A weekend of worldly sound
CAJUN AND ZYDECO FESTIVAL HELD IN CONWY THIS WEEKEND
THERE will be a weekend of music and dancing to some of the UK’s best Cajun and Zydeco bands this weekend, as the North Wales Cajun and Zydeco Weekend comes to Conwy Comrades Sport and Social Club (former British Legion) in Conwy.
Cajun music is the music of white French-speaking settlers of South West Louisiana, traditionally played on fiddle and accordion, with the rhythm often being provided by acoustic guitar and triangle. The lyrics are usually sung in Cajun French.
The African-American and Creole people living in the same area adapted the basic Cajun music, and added other rhythms such as Afro-Caribbean, Blues, Soul and Rock’n’Roll. This adapted form, with the lyrics usually sung in English is called Zydeco.
The music is very distinctive and primarily for dancing, and the acts this year come from all over the UK.
Rough Chowder from Sussex, fronted by husband and wife, Ian McIlroy and Miss Kitty, combine traditional Cajun and Zydeco music with their own original material, to produce a highly danceable and infectious sound guaran- teed to transport you to the bayous of Louisiana.
The Zydeco Diamonds is a relatively new band, but focuses on a more traditional old school style of Zydeco, moving away from the HipHop influenced sounds which have become mainstream in Louisiana dance halls.
Bangor-based Cajuns Denbo began singing in English and French, but now perform the majority of their material in Welsh rather than Cajun French. They say that Cajun and Welsh form a very happy marriage, bringing together the traditions of two bilingual cultures which have many similarities. It’s a joyful mix, as witnessed by those who have caught the band live.
From the bayous of Staffordshire come the Stoke-on-Trent based swamp’n’roll outfit Elvis Fontenot and the Sugar Bees, formed way back in 1993.
Joe Le Taxi is a Zydeco band from the Welsh border, and plays hardcore Louisiana Zydeco, authentic Creole blues, sleazy shuffles and old school waltzes, influenced by the likes of John Delafose, Boozoo Chavis and Keith Frank.
Traditional acousitc Cajun band Pon’ Bro is a Welsh trio from the Caernarfon area with a long history of playing roots music.
Since Cajun and Zydeco are very much dance music, there will also be dance workshops included in the weekend’s programme, and regular slots by Swamprock DJs.
The festival begins at 8pm on Friday, June 9, until 11.45pm, and continues on the Saturday and Sunday, June 10 and 11.
For more details of the festival’s programme, and to book tickets, check out the website www.northwalescajun.co.uk, which also has information on accommodation and transport.