LA’s best Cajun, Zydeco, Blues and Roots music festival celebrated its 27th year in Simi Valley with two stages, two dance floors, a Mardi Gras parade, crafts, and lots and lots of food. It was a warm day, but not uncomfortably hot. Especially considering it was Simi Valley. Harold and Belles brought all of their classics along with the nouvelle fries etouffe. We also enjoyed jambalaya and barbecued tri-tip from the Smokehouse in Pedro. Naturally there was a crawfish boil. The live crawfish always attract a crowd, and not just kids. We also enjoyed ice cream and berry cobbler from the Cobbler Man, but can I just say for the record that this funnel cake thing is getting way out of control.
The lineup this year was outstanding. On Saturday the crowd danced to legendary accordion player, Dwayne Dopsie. He got everyone in the mood with a second line parade. The Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band brought me back to the Crescent City. A brass band is the most fun-sounding music in the world. A truly talented brass band like this one can also make you weep with nostalgia. We also caught a historic collaboration between Doug Kershaw, a renowned Cajun fiddler from the old days and modern Zydeco musician, Steve Riley from the Mamou Playboys. The band had such a good time playing off of each other, they may have had more fun than the festival-goers.
Photo essay after the jump
-
- Harold and Belle’s Catfish po’boy at Simi Valley Cajun & Blues, June 2, 2016. (Photo by Elise Thompson)
Ivor Levene took the second shift, covering the headliner, Eric Burdon.
