CAMP ZYDECOW 2022 UPDATE

Hi folks, Back in July I did a piece on the “Camp Zydecow” Cajun/Zyceco music and dance weekend in Cherryfield, Maine. (You can read all about the festival in “Continuing Traditions #6”). There were Cajun and Zydeco bands from both New England and Louisiana there and the feature Zydeco band “from away” was Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble They hail from the “heart of Creole country”, Sunset, Louisiana, between Lafayette and Opelousas. The band has toured extensively through the US, so they’ve been up north many times, but I think Cherryfield (in “downeast Maine” far away from everywhere!) was a new experience for them and they were a new experience for Cherryfield too! (Think “culture clash”!)

Anyway I recorded this video Saturday evening just as the sun was setting after an amazing day of music and dancing. I think the video pretty much speaks for itself about how music brings everyone together. Sitting in on scrubboard with the band is “Miss Bonnie”, Bonnie Hale. Enjoy!!

Camp Zydecow will return in 2023. Info is on their Facebook page here: Camp Zydecow 2023 | Facebook

FIDDLE HELL BACK LIVE FOR 2022

Earlier this month I had the honor and pleasure to be on staff at “Fiddle Hell” which was held Nov 3-6 in Westford, MA. FH was back live after a 2 year Covid hiatus. Fiddle Hell is run by Dave Reiner and his family, and what a well run event it IS!! Since Covid was still a factor, attendance was limited but enthusiasm was very high!! I did 8 sessions: concerts, workshops and jams. This didn’t leave a lot of time to attend other sessions, but the Sea Chantey Blast on Friday night sticks out in my mind! Led by Jerry Bryant, the “jam” was scheduled from 11PM to midnight but after 12 quickly devolved in a “Bawdy Song” singalong.. Definitely R rated but what a great time!!! Fiddle Hell will be back online again in April and back live again in November of 2023. Info on the website.

FINALLY

Pam Weeks and I are still doing our online mini-concert and jam session every Tuesday night from 6:45 to 8 (going on 2 years now!). This is streamed live on Facebook and we have a loyal following and the evening is always a lot of fun. What makes this jam different is that we play almost entirely tunes that are requested by the attendees via FB chat. This often becomes a “stump the band” event, but we always honor requests, even if they get put off to the following week, and truth be told, we’ve learned a bunch of great new tunes that way. Check it out on Pam’s FB page. You can get that info here:  PAM AND BILL TUESDAY NIGHT ONLINE MINI-CONCERT AND JAM SESSION – FolkWorks  BUT, on Dec 20 we will deviate a little from the normal format and bring in our T-Acadie bandmate, Jim Joseph, for our annual Holiday Concert entitled “Little Known Gems of the Holiday Season”. Songs, tunes, Acadian, old-time, Quebecois, acapella, old-English, Doo Wop,.. you get the idea!!

That will start at 6:30 Eastern time and run until we are done (8-ish) . Please check it out!!

Seey’all next month! – bill