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Archive Files of Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco Musicians |
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Musicians' Benefit in 2005
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Terry Huval, shown below with Reggie Matte on accordion, invited Bruce Daigrepont and Gina Forsyth to perform at Festivals Acadiens Sept. 17 in Lafayette during the Jambalaya Cajun Band set. Everyone was on stage for the final number, including guest D.L. Menard on guitar and a clarinetist who also found his way on stage.
Terry Huval organized a benefit for displaced New Orleans musicians Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, at the Liberty Theater in Eunice. In the top photo are, from left, John Dowden and Jonno Frishberg, who perform together in a New Orleans-based Cajun band, and Mitchell Cormier and Nolan Cormier, two Church Point musicians who have been in New Orleans for many years. On drums is Mike Barras, who plays with Bruce Daigrepont. Bruce is shown in the photos at left and below with fiddler Gina Forsyth. They were at a festival in Denmark while Hurricane Katrina hit. When they arrived back in the United States, they were unable to return to their homes.
Bruce Daigrepont first began performing Cajun music in New Orleans in 1980. He has had a regular Sunday gig at Tipitina's for many years.
While on stage Sept. 17 at Festivals Acadiens at the invitation of Terry Huval during the Jambalaya Cajun Band set, Bruce asked if there were any New Orleans fans in the crowd. A sizable contingent of Tipitina's regulars responded. Until they are able to return to their home base, both Bruce and Gina are providing some great music to Acadiana, including several new songs. The title of one of them, "Bras ouverts," seems especially appropriate as Louisianans come together to help out one another in the aftermath of a catastrophe. Click here for the latest information from the Official Bruce Daigrepont Web Site, including contact and booking information.
Update: The Sunday fais do-do at Tipitina's returned in December 2005. Click on the above link to Bruce's site or go to Tipitina's site.
Jonno Frishberg on fiddle is shown with Mitchell Cormier at the Liberty
Theater.
John Dowden also performed at Festivals Acadiens with the Jambalaya Cajun
Band.
 Bruce Daigrepont also took part in a Louisiana Folk Roots presentation on song writing Sunday, Sept. 18, at Festivals Acadiens along with Terry Huval and D.L. Menard. Amanda LaFleur served as the moderator. Bruce was added to the panel through the work of HEAL–Helping Employ Artists Locally–a group dedicated to finding Lafayette-based work for all kinds of artists and others who work in the New Orleans hospitality industry. |