Gloucester Cajun and Zydeco Festival 2012 Lineup
Friday
6pm -7pm Swamp Rock DJs and introductions
7pm – 8pm approx Chanky Chank
8pm – 9pm Swamp Rock DJs
9pm – 11pm approx Joe Le Taxi
11pm onwards Swamp Rock DJs
Saturday
11am – 12.30pm Zydeco dance workshop with Phil Underwood
1pm – 3pm Elvis Fontenot and the Sugar Bees
3.30pm – 5pm Cajun dance workshop with Satu and Kay
5.30pm - 6.30pm Charlie and Phil
7pm-9pm Swamp Rock DJs
9pm – 11pm approx Cajun Roosters
11pm onwards Swamp Rock DJs
Sunday
11am – 12.30pm Cajun dance workshop with Satu and Kay
1pm – 3pm Hackney Ramblers
3.30pm – 5pm Zydeco dance workshop with Phil Underwood
6pm – 8pm approx River Zydeco
8pm onwards Swamp Rock DJs
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CHANKY-CHANK
Chanky-Chank are an all New rocking Cajun dance band from the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Welsh Borders. Featuring an all-star line up of musicians, some of whom have been prominent on the UK Cajun scene for 20 years or more.
Pioneered by Accordion legend Gavin Lewery, Chanky Chank have come together to re invigorate and re-energise the dance floor.
The mission to re-visit the 1940’s and 50’s era when traditional Cajun music was known by the old folks as ‘Chanky-Chank’. At this time Cajun music was heavily influenced by rock n roll, Country and western swing. The result was a rocking Cajun sound and irresistible dance groove!
Chanky-Chank pay homage to legendary musicians of this era such as Aldus Roger, Nathan Abshire, and Pee Wee Brousard, to name but a few, absorbing these worthy influences and adding their own unique spice to the pot.
With a little more bite and balls than most around, the mission to once again set the dance floor’s on fire!
Featuring:
Accordion and vocals: Gavin Lewery
Gavin is widely regarded as one of Europe’s finest and most accomplished Cajun and Zydeco accordionists.
Over 20 years playing Cajun and Zydeco music, Gavin has featured in many bands, the Boat Band and the Bluebird Cajun Band from the early 90‘s, and later the Flatville Aces, Z-Funk and the Zydeco Diamonds.
Gavin’s determination to keep pushing the music forward and keep it fresh and exciting is always evident in his style, and is the driving force behind the Chanky-Chank project.
Double Bass and vocals: Loraine Baker Wakefield
Another veteran on the scene, Loraine has played with Gavin for many years starting out on the Tea chest bass with the Boat Band and moving on to the Double Bass with the Bluebird Cajun Band, since those early years Loraine has excelled in musicianship and as a vocalist, now playing with her own band Bakers Fabulous Boys, also with Shake the Roots, and The Hackney Ramblers. A natural performer with the voice of an angel.
Guitar: Pete Wakefield
Pete is the relative newcomer to the Cajun scene, but has taken to it with remarkable ease and natural flair. Although new to Cajun music, Pete has many years playing experience, most recently with his own band ‘Shake the Roots‘, which is receiving great critical acclaim on the Roots and Country scene.
Fiddle: Ian Tothill
Ian is of the old school, served his time playing and pioneering Cajun music in Bradford, and was one of the driving forces behind the great Triangle Club from the golden era of the early 90’s. Ian has played with many bands over the years including Old Joe Zydeco, The Cajun Aces, and more recently a rockin Western Swing band The 901’s. An eclectic and exciting fiddler with his heart set firmly in the tradition.
Steel: Dave Luke
Dave has his heart in country music and is a regular touring musician with the well known Nashville singer Gail Davies. Dave came to Cajun and Zydeco music through teaming up with Gavin as guitarist with Z-Funk. More recently and after some persuasion Dave was encouraged to dust off his old lap steel and bring a bit of Nashville flavour to Chanky-Chank, A virtuoso, Dave brings added spice to the already rich mix.
Drums: Andy Watson
Andy’s musical career goes way back to childhood where he could be found frequenting Folk Festivals with his musical family and being inspired by many great musicians and performers.
It was in these early years that Andy first met Gavin, both performing various street theatre acts to seaside tourists, but it was much later that Andy and Gavin teamed up again when Andy became the drummer with Z-Funk, and later the Flatville Aces.
Andy is widely regarded as one of the very few drummers in Europe that actually ‘gets the groove’ and is in great demand with touring Louisiana musicians as well as at home, Andy also plays with, Jo Le Taxi and L’il Jims Big Squeeze.
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JOE LE TAXI
Rees Wesson - accordion
Sioned Camlin - rub-board
Elinor Camlin - vocal
Kev Torne - guitar
Dom Clarke - guitar
Clovis Phillips - bass
Andy Watson - drums
On the road for twenty years, Joe Le Taxi and the Zydeco Band are still pumping out that good old, down home Zydeco Dance Music from the Welsh frontier.
The band last appeared at Gloucester in January 2009 and have been looking forward to coming back to their favourite festival.
Two steps, waltzes and some red hot blues - new songs, old songs, new faces, old faces, same chat up lines!
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ELVIS FONTENOT AND THE SUGAR BEES
Formed in the dim and distant past of 1993, in Stoke-on-Trent, Elvis Fontenot and the Sugar Bees have evolved through many line-up changes to become the premier European swamp’n’roll outfit that they are today.
The line up of Nick Barber (Accordion/Vocals/Frottoir/Mandocaster) Paul Asher (Accordion/Fiddle/Mandolin/Bass) ,Craig Beverley (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Stuart Duthie (Bass/Harmonica/Vocals) and Chris Plimbley (Drums) returned to play in Louisiana and Texas in 2007, after previously playing at the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans in 2003 and 2005. In 2006 and 2009, they were crowned “European Zydeco band of the Year” and Nick won European Rub-board player of the year – they have played the Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival in Ireland on four occasions and have played all over France, Germany and Holland as well as the UK. They’ve also been played on the BBC by Andy Kershaw and Mike Harding and have been on TV in Austin, Texas and featured on radio stations across America and also in Australia.
Expect an infectious good time!
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CHARLIE AND PHIL
In the lead up to Mardi Gras, from the prairies of Essex and the bayous of Milton Keynes, Charlie Skelton (fiddle, Acadian Driftwood) and Phil Underwood (accordion, Colin and the Crawfish) present a unique musical hommage to the great Louisiana Creole musicians, Bois Sec Ardoin and Canray Fontenot, Bébé and Éraste Carrière, Albert Chevalier and many others. From the roots of zydeco, the push and pull, rub and scrub La La music of the Creole people. Dark, smoky, crowded clubs in Lawtell and Opelousas and Lafayette. Bodies moving closely in rhythm. Driving fiddle, pumping accordion, vocals you can cut corn bread with. Blues that tear at your heart. Dances you wouldn't want your daughter to know. Don't miss this rare chance to experience this passionate music from two of the leading Louisiana music artists this side of the pond."
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CAJUN ROOSTERS (UK / GERMANY)
The Cajun Roosters are a five piece band specialising in the music of SW Louisiana, deep in the South of the USA.
Over the last few years a new sound has been gaining momentum here in Europe. More and more bands have been visiting these shores bringing a new sound from over the atlantic ocean. This music is using familiar instruments like guitars, accordions and fiddles played in a way that is fresh and vibrant. Its home is in swamps and prairies of Southwest Louisiana but bands from over the seas are finding a warm welcome in clubs and festivals 3000 miles away from their roots. The music isn‟t new of course, its traditions are centuries old but to many people here in Europe it comes like a breath of fresh air. With its driving beat, hearfelt emotions, and trance like melodies it strikes a chord with 21st century ears.
This music is called Cajun and Zydeco music and just like in the 1960‟s with the blues, European bands are taking it and honouring its traditions whilst at the same time giving it a new twist. One of the main bands in Europe promoting this music are The Cajun Roosters. We aren‟t from Louisiana but we play respect to its masters and our heroes. We dig deep into its roots (some of us in this band have been digging now for over 30 years!) and aim to share our love of this unique sound.
So who are The Cajun Roosters? Formed six years ago by some of the most respected musicians of this genre they quickly established a reputation as the band most likely to bring this music to a wider public. They were picked up by Mark Lamarr and invited to be in session on his BBC show for Radio 2 “Gods jukebox”. Previous to this UK based accordion player and vocalist Chris Hall was invited to record with the likes of Kate Bush and Bill Wyman and also recorded and appeared on TV with ex Beatle and rock god Sir Paul McCartney.
Mark Lamarr said on his show “there should be revival of this music” ………. If any band are placed to ignite this revival it‟s the Cajun Roosters” Over the last few years they have headlined major festivals all over Europe whilst at the same time collaborating with US musicians on recordings and tours.
Their latest projects in the making alongside tours with major Louisiana acts is a the new album 'okra and a pepper' (released feb 5th 2001) featuring new vocalist Hazel Scott and an album of recordings with special guests (Grammy nominee Cedric Watson, Dwayne Dopsie, Corey Ledet, The Lafayette Rhythm Devils, Yvette Landry, Sarah Savoy and Steev Riley). It's about working together to promote this music and bring it to a wider public in every way we can.
Expect an infectious good time!
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HACKNEY RAMBLERS
The Hackney Ramblers have been playing Cajun Music for many years and are firmly established as one of the top bands in the country. The core of the band started playing together in the Crayfish Five, amongst the first of the British bands to explore the great sounds of Louisiana. Formed in the mid 80s they rose out of the London pub circuit to appear at major venues and festivals throughout the UK. The Crayfish split in the early 90s but after a short lay-off emerged as The Hackney Ramblers. The name is a nod to pioneer Cajun band "The Hackberry Ramblers" from Hackberry Louisiana.
The Hackney Ramblers features the classic Cajun line-up, accordion and fiddle backed by guitar and drums. Accordion player Tony Weatherall has played with many of the leading Cajun bands in the UK. including LeRue and the Boat Band and has toured extensively throughout Britain and Europe.
Fiddle player Andy Lockwood is a well seasoned musician equally at home playing swing-jazz, swampy blues or straight cajun, each take a turn on vocals. Guitar and drums are provided by Charlie Collinson and Pete Towler both long serving members of the London music scene.New member in The Hackney Ramblers is Loraine Baker on double bass. Loraine started out with The Bluebird Cajun Band and now fronts her own bluegrass outfit "Baker's Fabulous Boys".
Using the classic cajun dance-hall repertoire as a starting point the The Hackney Ramblers are not afraid to add different flavours to the pot, 30s string band fiddle tunes sit alongside creole blues, straight down the line cajun honky-tonk and western-swing. The whole thing adds up to an irresistible, steamy, gumbo straight from the Louisiana bayous. A 100% cayenne powered dance machine guaranteed to get you moving! So pull on your dancing shoes, get on the floor and enjoy the great sounds of the Hackney Ramblers.
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RIVER ZYDECO (NETHERLANDS)
The River Zydeco Band is a six-piece band from the southern parts of the Netherlands. Whether it’s a Jazz, blues or even a country- festival, you will find the River Zydeco Band giving their best. And their best was and will always be: Zydeco Music.
Zydeco has it’s origin in Louisiana, an American state right at the Crossroads of all streams, still existing in modern day music.
In this melting pot of cultures Zydeco is strongly rooted, and is a mixture of Celtic, blues and Latin.
Bands from the U.S.A., but also from Europe, succeeded in evolving this traditional style of music into a more modern kind, that nowadays is appreciated all over the world.
Right after the first Concert of the River Zydeco Band in 1990, a couple of friends, infected by the zydeco virus, decided to organize a zydeco festival. This Festival in Raamsdonksveer ( The Netherlands) grew to be one of the leading Cajun- and Zydeco festivals in Europe and is still going strong. Every year around may /june, Raamsdonksveer is transformed into ZydecoZity and you can find the River Zydeco Band in the heart of this steaming and swinging festival: On Stage with national and international bands & friends performing the music they love......Zydeco!!! Et toi?
