Friday
6pm -7pm Swamp Rock DJs and introductions from Aidan
7pm – 8pm approx Lil’ Jim’s Big Squeeze
8pm – 9pm Swamp Rock DJs
9pm – 11pm approx Hazel Scott Playboys
11pm onwards Swamp Rock DJs
Saturday
11am – 12.30pm Zydeco dance workshop with Phil Underwood and Satu
1pm – 3pm Rough Chowder
3.30pm – 5pm Cajun dance workshop with Satu and Kay
5.30pm - 7pm Cajun Du Nord
8pm-9pm Swamp Rock DJs
9pm – 11pm approx Colin and the Crawfish
11pm onwards Swamp Rock DJs
Sunday
11am – 12.30pm Cajun dance workshop with Satu and Kay
1pm – 3pm Advien'Quepeux & The Good Time Boys
3.30pm – 5pm Zydeco dance workshop with Phil Underwood and Satu
6pm – 8pm approx The Big Easy
8pm onwards Swamp Rock DJs
The Hazel Scott Playboys take their name from the Scott Playboys …the great Cajun band fronted by Walter Mouton from….you guessed it…Scott In Louisiana. This 5 piece traditional Cajun band featuring some of the biggest names on the European Cajun Scene. The band has reformed with some old members (Hazel Scott on vocals and guitar,Chris Hall on accordion and Gavin Lewery on drums) and some exciting new ones (Loraine Baker Wakefield on upright Bass and David Buyle on fiddle) they played together for the first time to a great reception at the Shropshire Cajun festival this year so don’t miss them!
Hazel has played on an international stage with her band The Cajun Roosters and has appeared on many festivals her driving simple guitar style and authentic vocals will move you onto the dance floor! With Chris Hall ( RCajun,Bearcats,Zydecomotion,Cajun Roosters ) on accordion; a 30 year musical veteran you know you are infor a great time!
David Buyle (Acadian Ramblers, Cajun Roosters, Rocks and Ivy), has exploded back into the back into the cajun scene, and is recognised as one of Europe’s finest fiddlers. His exciting, fiery style is guaranteed to enchant and enthral.
Loraine Baker Wakefield on Bass is no stranger to the Cajun scene and contines to bewitch us with her beautiful voice and masterful playing, locked to perfection with that dance hall beat! Gavin Lewery completes the and, although well known for his accordion wizardry, shines in this outfit as one of the most authentic cajun drummers this side of the pond. A passionate exponent of this music with dance-machine grooves.
Together they specialise in some of the less well known Cajun songs gathered from old recordings and unreleased archive materials found in private collections and in the Louisiana Archives and Library of Congress. High quality Cajun music that will move your heart and feet.
Formed in October 2009, Lil Jim's Big Squeeze have already created quite a stir in the UK and Europe. The band have acquired a thriving and enthusiastic fan base which is evident in the audiences of their hometown gigs. The 'Big Squeeze' have been travelling around Europe and in the summer of 2010 played at the Saulieu Cajun and Zydeco Festival in France where they made such an impression that they have been invited to play at Europe's premier Zydeco Festival "Zydeco Zity" in Raamsdonksveer, (Holland) in 2011.
Their unique blend of Ska and Zydeco topped with a sprinkling of Blues / Rock / Metal / Reggae / R'n'B and Pop provides a sizzling dish that audiences lap up. With this formula they give a new lease of life on old classics such as Bob Marley's 'No Woman No Cry' and Phil Collins 'In The Air Tonight'.
The release of their eagerly awaited debut E.P., Number 1, has gained the 'Squeeze' a feature on their local radio station, BBC Radio Derby. It has also led to an interview with the band on Dutch internet radio station, Zydeco Zity Radio. Autumn 2010 see the band going back into the studio to record their first album, which will comprise of completely original material penned by Lil' Jim.
For the last 15 years Lil' Jim has been playing and studying the music of the Louisiana Swamps and Bayous, Cajun and Zydeco. Among his many accolades, he is most proud of being voted 'Best Zydeco Accordion Player in Europe' in 2006 and his recent appearance on Cbeebies music show 'ZingZillas'.
The band are full of energy and have been "wowing" audiences with their electric stage show!
Phil Underwood (Accordion, Fiddle), Carol Wilson (Drums), Charlie Skelton (Fiddle), Peter Dunhill (Rhythm Guitar), Steve Hennings (Bass Guitar), Sue Warren (Scrubboard)
Louisiana award winning accordionist Phil Underwood (Ti-Fer, ZigaZag, Zyderythmics, Creole Brothers) presents a fantastic lineup. Accordion pumping, twin fiddle bowing, rub and scrub, passionate and energetic Cajun and Creole tunes and songs, spiced up with some great new material from the band. Staying seated is not an option when Colin gets his Crawfish cranked up and motoring. Phil gained his accordion skills at the feet of Louisiana greats like Marc Savoy, Eddie LeJeune and Bois Sec Ardoin; Charlie Skelton's (Acadian Driftwood, Famous Potatoes, Creole Brothers) is one of the hottest roots fiddle players around, straight out of the Louisiana front porch tradition, while Peter Dunhill (Acadian Driftwood, Famous Potatoes) on guitar, Steve Hennings (Zyderythmics) on bass, Carol Wilson (ZigaZag) on drums and Sue Warren (ZydecoActive, Zyderythmics) on scrubboard together lay down a dance groove that will leave you breathless. Plus there are vocal harmonies that will send you reaching for your handkerchiefs. Colin and The Crawfish - it's music to get your claws into!
Cajun du Nord is a Nordic band with members from Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They play traditional Cajun music, a folk music that originates in the French culture in South Louisiana, USA.
The band has played together since 1991, and has performed at numerous festivals and clubs throughout the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland), in other European countries and in Louisiana, USA. The band has released two CDs “Cajun du Nord in Louisiana” (2000) and “Cajun du Nord on the Bayou” (2002), the first of which gave them “The Cajun Music Award” for best recording outside of Louisiana 2001.
The band has learned to play Cajun music the traditional way during their frequent trips to Louisiana, by working with and seeking inspiration from local Cajun musicians and artists.
Joel Martin Louisiana, USA (accordion and vocals)
Joel Martin is a young multi talented musician, whose talent builds upon a strong cultural heritage from his father and grandfather. He has obtained prices and talent grants. Joel is a composer and writer of song lyrics and creates new music in traditional style. His first CD: “Will you dance with me” came out in 2010.
He is also a member of The Martin Family Band, and is learning the hand craft of building Cajun accordions with his grandfather, Junior Martin. They build the acknowledged “Martin Accordions”.
Rough Chowder is an exciting six piece Cajun band hailing from the Sussex coast. Formed only two years ago Rough Chowder has been bringing the dance scene back to Brighton and the surrounds homing their unique sound and playing style.
Accordionist Ian McIlroy has a long playing history but only ventured into playing Cajun 4 years ago. The bug well and truly stuck and he brought the band together with Simon Buck (from the 1990s twin fiddle group The Mudbugs) on fiddle and guitar, Miss Kitty on frottoir, tif-fer and vocals, Nodd McDonagh on bass, Chris Pilkington on the drums and the latest recruit Glen McPheat on guitar.
With a rockabilly swing in their vocals they guarantee to get the audience dancing with a wide range of influences from Iry LeJeune and the Balfa Brothers to Beau Jocque and Cedric Watson.
An exciting international collaboration bringing together some of the best and most experienced Cajun musicians in Europe! With a collective desire to deliver the best Cajun dancehall sounds around!
Smooth and effortless with a splash of rock n roll, a sprinkling of country, and gallons of footstompin soul! The Big Easy are here! The dancing is easy.. the hard bit is stopping!
Featuring
David Buyle (fiddle) From Belgium, David is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished Cajun fiddlers in Europe. Original member of the Dutch super group The Acadian Ramblers, David also plays with The Cajun Roosters, Hazel Scott Playboys, and Bluegrass outfit Rocks and Ivy.
Gavin Lewery (accordion) - well known and highly respected Cajun accordionist, has pioneered many Cajun and Zydeco projects spanning over 20 years, Gavin also plays with The Zydeco Diamonds, The Flatville Aces, Chanky Chank, as well as playing drums with The Hazel Scott Playboys.
Vera van Heeringen (bass guitar and fiddle) - Extremely talented multi- instrumentalist and singer from Holland, Vera has recently released her first solo album 'Standing Tall' which is receiving great acclaim. Vera also plays Fiddle, Bass and Guitar with The Flatville Aces.
Andy Watson (drums) - Most sought after drummer on the Euro Cajun and Zydeco scene, Andy is one of the few drummers outside of Louisiana who actually 'gets the groove'. Andy also plays with The Flatville Aces, Chanky Chank, The Zydeco Diamonds, and is the dynamic rubboard player with Li'l Jims Big Squeeze.
Kev Torne (Guitar) - Fabulous electric guitarist and vocalist, Kev brings that splash of rock n roll to the mix, with a little country spice thrown in, Kev is well known on the scene having played for many years with the mighty Joe Le Taxi Zydeco Band, and more recently The Zydeco Diamonds.
Hailing from Savoie in the French Alps, The Quepeux Brothers (Sauveur, Dan, Harvey and Advien), have been playing a rootsy brand of stomping cajun music ever since 2007 under the name Advien Quepeux and The Good Time Boys.
Coming from a more electric and rock’n’roll background, they like the devastating energy of Bosco Stomp, and being Soul music and Rhythm’n’Blues fans as well, they love the plaintive sounds of Canray Fontenot's stripped down fiddle playing.
Without worrying too much about established conventions, they enriched their traditional zydeco set up with a sousaphone which gives them this unique stomping feel.
In 2010 they released their first album « Le Côté Farouche de la Vie » on vinyl, co-produced by Ice Tune Records and Folkwelt (a world music label) and including 9 classic cajun songs and 3 originals.
In 2011 , after a fifth musician joined the band (Junior : melodeon, banjo, tifer), they released a second album on Folkwelt once again, with 21 songs, two of them featuring legendary cajun fiddle player Hadley Castille and his grand daughter Sarah Jayde Williams on fiddle and vocals.
Advien Quepeux and The Good Time Boys just recently had to change their name to Advien Quepeux and The Good Time Persons after teaming up with female fiddle player and big time Cajun enthusiast Yannick of Maman Roulaille and Mme Sosthene fame (among others).
