Festival International De Louisiane

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Some of the other highlights of the festival included the "March 4th Marching Band" from the Northwest US. We caught them first on the main stage & then go to dance with them during a street parade.

My faviorite show of the Festival was Jeffrey Broussard and the Creole Cowboys. I have enjoyed Jeffrey's music over the years and got to attend a workshop & get an accordion lesson from him before, but this was the first time I got to hear him with his current line up.
Jeffrey is a master accordion player and a zydeco legend. On guitar is D'Jalma Garnier, a master fiddle player. Much of the time D'Jalma keeps an understated groove going, but when the time comes. he really heats things up with sizzling leads. The band was playing with Mr. Ballou on bass. He formerly held the groove together for the late great Boozoo Chavis. This band is definately innovative but at the same time stays close the their traditional creole musical roots. They are a legend in the making!
Zydeco music is dance music, and the feet do'nt lie! We found it impossible to sit still thru this set, inspite of being worn out from 3 days of attending festival,
and woke up the next morning tired and sore and happy to our zydeco core!

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Photos

Halo on D'Jalma
don't know how this happened

Mr. Ballou
often playing his bass with one hand

My friend Dave
Taught the local dancers some fancy zydeco footwork

street parade
with the march forth brass band

rain
...did not dampen the spirits

Burning Spear
closed the Festival