Cajun Band BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet Comes To Napa Valley Opera House

Since forming in 1975, Grammy Award winners BeauSoleil have claimed their undisputed role as the most esteemed Cajun group in music. BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet take the rich Cajun traditions of Louisiana and artfully blend elements of zydeco, New Orleans jazz, Tex-Mex, country, blues and more into a satisfying musical recipe. From The Grand Ole Opry to Newport Folk, from concert hall to dance floor, the music of BeauSoleil continues to captivate audiences the world over. Over the past 30-plus years, BeauSoleil has been the very heartbeat of Cajun music and culture, keeping it vital through not only their attention to tradition, but also through passionate and inventive experimentation. This time around these twin creative approaches combine yet again, manifesting themselves in some of music's most authentic and recognizable names.

On the newest album Alligator Purse, BeauSoleil's fearless captain Michael Doucet leads the next installment of his musical journey along the lifeline of Cajun music, this time with an all star crew including Natalie Merchant ("Little Darlin'"), Garth Hudson ("I've Spent All My Money Loving You") John Sebastian, Roswell Rudd, Bill Keith and others.

Doucet's notable friends help him bring the rich folk traditions of south Louisiana into the 21st century through the genius interplay of a new take on Cajun favorites (‘Marie') and the ‘Cajunization' of modern folk classics. A French language reworking of Bob Dylan's cover of Muddy Waters' classic "Rollin' & Tumblin'" ("Rouler et Tourner") and J.J. Cale's "The Problem" stand alongside Cajun and Creole history lessons like "Reel Cajun (451 St. Joseph St.)," "Les Oignons" and "Théogéne Creole", originally sung for John and Alan Lomax's historic 1934 field recordings.

This new work continues a tradition of culturally significant output from Doucet and company. Doucet's solo work is distributed by Smithsonian Folkways records and Michael has received a grand from the National Endowment of the Arts for his work rediscovering the originators of early Cajun music.

Despite Doucet and the band's lofty intellectual pedigrees Alligator Purse is the funkiest history lesson ever created. It's a sweaty sweep through the lore of one of the most vital veins of America's musical heritage and a stark reminder that musical history is best served by a dance floor, not a museum.

When: Saturday, March 27, 8pm
What: BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
Where: Napa Valley Opera House; 1030 Main Street, downtown Napa
Price: $30 / $35
Tickets & Info: www.NVOH.org or 707.226.7372

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