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Playing To The Home Crowd
September is a sacred month in the Cajun music community. Musicians who travel across the world will leave one special weekend in September open, hoping for a chance to play for a fraction of their usual fee. What could be such a great gig that big names like Beausoleil, Geno Delafose and Balfa Toujours would be honored to receive an invitation? It’s Festivals Acadiens, the festival of Cajun music in south Louisiana. Festivals started in 1974 as a thoughtful investigation of the development of Cajun music. At the time, the “Cajun Renaissance” was revving up. Louisiana natives were beginning to take pride in their French language and unique culture. Scholars and enthusiasts took a new look at the lively music that had been played in dancehalls and homes for decades. The first Festivals Acadiens was a one-evening event. It soon grew to an all-day affair, and eventually took over an entire weekend. The festival moved outdoors to accommodate the crowds, who pressured organizers to include longer performances and more musicians. But as it grew, Festivals remained a homemade event – the musician’s own festival. Barry J. Ancelet, head of the Department of Modern Languages and director of the Center for Acadian and Creole Folklore at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, has played a role in Festivals’ production since the beginning. He and the other organizers keep an eye on the local music scene all year, taking note of who’s doing exciting things. They go to local clubs and attend the weekly performances at the Liberty Theatre in Eunice, where Ancelet hosts a live radio show. Musicians send in CDs and music lovers report in from places like East Texas and New Orleans with information about old favorites and newcomers. In February and March the organizers get together and talk about who needs to play at this year’s Festivals Acadiens. “We throw names on the table, and then we pare the list down,” Ancelet says. “It’s one of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do.” The Festivals team will get requests from bands and musicians hoping to strut their stuff before the hometown crowd, but Ancelet says no one has ever played the same year that they have asked to play. “If you have to ask, we haven’t noticed you doing anything exciting this year,” he says. In the 1980s, Festivals Acadiens hosted a few bands from France and Canada, but today the festival concentrates on Louisiana musicians. For a homegrown festival with an all-volunteer crew, importing talent can be expensive and a logistics nightmare. Besides, south Louisiana has more than enough talent to fill a weekend. While no one on the staff is paid, the musicians receive a modest amount for their performances. The system is very democratic, with each band receiving the same amount, regardless of fame. “Everyone wants to play here no matter what the pay,” Ancelet says. “It’s a statement about who’s who in Cajun music.” For some bands, it’s also a chance for that big break. Festivals Acadiens has introduced several new performers to the public. The addition of a second stage in the mid-1980s added to the ability to explore new talent and to look at the music in different ways. The second stage often hosts workshops, where fiddlers or accordion players will play a little, then stop and talk about the various styles of playing. A couple of years ago, Wayne Toups – known for his dynamic, energetic performances – sat down with four older musicians. The group played and talked about the songs, as the audience sat captivated. “How often do you hear performers talk about the music?” Ancelet asks. “With the second stage, we can schedule some unique programming.” Of course, Cajun music isn’t the only attraction at Festivals Acadiens. Festivals is plural because it combines three events – a music festival, a food festival and a crafts festival – into one popular weekend. Like Cajun music, Cajun food has broken through to the rest of the country and the world. It’s recognized as a regional American food choice, like Mexican or Chinese food. Still, as with the music, with Cajun food there’s no place like home. |