Louisiana Folk Roots Workshops
at Festival International de Louisiane

Listed below are the workshops that Louisiana Folk Roots will be hosting during Festival International. To see the rest of the festival schedule, click here.

Click here to see the Louisiana Folk Roots Jam Schedule.

All of the following workshops are free and will be located at Festival's Community Coffee Scène Héritage

Piano Simpatico
Saturday, April 29, 2006
12:15pm - 1:30pm
featuring David Egan and Kurt Boudreaux
with Todd Mouton as facilitator
Lafayette piano virtuosos David Egan and Kurt Boudreaux bring their signature styles to the stage in this unique presentation. Egan’s R&B-honky tonk-swamp pop sound and Boudreaux’s classical and jazz sensibilities complement one another seamlessly, and in the hands of these talented artists, the two pianos are able to find that common musical ground where performers and audience alike are assured of one great time. Facilitator Todd Mouton will ask just the right questions to keep this Louisiana musical mélange cooking!

Black Gospel Music Then and Now
Saturday, April 29, 2006
2:00pm - 3:15pm
featuring The Acadiana Ecumenical Choir
with Matilda Guidry Martin as facilitator & choir leader
Touching briefly on the grand history of Black Music, this workshop shifts its focus to the origins and evolution of Black Gospel Music in America. Lafayette native Matilda Guidry Martin, who has taught vocal music for over 30 years, leads the Acadiana Ecumenical Choir in performing African music, Spirituals, and Gospel Music from traditional to contemporary. By encouraging audience participation in rhythmic exercises and short vocal passages, Martin and her choir instill an even greater appreciation for this venerable musical tradition.

Women in Zydeco
Saturday, April 29, 2006
3:45pm - 5:00pm
featuring Dora Jenkins and Montanya “Me Me” Charles
with Herman Fuselier as facilitator
In a music genre dominated by men, Dora Jenkins and Montanya “Me Me” Charles of the Houston-based Dora and the Zydeco Badboyz are stand-outs. Dora on accordion and Me Me on rubboard belong to a small but talented group of female musicians who are making their presence felt in today’s hot zydeco scene. Noted music writer and radio host Herman Fuselier will facilitate this exciting workshop, showing how these women are able to blend the best of traditional Louisiana zydeco with the new sounds of Houston zydeco, adding their own unique flavor to the Gumbo that is zydeco music.

Balfa Brothers Tribute
Sunday, April 30, 2006
3:15pm - 4:30pm
featuring Ray Abshire, Tony Balfa, Christine Balfa Powell, Courtney Granger,
Dirk Powell, Peter Schwarz, and Kevin Wimmer
with Barry Ancelet as facilitator
Through the years, the musical legacy of the Balfa Brothers has been at the heart and soul of Cajun music and the Cajun heritage. This exceptional tribute to these beloved cultural icons features some of today’s most respected Cajun musicians, including Christine Balfa Powell, Dirk Powell, Ray Abshire, Courtney Granger, Peter Schwarz, and Kevin Wimmer, with a rare appearance by Tony Balfa. Renowned folklorist and music scholar Barry Ancelet will serve as facilitator for this extraordinary presentation.

THIS PROJECT IS MADE POSSIBLE
THROUGH A GRANT FROM
THE LOUISIANA ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
STATE AFFILIATE OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
AND A PARTNERSHIP AWARDS GRANT FROM THE
ACADIANA ARTS COUNCIL
WITH FUNDS PROVIDED BY
LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT