another mission accomplished for the Zydeco Fest. Now, the big weekend that blazed a trail from the music’s cradle to the world celebrates with these events:
- Aug. 30: The Original SWLA Zydeco Fest, Opelousas — After 43 years, the 12-hour, Saturday event is indoors at the Yambilee Building. The festival honors its past and present with Grammy winner Chubby Carrier, C. J. Chenier, Geno Delafose, Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and the Zydeco Twisters, Leroy Thomas, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas and Rusty Metoyer. “Zydeco Unplugged,” a new feature, hosts a heritage tent for jam sessions, storytelling, Creole conversations, genealogy, dance lessons and more. Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Playboys play the kickoff dance Friday night at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino in Opelousas.
- Aug. 31: Creole Renaissance, Rayne — zydeco and its predecessor, Creole La La, go back to the 1800s in the family of the ever-popular “Zydeco Boss” Keith Frank. Frank headlines the Sunday event, which also includes his father Preston Frank, Next Gen Zydeco, Horace Trahan, Poncho Chavis, Zydeco Force, Step Rideau and J. Paul Jr. Veteran players Jude Taylor, Major Handy and Morris Ledet are honored in the annual “Creole Stomp” segment.
- Sept. 1: Labor Day Jam, Lebeau — More than 30 years ago, Step Rideau left his St. Landry Parish hometown of Lebeau for Houston. Rideau and his zydeco Outlaws band helped to establish the region as a zydeco hotbed. Rideau goes home for a new, Labor Day Jam that starts at 11 a.m. Monday on the Immaculate Conception Church Grounds. Performers also include Andre Thierry, Eric Singleton and C. J. Vedell.
Happy zydeco weekend.
Herman Fuselier is a writer, broadcaster and tourism director living in Opelousas. His “Zydeco Stomp” radio show airs at noon Central time Saturdays on KRVS 8.7 FM and online at KRVS Public Media.
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