|
Archive Files of Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco Musicians |
|
Band Togetherat Parc International, Lafayette, Sept. 10, 2005 |
Roddie Romero on guitar and accordion
Michael Doucet in a blues tribute to Bunk Johnson
Cousins Zachary Richard on harmonica and Michael Doucet
on fiddle, with Jimmy Breaux on accordion
David Torkanowsky
Michael Juan Nunez
John Blanchard, owner of the Rock 'n' Bowl in New Orleans, addresses the
crowd. He was one of several representatives from the New Orleans music
scene who spoke during the event. (Update: Rock 'n' Bowl reopened Nov. 10,
2005.)
Band Together, a concert benefiting the American Red Cross relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims, was an event that more than anything expressed the spirit of Acadiana, a spirit of compassion, love, resilience, and, in the face of adversity, a joie de vivre that will carry on, no matter what. The people of New Orleans share that same spirit. A number of them who relocated to Lafayette were at the concert, which became both a fundraiser and a reaffirmation of the close ties between the two regions.
The event was organized by Todd Mouton and the Acadiana Arts Council and other cultural and civic groups: Louisiana Crossroads, Downtown Development Authority/Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, The Performing Arts Society of Acadiana, Louisiana Folk Roots, Festival International de Louisiane, and Lafayette Consolidated Government. Sponsors included Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, RotorCraft Leasing Company, Saul Sonnier Real Estate, Teche Drugs, Wilson Concerts & Events, Gulf Coast Sound, Menus & Venues/Ads in Motion, and Lowry's Kwik Kopy.
Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars opened and closed the event and served as the core band for other performers: Michael Doucet with David Doucet and Jimmy Breaux, Nathan Williams Jr., Zachary Richard, Sonny Landreth, David Torkanowsky from New Orleans, and the Acadiana Symphony String Quartet.
Plans are under way for additional benefit events, and efforts are also under way to help New Orleans musicians and other artists find work while they are relocated in Acadiana.
Michael Doucet: his fingers were flying so fast on
"Johnny Can't Dance" that he looked like he was about to be airborne.
Zachary Richard:
in addition to singing, he expressed his dissatisfaction with
the responses to the catastrophe from the federal and state government. He also described activities in the Acadian
regions of Canada reaching out to help Louisiana, reaffirming ties between a
people forcibly divided by Le Grand Dérangement 250 years ago.
Nathan Williams Jr.
Sonny Landreth: He stayed home for the benefit instead of going to Nashville
to receive the Instrumentalist of the Year Award from Americana Music
Association, which held its annual award ceremony Saturday evening at the
Ryman Auditorium.