Lafayette Weekly

The Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Culture Camp returns this year with an outstanding lineup of Louisiana roots music filling every evening of the week. After a full day of workshops and instructional sessions, nightly performances and lively dances will take over the world-famous Lakeview Park barn. Located just northwest of Lafayette in Eunice, the event also welcomes outside guests to join campers for the barn dances.

Monday night features Balfa heiress and event co-founder Christine Balfa, who will pay tribute to her late cousin, fiddler and singer Courtney Granger, with an all-star lineup of musicians, including Jimmy Breaux. Tuesday brings a free dance featuring Horace Trahan, followed by Couillon Connection on Wednesday, and to close out the week, zydeco legend Preston Frank and his family band on Thursday evening.

Leading into the dances each night, audiences can enjoy intimate acoustic sets from an impressive list of performers, including father-daughter duo Mitch and Renée Reed, Ann Savoy and Jane Vidrine, the Cajun trio of Jesse Lége, Joel Savoy, and Jo Vidrine, as well as Steve Riley and family. Additional details can be found on the event’s website.

You’ll hear many of the artists appearing at Balfa Week and around the Hub City in this Lafayette Weekly Playlist. Preston Frank, Horace Trahan, and Step Rideau bring the zydeco beat, alongside modern folk from the Arcadian Wild and blues-rock grooves from Jonathan “Boogie” Long. The mix also highlights the eclectic Cajun harmonies of the Magnolia Sisters, swamp pop from Junior LaCrosse, and a funky second line by the New Natives Brass Band. Brand-new releases from C4 avec Steve Riley and Cedric Watson et Bijou Créole, plus a special collaboration featuring the late Cajun country legend Jimmy C. Newman and Hank Williams Jr., who plays the Cajundome on Friday with Asleep at the Wheel opening the show.