Music & Market returns to the Opelousas live music scene for a four-week Spring series beginning Thursday, April 20th. The relaunched series will happen on Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. on the grounds of the Courthouse Square in downtown Opelousas. Kicking of the series is Zydeco and Cajun favorite Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, followed by Don Fontenot and Les Amis (April 27), Cypress Band featuring Willie Tee & Lynn August (May 4) and Leon Chavis & the Zydeco Flames (May 11).
Born and raised in Eunice, zydeco accordionist and singer Geno Delafose has been playing the zydeco circuit for over four decades. His sound is deeply rooted in traditional Creole music with strong influences from Cajun music and also country and western. At the age of seven, Delafose began playing frottoir (rub board) in his father’s band, the Eunice Playboys. He went on to appear on seven of the band’s albums, including a collaborative effort with his father, “Pere et Garcon Zydeco”, in 1992.
Delafose later switched to the accordion in the early 1990s and continued to play with the band until his father’s death in 1994. That same year, Geno made his debut album “French Rockin’ Boogie.” The name of this album also became the name of his band with whom he still plays with today. Geno Delafose has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album category for his “Le Cowboy Creole” album (2007).
Music & Market is designed to help promote the area’s music heritage and bring attention to local farmers and their produce, a strong component of the culinary trail. Since its inception in 2007, the music series has featured over 120 outdoor performances highlighting a long list of Louisiana musicians including GRAMMY award winners such as Lost Bayou Ramblers (2017 “Kalenda”), Chubby Carriere (2011 for “Zydeco Junkie”) and Steve Riley (2014 with “Courtbouillon.”)
Music & Market is initiated by the City of Opelousas Tourism Office with support from St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission and St. Landry Parish Government. For more information, call 337-948-6263 or visit www.cityofopelousas.com
