Festival International
April 24-28, 2013
Downtown Lafayette
Come Celebrate the 26th Anniversary of Lafayette's Best Free Festival
The rhythms of this unique festival are filtered not by the eardrum, but by the spirit ..... Melodies mingle deep in your soul ..... Music seeps from the pores of your skin ..... a calypso beat ..... a Canadian folk song ..... a tale of lost love ...... Parisian cabaret ..... Cajun waltzes .....Creole fiddling ..... Reggae ..... Carribean carnival chants ..... Zydeco ..... Soukous from Zaire ..... Haitian rara ..... New Orleans Rhythm and Blues ..... ballads from Mali ..... a montage of music from the French-speaking world ..... the essence of Festival International de Louisiane ...... where the world unites in harmony.
Festival International de Louisiane is the largest Francophone (French speaking) festival in the United States. This FREE Festival began in 1986, and has been held every year since, in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Music, dancing, cuisine, theater, cooking demonstrations, storytelling, visual arts, crafts, and street animation create a major cultural festival experience that is truly unique and memorable.
Food vendors at Festival International de Louisiane transport you to the streets of far away lands. Tabasco and cayenne peppers. Mouth-watering seafood. Spicy Caribbean flavors. Jambalaya. Delicate pastas. French pastries. The subtle and the mild. The bold and provocative. Aromas mix in the warm Louisiana air, bringing together diverse cultures, like those of France and Africa in dishes of the French West Indies and Creole gumbo. And an adventurous audience discovers far away lands in the flavors of the world.
Visual and performing arts abound in galleries and theaters throughout Lafayette. Expressions of freedom, emotion, opinions and ideas emanate from movements on stage and brush strokes on canvas. In every medium there are personal interpretations of human experiences from the far corners of the earth. Theater. Dance. Cinema. Visual arts. Beauty is everywhere - in the potter's clay, in the words of the playwright, in the weave of the cloth, in the heart of the artist. Festival International holds a special place in its heart of the children of the world. La Place des Enfants. Storytellers. Games. Music. Art. Hands-on programs and active participation teach children about the diversity of cultures around the world. It is learning and entertainment, but most of all, it's fun!
2013 Music Line-up Has Been Announced!
Wednesday, April 24
Lost Bayou Ramblers (Louisiana-Cajun), Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band (Louisiana-Zydeco)
Thursday, April 25
Nimbaya Women Drummers (Guinea-African Drum and Dance) Opening Ceremonies, Fatoumata Diawara (Mali-World Afrobeat), Volunteer Award, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (Louisiana-Brass/Funk), Imagine I Am (Louisiana-Experimental Pop), Rob Curto & Forro Matuto (Brazil-Forro), Oliver MTukudzi & the Black Spirits (Zimbabwe-Tuku Music), Abita Brewing Company (Abita Springs, LA), Taylor Verrett (Louisiana-Indie), Parish Brewing (Lafayette, LA), MacKenzie Bourg (Louisiana-Pop), Lost Bayou Ramblers w/ Mama Rosin & Rob Curto
Friday, April 26
Marco Calliari (Italy/Québec-Italian Carnival), Marc Broussard (Louisiana Soul/R&B/Rock), Charles Bradley (U.S.-R&B/Soul), Bodh'aktan (Isle de la Madeleine/Québec-Celtic Rock), Nimbaya Women Drummers (Guinea-African Drum and Dance), Sergent Garcia (Spain/France-Salsa/Hiphop), Mika Karni & Kol Dodi (Israel-World/Folk), Markus James & the Wassonrai (U.S./West Africa-Blues), Rob Curto & Forro Matuto (Brazil-Forro), Brother Dege (Louisiana-Delta Blues/Dobro), Feufollet (Louisiana-Cajun Folk Rock), Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic (U.S.-Zydeco), Bayou Teche Biere (Arnaudville, LA), Rex Moroux (Louisiana-Singer/Songwriter), NOLA Brewing (New Orleans, LA), Brushy One String (Jamaica-Blues/Reggae), Michael Juan Nunez (Louisiana-Southern Blues), Roddie Romero & the Hub City Allstars w/ Chic Gamine & Marc Broussard (Louisiana/Manitoba), Slamdango! Puppet Slam (Louisiana-Puppetry), THÉÂTRE Kremlin Komedy
Saturday, April 27
Destination Gospel Choir (Louisiana-Gospel), Markus James & the Wassonrai (U.S./West Africa-Blues), Le Vent du Nord (Québec-Traditional Québecois), Chic Gamine (Manitoba-Pop/Soul), Niyaz (Israel-Contemporary World), Dehli 2 Dublin (British Colombia-Celtic Punjabi Electronica), Sergent Garcia (Spain/France-Salsa/Hiphop), Lagniappe Brass Band (Louisiana-New Orleans Brass), Bayou Teche's LA31: Route de Rock w/ Soul Express Brass Band, Corey Ledet, Babineaux Sisters & Isle Dernière (Louisiana - French Rock n Roll/Brass), Mariachi Las Alteñas (U.S.-Mariachi), Marco Calliari (Italy/Québec-Italian Carnival), Mika Karni & Kol Dodi (Israel-World/Folk), Caleb Elliott (Louisiana-Pop songwriter), Mia Borders (Louisiana-Soul/Funk), Sunny Duval (Québec-Rock n Roll), Royal Teeth (Louisiana-Electro/Indie/Pop), Uncle Lucius (Texas - Rock n Roll/Blues), Brass Bed (Louisiana-Indie/Psychedelia/Pop), Red Baraat (U.S./India-Bhangra/Brass/Funk), Bodh'aktan (Isle de la Madeleine/Québec-Celtic Rock), Louisiana Folk Roots: International Fiddle Summit w/ David Greely & guests (Louisiana/Various), Louisiana Folk Roots: Dennis Stroughmatt & L'esprit Creole (U.S.- Cajun/Creole), Keith Blair Band (Louisiana-Blues), Solas (Ireland-Traditional), Mama Rosin (Switzerland-Cajun Rock), Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole (Louisiana-Zydeco), FIGHTS w/ Delhi 2 Dublin (Louisiana/British Colombia) & FEUFOLLET w/ Sunny Duval (Louisiana/Québec), Slamdango! Puppet Slam (Louisiana-Puppetry), THÉÂTRE Kremlin Komedy (Louisiana-Theater)
Sunday, April 28
LA Essentially Ellington Festival Winner (Louisiana-Jazz), Mariachi Las Alteñas (U.S.-Mariachi), Oliver MTukudzi & the Black Spirits (Zimbabwe-Tuku Music), Red Baraat (US/India-Bhangra/Brass/Funk), The Wailers (Jamaica-Reggae), Solas (Ireland-Traditional), Bodh'aktan (Isle de la Madeleine/Québec-Celtic Rock), Chic Gamine (Manitoba-Pop/Soul), LiL Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers (Louisiana-Zydeco), Mama Rosin (Switzerland-Cajun Rock), Niyaz (Israel-Contemporary World), FIGHTs (Louisiana-Indie Pop), Delhi 2 Dublin (British Colombia-Celtic Punjabi Electronica), French Mass (Louisiana), The Mercy Brothers (Louisiana-Hillbilly Gospel), Tribute to Hadley Castille w/ Sarah Jayde & the Sharecroppers (Louisiana-Cajun), Sunny Duval (Québec-Rock n Roll), Le Vent du Nord (Québec-Traditional Québecois), Young Band Nation Blues Project (Louisiana-Blues), Solas (Ireland-Traditional), Spoken Word (Louisiana-Poetry), Huval-Fuselier Trio (Louisiana-Cajun), Uncle Lucius (Texas-Rock n Roll/Blues), McKenzie Bourg (Louisiana-Pop), Audubon Choral Group (Louisiana-French Chanson), LJ Alleman Guitar Ensemble( Louisiana-Guitar), Tammat (France-Traditional), Brushy One String (Jamaica-Blues/Reggae), Bayou Teche Biere (Arnaudville, LA), The Onlies (Louisiana) Festival Appreciation Party w/ Blue Moon Allstars (Danny Devillier, Joel Savoy, Chris Stafford, Philippe Billeaudeaux) w/ international surprise guests - $10 - Free entry with festival volunteer shirt or volunteer badge
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For more information, go to the official site of Festival International de Louisiane.
