Friday, March 30, 2007
If you are looking for a new musical experience but are wary of the enormity of Jazz Fest, our swinging sister city to the west is hosting the 21st annual Festival International de Louisiane April 25-29 in downtown Lafayette.
Designed to bring acts from across the French-speaking world, Festival de Louisiane is an intoxicating mix of the best street food you’ve ever seen (keep an eye out for crawfish pistolettes) and funky party music from around the world. And it’s free to attend.
Louisiana artists are in full force: Marcia Ball cracks her whip on one end, while the city two-steps to Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys on the other, with BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet filling up the middle. The real treat here is the number of exquisite African, European and Caribbean artists who show that world music is more than just a neglected section in the record store.
Vieux Farka Touré, son of the late Mali blues icon Ali Farka Touré, has picked up where his father left off, reeling the most infectious acoustic guitar music into the air. Also on tap are Balkan Beat Box, which made a big stir at Bonnaroo last year with an improbably successful mix of Arabic rhythms, hip hop beats and mind-blowing stage presence. Also be sure to catch Salif Keita, who gave up his place in the royal line of Mali to pursue his muse, becoming one of the great stars of Africa. His soaring voice and massive ensemble, mixing West African and Islamic melodies with Western arena bravado stands as one of the most moving shows.
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