The first Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival started in a bean field in Plaisance 41 years ago and the festival is now considered to be one of the top Zydeco music festival in the Nation. This year’s festival is dedicated to the 100th birthday of Clifton Chenier born and raised on the outskirts of Opelousas near Leonville. Chenier is the original king of Zydeco music.
This year’s Festival has expanded the Creole Cultural Experience Platform of Music, Food and Cultural Tradition offering Zydeco dance lessons offered by Grace Hamilton and lessons in Creole french given by Creole Inc. Zydeco Unplugged will also offer Zydeco music lessons festuring Grammy award winner Earl Sally on scrubboard. You could also experience the Creole culture by sampling Creole delicacies offered by host of vendors located on the Yambilee grounds.
This year’s festival festured some of the finest Zydeco musicians. Kicking off the festival was Grammy winner Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Nathan Williams and the Zydeco Cha Chasm, Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Road Runners, Grammy nominee Geno Delafose and French Rockin Boogie, Grammy nominee C.J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana band, Rockin Doopsie and the Zydeco Twisters. Closing out the night was Rusty Metoyer and Zydeco Crush.
