Crowds enjoy festival’s diversity
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LAFAYETTE — Crowds of people showed up in downtown Lafayette Saturday to enjoy the music being played at the Festival International de Louisiane.
By noon, Jefferson Street was packed with revelers, as was Vermilion Street. The many food venders were busy feeding visitors either a late breakfast or an on-time lunch.
Scene International, the largest music venue off Polk Street, also was alive as Moov, a musical troupe from Martinique, an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, took the stage.
When the 20-plus members of the percussion band began playing, the sound was audible blocks away and people could not resist coming to see Moov perform.
Wearing uniforms blended with traditional Martinique dress, the large drum corps filled the stage with motion and sound, much to the delight of the dancing audience.
Moov members also sang in Martinique-accented French to the alternating, undulating rhythms of their strong, full Caribbean sound.
On hand to enjoy the music was Mardessa Durall, a visitor from Long Beach, Calif.
While enjoying a break and a snack, Durall said the festival was a wonderful opportunity to experience the diversity of music from around the world in the format of an Acadiana festival.
“The music is truly special, it is awesome,” Durall said. “You don’t see this musical diversity very often. I really enjoy the French, Creole and African bands the most.”
At the corner of Jefferson and Vermilion streets, hundreds of people moved from one venue to the next and stopped to enjoy small acts along the way such as Wind Rhythms, an American Indian band playing Inca and Navajo-inspired music on homemade flutes and guitars.
Later in the afternoon, Las Erendiras, a Mariachi band made up of women from San Antonio, Texas, playing traditional Mexican music, took the stage at Scene Fais Do Do.
Under the direction of Jose Torres, Las Erendiras quickly attracted a crowd with their excellent playing.
Dressed in traditional Mariachi garb with long skirts substituted for trousers, the women played a fun, passionate mixture of traditional pieces and original compositions.
Torres said this was Las Erendiras’ first visit to Lafayette and thanked the crowd for its support.
He also expressed pride in Las Erendiras for its progress in opening to women the performance of traditional Mexican music.
“Mariachi dates back to the mid-19th century in Mexico,” he said.
“It later migrated to the cities and became a modern tradition and global icon of Mexican culture. It is traditionally a male-oriented heritage, but we are proud to represent that heritage and (sooner or later), by the time my daughter is my age, I hope the guys and girls will learn to play together.”
22nd Festival International de Louisiane schedule
TODAY
Popeyes Scène International
- Noon: Samarabalouf (France-Gypsy jazz)
- 1:30 p.m.: Red Stick Ramblers (Louisiana — swing/jazz)
- 3 p.m.: Joaquin Diaz (Dominican Republic/Québec-merengue)
- 4:30 p.m.: Javier García (Cuba/Spain — Latin)
- 6:15 p.m.: Burning Spear (Jamaica — reggae)
Southern Comfort Scène Fais Do Do
- Noon: MOOV Women’s Carnival (Martinique)
- 1:45 p.m.: Benjy Davis Project (Louisianam — Southern rock)
- 3:30 p.m.: Les Breastfeeders (Quebec — indie rock)
- 5:15 p.m.: Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience (Louisiana — zydeco)
TV5Monde Scène Lafayette
- 11:45 a.m.: Ann Savoy & Her Sleepless Knights (Louisiana — swing/jazz)
- 1:15 p.m.: Brass Bed (Louisiana — rock)
- 3 p.m.: Etran Finatawa (Niger — nomad blues)
- 4:45 p.m.: Benwela (Québec — rock/reggae)
Community Coffee Scène Heritage
- 11 a.m.: French Mass
- Noon: Men of Vision (Louisiana — gospel)
- 1:30 p.m.: International Accordion Summit (Louisiana/Dominican Republic)
- 3:15 p.m.: Las Eréndiras (Texas — mariachi)
- 5 p.m.: Warren Storm, Willie Tee & Cypress (Louisiana)
La Place Des Enfants
- 11 a.m.: Rafaél Teixido of Teatro Alpargata (Argentina — puppetry)
- 12:15 p.m.: Lafayette High Strings (Louisiana — traditional fiddles)
- 1:30 p.m.: Brice Kapel (Togo — children’s’ song)
- 2:45 p.m.: MOOV Women’s Carnival (Martinique)
LUS Pavillon de Cuisine
- 1 p.m.: VIM; Get Over It (ULL — danse)
- 2:30 p.m.: Avon Lady (Louisiana — comedy)
- 4 p.m.: Dissolve; Breaking the Mold (ULL — danse)
- 5:45 p.m.: Transforming Embrace (ULL — danse)
Special Events
- Downtown Galleries Open
- Hardrive Alien Jumpers at various locations (U.S.)
- MOOV Women’s Carnival at various locations (Martinique)
- ULL Dance Department at various locations (Louisiana)
- Noon: Rhythm & Soul’s Urban Dance Workshop by Terrence Blanchard — Cité des Arts (danse)
- 2:30 p.m.: Workshop: MOOV (Martinique) — drum/carnival workshop — Cité des Arts
- 3 p.m.: Louisiana Story viewing: Reverse Angle viewing and panel discussion — ACFM
- 7:30 p.m.: Red Stick Ramblers (Louisiana) with The Duhks (Manitoba) — Blue Moon Saloon, 215 E. Convent St.
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