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Sunday, September 5, 2004

22nd Plaisance Zydeco Festival Still Original and Still Going Strong!


22nd Plaisance Zydeco Festival Still Original and Still Going Strong!

Enthusiastic crowd and Strong Lineup Highlight the 22nd Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival

September 5, 2004

Submitted by Rod Sias
www.ZydecoOnline.com
Uniting the Zydeco Nation

The Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival is the world's first and oldest Zydeco Festival. The OSL Festival was first created, organized, and managed for the first 14 years by the Treasures of Opelousas, a local grassroots organization based in St. Landry Parish before it was taken over by the Southern Development Foundation. 
Labor Day weekend brought thousands of Zydeco enthusiasts into the heart of the Zydeco Nation as the 22nd Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival anchored the weekend with a foot stompin’, red-hot lineup of Zydeco musicians. Zydeco Festival weekend kicked off on Friday, September 3, 2004, at the legendary Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki. 

Chris Ardoin and NuStep and Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble kept the large crowd electrified and wanting more with outstanding performances. “The people are hyped and the party is jumpin’,” stated Lloyd “Big Lloyd” Mitchell, one of the hosts of Big Lloyd and B-Mill Zydeco Show, a popular Zydeco Show on KOCZ 103.7, a community radio station located in Opelousas, Louisiana. 

Brandon “B-Mill” Miller noted that “Chris is hot and Curley is hot, from what I see here tonight, it’s going to be a party this weekend!” Terry and the Zydeco Bad Boys started Saturday off on the right foot with a rock steady performance from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the 3rd Annual Opelousas Zydeco Breakfast held in downtown Opelousas on Court House Square. “Zydeco music, a good breakfast, and great weather, you can’t beat that, it’s a perfect combination,” stated Moriba Karamoko, Zydeco Historical & Preservation Society member and organizer. 

 "Ordinary local people started and maintained this festival for many years, and over the years that core value has been lost, Mona Kennerson, has been instrumental in recapturing that core value, and it is beginning to show in people's actions, and we have seen a steady improvement of the Festival in the last 5 years. She (Mona Kennerson) is true asset to our community."

Members of the newly formed Zydeco Historical & Preservation Society actively participated in this year's festival activities. "This is the first year we introduced recycling bins in the festival & we have a informational booth on everything from Creole food to maintaining good health," stated Jamie Sias, LSU Medical student and ZHPS organizer. 

Rod Sias (ZHPS Organizer), Mona Kennerson (Director of the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival) and Moriba Karamoko (ZHPS Organizer) at the 2004 Zydeco Fun Run in Opelousas, Louisiana.  Photo courtesy of the Zydeco Historical and Preservation Society, Inc.
"Ms Mona (Kennerson) has been great at getting local people re-interested in the world's first Zydeco Festival." Moribia Karamoko also added that "Ordinary local people started and maintained this festival for many years, and over the years that core value has been lost, Mona Kennerson, has been instrumental in recapturing that core value, and it is beginning to show in people's actions, and we have seen a steady improvement of the Festival in the last 5 years. She (Mona Kennerson) is true asset to our community."

“This is the first year that the festival was held without Mr. Luke Collins...he maybe gone, but he is not forgotten.” Mona Kennerson

It was the main event on Saturday, however, on the site of the Southern Development Farm in rural Plaisance, Louisiana, home to the 22nd Annual Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival, the world’s first Zydeco Festival, which generated an excitement very different from last year’s festival. For some, this energy would go unnoticed, for many it was a day full of mixed emotions. 

Luke Collins served as Master of the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival and is credited as the first radio personality to develop and host "The Luke Collins Zydeco Special," a radio program dedicated exclusively to Zydeco and Creole Music.  Luke Collins died on February 19, 2004 in Opelousas, Louisiana at the age of 63. Photo courtesy of the Zydeco Historical and Preservation Society, Inc.
This would be the first festival without the physical presence of Luke “Mr. Luke” Collins uttering the words, "We gonna have a foot stomping good time!" to kick off the Zydeco Festival. Gone were the familiar sounds and yells of the old Creole French phrases of “the old man in the field” that most people affectionately called “Mr. Luke.” “This is the first year that the festival was held without Mr. Luke,” stated Zydeco Festival director Mona Kennerson. “He along with many others are responsible for keeping the festival going, he maybe gone, but he is not forgotten.” 

This year’s Festival was hosted by several radio personalities like Boogie Man, Gervis Williams, host of the Gervis Show, Zydeco Mid-day Workout, and the Creole Heritage Hour, and Herman Fusilier, writer and host of Bayou Boogie. John Broussard and Melvin Caesar of KRVS added a presence off the stage by interviewing festival participants on the ground. Paul Scott, festival organizer, stated, “many people stepped up in ways that were amazing, it is a testimonial to the legacy and respect many people had for Luke Collins.”

Perhaps it was fitting that this year’s Zydeco Festival was dedicated to the life and service of Luke Collins. The weather was clear, sunny and hot! There was laughter and joy in the air commingled with the smells of good Creole food and the anticipation of the sounds of a very strong festival lineup that included Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers, Corey "Lil Pop" Ledet and his Zydeco Band, Chris Ardoin and NuStep, Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws, and J. Paul Jr. and the Zydeco Nubreedz. 

Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble gave an outstanding performance combining contemporary R&B and Blues with a Zydeco flavor. The crowd voiced their approval and danced harder when Curley sang songs such as “Country Boy”, “Zydeco Trouble” and “Must be the Music.” Chris Ardoin and NuStep kept the crowd on its feet with smooth accordion playing and the classic double clutchin’ style. Zydeco love was definitely in the air as Chris led the band singing the Zydeco ballad “Save the Last Dance” and “All About You.” 

Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers reminded the people that it was “Zydeco Time” and delivered an energetic Zydeco performance, Texas style. “The music is awesome and alive, you can’t stay still for very long. These are very talented and accomplished musicians who understand their craft.” stated Stephen Jones, a 2nd year medical student from Baton Rouge, Louisiana attending Meharry Medical College, and member of the Zydeco Historical & Preservation Society. 

“Zydeco music will never die, its too fun!”

During the evening hours the weather began to change and it looked as if the September rain and wind were on the horizon. However, Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws took the crowd to another level with a rugged syncopated Zydeco sound. Step reminded the crowd that “It’s gonna be a party, a Zydeco Party!” The crowd went Zydeco hog wild as Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws sang “From Step 2 U” and what has become the Zydeco Nation’s anthem “Going to Louisiana.” 

Scenes from the 22nd Annual Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Festival in Plaisance, Louisiana. Photo Credit: Rod Sias.   Photo courtesy of the Zydeco Historical and Preservation Society, Inc.
A light rain and gentle breeze came as Gervis Williams introduced J Paul and the Zydeco NuBreedz. “Mr. Luke must be shedding tears of joy!” said Gervis Williams. J Paul and the Zydeco NuBreedz gave a performance that can only be described as brilliant and soulful. The crowd screamed with satisfaction as J Paul and the Zydeco NuBreedz sang “I’ll Give You The World.” Just when you thought it could not get any better, J Paul sang an a-cappella slow version of “Move On.” The sounds from the crowd mixed with the sound of the rising wind and gentle rain were the appropriate background as the words “What’s the use of crying tears of pain? What’s the use of holding on when there is nothing left to gain? I know I must move on, I’m hurt but I gotta stay strong.” rang throughout the festival grounds. 

However, it was the closing performance of Corey "Lil Pop" Ledet and his Zydeco Band that was the most inspirational. By this time, the rain was pouring heavily and the dance floor was a pool of mud and water and most of the crowd was under the public tent preparing to leave. 

As Corey "Lil Pop" Ledet and his Zydeco Band began to play, young Zydeco Enthusiasts (most between the ages of 10 and 25) began to run out into the rain and dance. Eventually, Zydeco Enthusiasts of all ages (about 150 people were dancing in the rain.) The more the rain seemed to come down, the more intense Corey "Lil Pop" Ledet and his Zydeco Band played and the harder the people danced! “Corey played with a lot of heart and passion. 

It is an appropriate and somber moment. Mr. Luke would have been proud!” stated Paul Scott. Fourteen-year-old April McCree, a Zydeco Historical and Preservation Society Member and volunteer, summed it up as she and some of her friends came out of the rain. “Zydeco music will never die, its too fun!” 

Mr. Luke would agree. 

 22nd Plaisance Zydeco Festival Still Original and Still Going Strong!
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Item Reviewed: 22nd Plaisance Zydeco Festival Still Original and Still Going Strong! Rating: 5 Reviewed By: Rod Sias
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