Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Carrier Family Festival, live music ring in 2012

    Eight zydeco bands entertain at the 15th Annual Carrier Family Festival at 3 p.m. New Year’s Day at the Offshore Lounge, 322 Perry Drive, in Lawtell. The musical lineup includes Grammy winner Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe, Dwight Carrier, Corey Ledet, Brad Randell, Gerard Delafose, Lil Pookie and T. Broussard.
Chubby Carrier
    For more than 30 years, Thursday night jam sessions at the Offshore Lounge served as the first stage for some of zydeco’s most top stars -- Geno Delafose, Zydeco Force, Beau Jocque, Same Ol’ Two Step and many others. The festival is a fundraiser for the rustic dancehall, which is in need of major repairs. 
    Admission is $20. Red beans and rice with fried chicken, barbecue and gumbo will be sold. T-shirts and tribute CDs featuring the late zydeco legend Roy Carrier, the lounge’s former owner, will be available. 
    In other St. Landry Parish events: 
  • Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band entertain at the Sixth Annual Mayor’s New Year’s Charity Gala at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30 at the Opelousas Civic Center, exit 18 on I-49. The event includes a candlelight dinner, midnight champagne toast and “Dancing with the Starz-Acadiana Style” contest. Funds from this gala help the elderly and needy of St. Landry Parish with emergency assistance. Tickets are $30. (337) 948-2525. 
  • Leon Chavis and the Zydeco Flames kick off a weekend of live music at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, I-49 exit 18 in Opelousas. Admission is free for the 9 p.m. Dec. 30 dance with Chavis. Turning Point, a Southern rock and country band, performs for New Year’s Eve at Mojo’s in the casino. Chris Ardoin and NuStep Zydeco play at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 1 at Mojo’s. (337) 594-3000, www.evangelinedowns.com
  • The weekly Saturday morning Cajun jam sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 31 at Savoy Music Center, located on Highway 190 just east of Eunice. Admission is free and all musicians are invited to join in. (337) 457-9563, www.savoymusiccenter.com
  • Because of the holiday break, there will be no Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show Saturday, Dec. 31 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The weekly program, which features Cajun and Creole musicians in a Grand Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion format, resumes Jan. 7, 2012. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com
  • Grammy winner Chubby Carrier hosts Chubby’s New Year’s Eve Party at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki. Tickets, which are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, include gumbo with all the fixings and champagne at midnight. (337) 288-8893, www.chubbycarrier.com
  • The rock band One Trick Pony brings in 2012 at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at Beau’s Garage, 125 N. Court St., in Opelousas. Tickets are $10, $15 at the door. (337) 678-0648. 
  • The monthly JAMbalaya acoustic music jam will be held from 1-3 p.m. Jan. 1 at Tom’s Fiddle & Bow, 204 Fuselier St., in Arnaudville. Bring your favorite for a pot luck lunch. Coffee, tea, wine, soda and water will be provided. (337) 754-5528. 
  • J. Paul and the Zydeco Nubreedz perform at 8 p.m. Jan. 1 at Stallions Bar-B-Que and Seafood, 5675 I-49 S. Service Road, in Opelousas. (337) 948-2090. 
    In upcoming events, Chubby Carrier and Cajun/country music veteran Jo-El Sonnier team up for Zyde-Cajun Night at 8 p.m. Jan. 6 at the Delta Grand, 120 S. Market St., in downtown Opelousas.. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. 
    For more information on all these events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow us on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul, Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Parish celebrates Christmas weekend with zydeco and more

    Break in your new dancing shoes with four zydeco dances Christmas weekend in St. Landry Parish. These events in Opelousas, the Zydeco Music Capitol of the World, feature four of the music’s top stars. 
Curley Taylor
    Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble kick off the weekend at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23 at Mojo’s at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino. Keith Frank, The Zydeco Boss, performs at 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23 at Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki, 8471 Highway 182. Owned and operated by the Gradney family since 1947, Slim’s is one of zydeco’s original dance halls. 
    Lil Nate and the Zydeco Big Timers, along with J. Paul Jr. and the Zydeco NuBreedz, host the Christmas Eve Bash at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24 at the Yambilee Building, 1939 W. Landry St. Chris Ardoin and NuStep celebrate “Grown Folk Christmas” at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25 at Mojo’s at Evangeline Downs. 
    In other St. Landry Parish events:
· A free showing of A Miracle on 34th Street is set for 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 22 at the Delta Grand, 120 S. Market St., in downtown Opelousas. Senior citizens and their grandchildren are urged to attend. Concessions will be sold. (337) 407-1806, www.deltagrandtheatre.com
· The Compound, a local acting group, concludes its presentation of Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 22-23, at the Delta Grand. Admission is $10. 
· The world-renowned, Saturday morning Cajun jam sessions go on from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 at Savoy Music Center, located on Highway 190 just east of Eunice. Admission is free and all musicians are invited to join in. (337) 457-9563, www.savoymusiccenter.com
· Because of the holidays, there will be no Rendez-Vous des Cajuns radio and TV show Saturday, Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The weekly program, which features Cajun and Creole musicians in a Grand Ole Opry, Prairie Home Companion format, resumes Jan. 7, 2012. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com
    In upcoming events, Grammy winner Chubby Carrier hosts Chubby’s New Year’s Eve Party at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki. Tickets, which are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, include gumbo with all the fixings and champagne at midnight. 
    The rock band One Trick Pony brings in 2012 Dec. 31 at Beau’s Garage, 125 N. Court St., in Opelousas. 
    The 15th Annual Carrier Family Festival kicks off at 3 p.m. Jan. 1 at the Offshore Lounge, 322 Perry Dr., in Lawtell. Eight zydeco bands are scheduled to perform. 
    On Friday, Jan. 6, Chubby Carrier and Cajun/country music veteran Jo-El Sonnier team up for Zyde-Cajun Night at the Delta Grand. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. 
    For more information on all these events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow us on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Comics, musicians spread 'A Little Christmas Cheer' in Eunice

    Comedy and Cajun music spread A Little Christmas Cheer, a benefit for swamp country singer Shane West, at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. Terry Comeaux, Steve Shaw and Tee Ray are the featured comedians. The Steve Riley & Friends Trio provides the music. 
Steve Riley
    Tickets are $10 and can be purchased the day of the show at the Liberty. For more information, call 457-7389. 
    Other events going on in St. Landry Parish include:
  •     The Compound, a local acting group, presents Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol at 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and Dec. 21-23 at the Delta Grand, 120 S. Market St., in downtown Opelousas. Admission is $10. (337) 407-1806, www. deltagrandtheatre.com. 
  •     Poet Nellie Harrington and musician Byron Knott perform for an Open Mic night at 7 p.m. Thursday at Casa Azul, 232 MLK Dr., in Grand Coteau. (337) 662-1032, www.casaazul.homestea.com 
  •     Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie entertain at a Toys for Tots event at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15 at the newly-reopened Stallions Bar-B-Que and Seafood Restaurant, 5675 I-49 S. Service Road in Opelousas. Admission is $5 and a toy. (337) 948-2090. 
  •     Brenna Andrus, Nicole Bertrand and Louis Huckaby sing holiday songs at the weekly Rendez-Vous des Cajun radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. Blake J. Miller and the Vermilion Playboys also perform. This is the final show for 2011. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com
    In ongoing events, Gray R. Steckler’s oil and acrylic art exhibit continues through Dec. 30 at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St., in downtown Opelousas. A St. Landry Parish resident and retired attorney, Steckler began painting at the age of 65. He has created art that has been shown in galleries, museums and libraries throughout the state. Call (337) 948-2589 for details. 
    Drive through town and check out the City of Opelousas’ Christmas Decorating Contest winners, which will be announced at 10 a.m. Friday at City Hall. Judging is set for 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday. 
    For more information on all these events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow us on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Fundraiser, holidays events highlight weekend in St. Landry Parish

    Geno Delafose, Keith Frank, Patrick Henry and Liberation and other zydeco and R&B performers entertain Thursday, Dec. 8 at the third annual Coup de Main (Helping Hand), a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Opelousas. The benefit concert is from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday in the Events Center at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino.
    More than 150 children were affected when the club’s Opelousas location closed earlier this year because of a budget shortfall. Admission to the fundraiser is $10 and all proceeds go to the club. For more information, call Dustin Cravins at (337) 594-3137. 
Geno Delafose
    Other events going on in St. Landry Parish include: 
  • Enjoy Christmas sounds at the Noel concert by the Eunice Choir and Concert Band at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The Fine Arts Council of Eunice presents an arts exhibit. Admission is $5, $2 for children. (337) 457-1776, www.eccbc.org. 
  • Floats, marching bands, cartoon characters and Santa Claus will participate in the Children’s Christmas Parade at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Opelousas. The parade starts near St. Landry Catholic Church on North Main Street and ends on Cresswell Lane. (337) 948-2589. 
  • The Avoyelles Parish Choir presents a Christmas Concert at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. John’s Church in Washington. A wine and cheese reception is from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Saturday. The town’s 13th annual Christmas parade is 7 p.m. Friday. (337) 826-3626. 
  • The town of Port Barre holds its first Christmas parade at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The parade will start on Willow Street by Frisco Motorworks and end at the American Legion Hall. (337) 585-7646. 
  • Ganey Arsement and the LakeSide Gamblers entertain at the weekly Rendez-Vous des Cajun radio and TV show at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. The LakeSide Gamblers Trio opens the show. (337) 457-7389, www.eunice-la.com
  • Art Noel takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Glass Porch Gallery, 28 MLK Drive, in Grand Coteau. Featured art includes clay sculptures of musicians and chefs by Sunset artist Annie Hendrix and Charla Guidry’s fused glass and wind chimes, along with found object fish and wall art by Trish Ransom of Grand Coteau. 
  • Kelli Foret signs copies of her new book, Acadian Art Trail: The Essential Guide to Finding Local Art in Cajun Country, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Chapelle Country Store at Le Village, 121 Seale Lane, in Eunice. (337) 457-3573. 
    In ongoing events, Gray R. Steckler’s oil and acrylic art exhibit continues through Dec. 30 at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St., in downtown Opelousas. A St. Landry Parish resident and retired attorney, Steckler has created art that has been shown in galleries, museums and libraries throughout the state. Call (337) 948-2589 for details.
    For more information on all these events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Follow us on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish.