DENNIS STROUGHMATT & CREOLE STOMP
Every now and again a band comes along that redefines a genre of music and carries it even further…that group is Dennis Stroughmatt and Creole Stomp. Always leaving audiences wondering “who are they?,” and “where do they come from?,” Dennis and CS are based in southern Illinois and happily tell audiences “we are from upper Louisiana.” While this may bring chuckles from many and nodding heads from others “in the know,” this is the group that does represent “old upper Louisiana.” Dennis learned to speak French and play French Creole music in a southeast Missouri French Creole community before moving to the state of Louisiana.After returning to Illinois from Louisiana, Dennis began a long odyssey that eventually culminated in the forming of Creole Stomp in 2002. And since that time he and his band have carried the torch of French Creole music and culture across North America performing a blend of music from the state of Louisiana and old upper Louisiana. Their unique sound and mix of ancient and modern Mississippi River valley musical tradition positions them as the only band to encompass French Creole and Folk Music from the entirety of the old Louisiana Territory. And although Dennis continues to play with many of his Louisiana based friends on occasion, you can always find him at the helm of Creole Stomp playing somewhere from San Diego to Boston.
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LIL’ BRIAN & THE ZYDECO TRAVELERS
Young lightning-fingered accordion player Brian Terry and his Zydeco Travelers first found popularity in their native Houston during the early ’90s when he and his bandmates were in their early ’20s. It was master zydeco accordion player John Delafose who inspired Terry to begin learning the instrument at age 13. As his family is distantly related to the Delafose family, he even got to study with his mentor’s family. Other influences include Clifton Chenier and Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural.
After he’d begun mastering the accordion, Terry and his brothers Rick and Pat formed a band with a few others. Their father became their biggest fan and sponsored them, making sure they had the instruments and amps they needed. Terry started out in the group as just another musician, but eventually became their leader. They got their start playing in local Houston zydeco clubs and at the annual Juneteenth Blues Festival. During the 1991 Zydco Festival in Plaisance, LA, he and the band received an award for Youngest Zydeco Band. From their they began opening for Buckwheat in an Austin club. Over the years the band has had a few membership changes, but as of the mid-’90s are still noted for having some of the best young zydeco musicians around. They are also known for updating the zydeco sound by adding elements of blues and hip-hop music. In addition to playing a mean accordion, Terry is a talented singer and songwriter. They made their eponymous debut for Rounder Records in 1994. Three years later, the group released Z-Funk; Funk Nation followed in early 2000.
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DIKKI DU & THE ZYDECO KREWE
Dikki Du (Troy Carrier) was born in 1969 in Church Point, Louisiana and discovered his love for zydeco music at the tender age of nine. After school he would get together with his brother Chubby, sister Elaine and father Roy to play Zydeco music. At the age of twelve Troy moved to a little town called “Lawtell”, where his father had owned the Offshore Lounge for over fifteen years. Troy played the washboard for Roy Carrier, his father, on local gigs; he then joined forces with the great C.J. Chenier for two years. Troy’s brother Chubby Carrier then started a family band and offered Troy a job playing the drums. Troy toured with his brother from the late 80′s until the 90′s, when he returned home to pick up the accordion. It has now been eight years that Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe have been on the scene. Dikki Du has incorporated his musical heritage with unique experience to create one of the most innovative zydeco groups around. The krewe captures an audience with one of the best sets around. His original funky and hypnotic zydeco style announces that he has arrived, occupying a spot on par with the best. “Personally the triple row is the sound that I like the best”. says Dikki Du. He takes songs from classic zydeco and turns the inside out with fresh and funky renditions driving it to the next level. The krewe’s innovations revitalize zydeco charging it for years to come.
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HONEY ISLAND SWAMP BAND
Great music begins with great songs, and great songs are what the Honey Island Swamp Band is all about. The band came together after Aaron Wilkinson (acoustic guitar, mandolin, vocals) and Chris Mule’ (electric guitar, vocals) were marooned in San Francisco after the levee breaches following Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, and had a chance encounter with fellow New Orleans evacuees Sam Price (bass, vocals) and Garland Paul (drums, vocals) at John Lee Hooker’s Boom Boom Room on Fillmore Street. They knew each other from having all played together in some form or another in various New Orleans bands, and with the great unknown regarding their return to their underwater hometown looming in the distance, they decided to put together a band and get some gigs going. Fortunately, the Boom Boom Room’s owner Alex Andreas offered the band a weekly gig on the spot.
Honey Island Swamp Band‘s music has been described as “Bayou Americana”, with timeless songs from Wilkinson & Mulé, highlighted by Mulé’s searing guitar, Wilkinson’s sure-handed mandolin, and 4-part vocal harmonies, all anchored by the powerful groove of Price & Paul’s Louisiana stomp rhythm section. The addition of Trevor Brooks on Hammond B-3 organ to the HISB family in 2010 has rounded out the band’s sound, which draws from a variety of influences in the world of roots music, including artists such as Lowell George & Little Feat, The Band, Taj Mahal, Gram Parsons, Jerry Garcia, Johnny Cash, Jimmy Reed, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, and New Orleans’ own Earl King and Dr. John.
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MUDBUGS
Most people are surprised to learn that The Mudbugs Cajun & Zydeco Band’s members aren’t from the swamps of Louisiana, but from the plains of south-central Kansas. Their love of good times and family, the French language, Cajun food, and up-tempo, get-on-your-feet fiddle and accordion music are what brought them together.The Mudbugs are led by Carter Green on fiddle/vocals, Greg Ewing on accordion/vocals, and Erin Craddock on vocals and triangle. Adam Ewing plays the 5-string electric upright bass, Brian Cochran on electric guitar, Juliah Ewing on washboard and Jaime Green on her bright pink drum kit. The Mudbugs are a family affair, with two married couples and one set of Ewing brothers. In 2010 the group performed live on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” for a radio audience of 4.3 million listeners. The momentum from that performance is still growing, and they have since played numerous national music festivals. Their self-titled debut album has since been sold all over the world, and received 5-star reviews from two French roots & folk music magazines.Their music is a mix of French and English, original songs and Cajun classics, as well as a few popular songs that they “Cajunify”, such as Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire.” The Mudgbugs blend elements of Cajun, Zydeco, Country, Swamp Pop and Rockabilly into their instantly contagious Louisiana dancehall style. The group is well-known for their smiling faces and energetic live performances.
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BACKWATER BAYOU BAND
The Quad Cities’ very own Backwater Bayou Band kick-starts the party with their blend of Cajun, zydeco, rhythm & blues and Dixieland jazz. A Gumbo Ya Ya staple, providing New Orleans street music and a whole lot of good time.
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MAIN AVENUE JAZZ BAND
The Main Avenue Jazz Band from Clinton, IA. The Dixieland combo is comprised of six members, including former Prophetstown High School band director and area drummer, Tom Rogiewicz.Main Avenue Jazz Band is a small “band within a band,” namely the Don Karol Orchestra. This jazz band strives to maintain the basic big band sound through the acquisition of musical arrangements for the smaller group. Main Avenue Jazz Band also rewrites the existing repertoire of the big band sound and style, from the era of the bygone 1940’s.
The band includes Bob Bullard, trombone; Tom Rogiewicz, drums; Vivian Eaton, piano; Don Karol, trumpet; Scott Angelicci, clarinet. Their concert will feature some of those wonderful big band numbers: “Bill Bailey,” “Sweet Georgia Brown,” “Ballin’ the Jack,” and others.
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