Acadien plays originals, standards at the Liberty

    The Acadien Cajun Band is the featured performer for the Rendez-Vous des Cajuns live radio and TV show from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 23 at the Liberty Theater in downtown Eunice. For more than 20 years, Rendez-Vous des Cajuns has featured Cajun, Creole and zydeco bands in a Grand Ole Opry-style program held in a 1924 vaudeville house.

Brandon Moreau, Ryan Simon of the Acadien Cajun Band

    Ryan Simon, the accordionist for Acadien, will also serve as this week’s emcee. In 2000, Simon and then- guitarist Dwayne Michaud started the band to write original Cajun songs and revitalize old tunes.
    The group now includes Brandon Moreau (fiddle), Joe Vidrine (bass), Joe Romero (guitar) and Jay Miller (drums).

    Admission is $5. For more information, call (337) 457-7389 or visit www.eunice-la.com.

     In other St. Landry Parish events, Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers play at 10 p.m. Friday, June 22 at Miller’s Zydeco Hall of Fame, 11154 Highway 190, in Lawtell. Built in 1947 as Richard’s Club, the Hall of Fame is the area’s oldest zydeco dancehall. (337) 319-0639.
     The Washington Community Farmer’s Market is held from 8:30 to 11 a.m. each Saturday at the Pavilion across from Town Hall in Washington. Vendors will offer produce, plants, craft items, homemade good and more.
     The weekly Saturday morning Cajun jam sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Savoy Music Center, located on Highway 190 just east of Eunice. Admission is free. (337) 457-9563, www.savoymusiccenter.com.
     Cajun on Demand plays the Old-Fashioned Barn Dance at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 23 at Lakeview Park & Beach, 1717 Veteran Memorial Highway, in Eunice. (337) 457-2881, www.lvpark.com.

     In upcoming events, musician Geno Delafose and equine businessman Don Stemmans are the honorees at the second annual Horses and Harmony at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 28 at the Evangeline Downs Event Center in Opelousas. Tickets, which will only be sold at the door, are $25 with partial proceeds going to the Opelousas-St. Landry Chamber of Commerce scholarship program. For more information, call (337) 942-2683.

    R&B legend Percy Sledge performs at June 30 at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino in Opelousas. For more information, call (337) 594-3000 or visit www.evangelinedowns.com.

    The 22^nd Annual Lebeau Zydeco Festival is set for noon to 10:30 p.m. July 7 at the Immaculate Conception Church Ground on Hwy 71 south in Lebeau. Performers include DJ Ron Richard (noon), Lil Wayne (1:30 p.m.), Curley Taylor (3 p.m.), Lil Nate (4:30 p.m.), Chubby Carrier (6 p.m.), Step Rideau (7:30 p.m.), Leon Chavis (9 p.m.).

    Admission is $10, $5 for children. For more information, call (337) 351-3902.

    For more information on parish events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com.  Updates are posted on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.