6th Annual Bayou 'n Brooklyn Music Festival Set for 5/13-15

Bayou 'n Brooklyn and Jalopy Theatre bring local talent together with an amazing line-up of Louisiana musicians for three full days of music, dance, workshops, community jam sessions, and food in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Louisiana-born Courtney Granger and Blake Miller are this year's headliners, and to welcome back long time supporter of the festival, Jesse Lege. Also in this year's line-up are Amelia Biere and Darren Wallace. The celebration kicks off with dance hall bands on Friday May 13, 2016 at 8pm, and the party continues until late Sunday night May 15, 2016. This three-day festival takes place at Jalopy Music Theatre (315 Columbia Street, Between Hamilton & Woodhull, Brooklyn, NY 11231). Three-day Weekend Passes are available for $60, and attendees may participate in music workshops in guitar, Cajun Song, Country Song, Cajun fiddle, Cajun accordion and bass for $30 each. Admission for day passes ranges from $25 to $35. For more information and to purchase workshop tickets, visit http://shop.jalopy.biz/product-p/sh-051316.htm.

Now in its sixth year at the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, Bayou 'n Brooklyn is Brooklyn's ground breaking, one of a kind Cajun, Zydeco Festival. Celebrate with a three-day-weekend full of music, dance, and regional Louisiana Jambalaya. Get a taste of Louisiana without leaving New York! Enjoy the musical excitement of Cajun and Zydeco bands and nonstop dancing. Look forward to community jam sessions, delicious dishes - including Louisiana-famous gumbo served at the Jalopy Tavern - and our famous Saturday Jambalaya Supper. Learn more about the festival by listening to Radio Free Brooklyn here: https://www.mixcloud.com/RadioFreeBrooklyn/20160210-bayou-n-brooklyn-music-hour/.

You won't find a lack of things to do during this three-day festival with the abundant food, brews, jam sessions, workshops, and dancing - you can even get a drawing made of you or your favorite musician! Have brunch while experiencing duo and trio performances at the Jalopy Tavern, equipped with a full bar and delicious menu. In the theatre, back-to-back bands will keep you dancing. Musical workshops begin at noon for musicians of all levels, followed by the Cajun Community Jam outside on the sidewalk. Bring your instruments, no experience required.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

The Grandson of well-known accordion builder Larry Miller, Blake Miller, has been surrounded by Cajun music and culture his entire life. Hailing from the small town of Iota Louisiana, Blake, a fluent French speaker and songwriter, managed to acquire a degree in Francophone studies from The University Of Louisiana at Lafayette, and in the mean time founded the popular young Cajun band, The Pine Leaf Boys, and became a member of the premiere Louisiana roots band, The Red Stick Ramblers. He has also served stints in just about every other Cajun/Creole band of note including Balfa Toujours, Les Malfecteurs, and Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole bringing his strong cultural identity and accomplished musicianship to the world.

Courtney Granger, fiddle & vocals, was born in Eunice, Louisiana. Master fiddler and extraordinary strong singer, Courtney hails from the Balfa family lineage, which is evident in his powerful vocals and heavily Balfa-influenced fiddling. Courtney produced his own solo CD in the mid 90s, which brought him praise from the Cajun music scene, landing him several CFMA awards. In 1999, Courtney joined Balfa Toujours on bass and fiddle. Courtney has also recorded with the legendary Tim O'Brien.

Courtney's endless repertoire of both Cajun and classic country tunes, as well his impeccable thoughtful fiddling and soulful singing, has made him one of the most sought-after Cajun fiddlers in the world, playing with legends Jason Frey, Dirk Powell, Horace Trahan and The Pine Leaf Boys (4 time Grammy nominees). This fall Courtney will release his long awaited debut Country album on Valcour Records.

Originally from twin cities, now from Lafayette, LA, Amelia Biere has grown in a household steeped with music, falling asleep to the sound of fiddles and stomping feet as lively barn dances ran late into the night. She was exposed to music and rhythm and the social connection that comes with enjoying music together and now has a well practiced music that resulted in a belting voice

A native of Lafayette, LA, Darren Wallace started playing fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and bass fiddle at the age of 15. Soon after, he began to seek out the older musicians in the area to study their style. This lead him to master fiddlers, Lionel LeLeux and Varise Conner, as well as many other great Cajun musicians from which Darren absorbed their music, as well as Western Swing, C&W, and Bluegrass and eventually developed his own unique style of playing. Over the years, Darren has shared the stage with many of the legends of Cajun and Zydeco music, some of which include Dewey Balfa, Canray Fontenot, Bois Sec Ardoin Eddy Lejune, Rockin Dopsey, and Merlin Fontenot. He spent a number of years as the house fiddler for Randol's Restaurant playing with a different accordion player every night, five nights a week

Deborah Monlux, producer, and pioneerBayou 'n Brooklynin 2011, paving the way for cultural exchange through music, art, dance and folklore. She was first inspired by the music of renowned Cajun fiddler David Greely former Mamou Playboy's fiddler, in 2010 and bridged the geographic gap by starting video-conference lessons with him shortly after. Deborah often travels to Louisiana to participate in festivals and workshops and soak up the Louisiana-born music and culture. She has played a prominent role in promoting the introduction of Cajun, Creole and Zydeco music and culture to a Brooklyn, NY audience by producing performances and jam sessions at venues that include Jalopy, Franklin Park Nyack, Lincoln Center BID, Postitively 8th in NYC, Galapagos Arts, the Atlantic Antic and Flatbush Frolic. She also plays fiddle in the NY based Catahoula Cajun Band.

Jesse Lége, creative visionary, artistic and sound directoraworld-renowned Louisiana accordion player and vocalist, is a strong supporter and creative director of the festival and a luminary for many musicians who are passionate about this special form of American Roots music. Jesse hails from Gueydan, Louisiana and has an impressive track record of more than 40 years of performances, including appearances at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Chicago Folk Festival. He is also a winner of numerous Cajun French Music Association awards, and was inducted into the Cajun Hall of Fame. Jesse Lége, continues to give his full support to Bayou 'n Brooklyn. As a true visionary, and Louisiana native, Jesse is the ambassador of Louisiana-born music and culture at Bayou 'n Brooklyn.

Jim Moore -Social Media Directoris a photographer who has documented the variety arts since the 1970s. His photographs helped Philippe Petit plan his tightrope walking stunt between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in 1974 and were prominently featured in the Oscar-winning film Man on Wire.Jim produces a weekly online radio show Bayou 'n Brooklyn Music HouronRadio Free Brooklyn.com every Wednesday at 7pm.

Photo by Dwayne Grimes