Sorry I didn't answer your question about Europe, Rick. I was hoping to find time give you a full answer.

I think interest in C/Z peaked around the early nineties. There are some really excellent players and bands over here, but you couldn't say the scene is thriving. It's usually the same old faces at a dance ( if you're lucky enought to find one ).

We have a couple of festivals in England - Gloucester and Bristol, but the best one ( in my opinion ) is Saulieu, over in France. I understand Zydeco is bigger in Holland, but Gus would know more than me. We are off to Raamsdonkveer next week, for the first time.

Christian could tell you more about the scene in France, and I reckon Glenn is probably the only C/Z fan in Italy!

The popularity of Reggae and Ska in UK is probably down to a steady influx of West Indians since the fifties.

One thing that suprises me is that you very, very rarely ever see even one black person at a zydeco dance. If only the black kids would get into it, the white kids would follow, like they have with rap.

One of the longest-standing UK bands is R.Cajun and the Zydeco Brothers, fronted by Chris Hall on accordion ( google swampmusic, or Cajun UK )Chris has done two series on C/Z on BBC radio, and R.Cajun ( he fronts other bands, too ) are regularly booked by Paul McCartney for his staff parties. Chris has also been on TV with Macca on the 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man' video. He's also worked with people like Bill Wyman.

You'd think, with exposure like that, there would be more interest over here, but to most people, Cajun just means spicy chicken. Makes you weep, dodn't it?

BJ

Here in Holland we have several C&Z bands.
There are about 3 traditional bands in Holland.
Further there are some bands(10) who play Cajun or Zydeco besides other styles of music like bluegrass, texmex, americana, rock and roll, blues, ......
If you go to link1 and then go to the English version of Cajun and Zydeco in the Netherlands, you can search for the bands by the links.
There are also links to other bands in Europe.
I only know the festivals in Raamsdonksveer(Holland), Saulieu(France) and Unna/Baasem(Germany).
I'm very happy with this events and all the other smaller things we can go to.
At all events you can see the same visitors.
Also dancing is very popular on the festivals.
But we are not with millions in Europe who like Cajun and Zydeco.

Thanks for mentioning me. But Ask Ron, I am a "newcomer".
Ron's been active for some years and he also wrote some interesting reviews of Salieu, for example.

But I can tell you that traditional cajun music is being played in the Netherlands by a small but persistent group So,`no weep nor mourn` here in the lowlands!!!!

Gus

Funny, Ron already answered while I was still struggling with the keyboard replying this message. Well done, Ron!

Gus

Yeah - Sorry. I meant Ron but I had a senior moment.

BJ

make sure you wear your "I`m BJ" shirt, Ron, this one is for BJ....so don`t wear your "Im BJ" shirt.

W

I'm the guy with a beer in my hand.

Thanks for the update -- I was always curious as to the extent of the popularity of C&Z in the EU. I'm trying to remember what my comment was, but I think it had more to do with the fact that European musicians have a talent for reinventing American music -- or perhaps looking at it from a different angle and then presenting it back to the US. Which in my opinion is very cool. Puts a fresh spin on things.

I hadn't seen that occur with C&Z necessarily, but that's not to say there aren't some outstanding C&Z musicians in the EU. I've heard their music and visited their websites, etc., but haven't had the chance to see any live shows. There's this guy, "Lil' Jim" who I think has a really cool stage presence and "look" but his music doesn't sound as edgy as his visual appeal. But, perhaps that's just it -- at least he's not wearing a floppy straw hat, bandana and overalls -- something so contrived. I like Lil' Jim's juxtapostion of eyeliner, dyed hair, chains and leather combined with a sound that you'd swear came straight outta Lafayette.

Expect the unexpected... that's what love about the history of the European influence on the world of art and music. Just wishing there was more of an embrace and spin on urbanized zydeco from the EU like the way so many artists there have adopted reggae as their own.

It's a cool "ponderization."

R!CK

Li'l Jim is from Derby. His dad played harmonica with R Cajun and Jim started box playing at about fourteen. He's come on recently from being a shy kid to a confident front man. He's backed by seasoned players, of course - usually Chris Hall etc.
Like most zydeco bands, he's better live.

BJ