blog| Whiskey River Festival collection....SO FAR! | |
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Mayor's Thames Festival, London, Ameland Cajun and Zydeco Festival, Holland, Canterbury Festival, Bristol Cajun and Zydeco festival, Gloucester Cajun and Zydeco Festival, Broadstairs Festival, Opwijk Cajun and Zydeco festival (Belgium, headlining), Carman Fair Festival (Eire, headlining), Royal Welsh Show BBC Pavilion, Hereford Beer Festival,, Folk on the Water Festival, Mayfest Blues Festival, Hertfordshire, Talgarth Festival Wales, Pontardawe Festival, Wales, Cardiff Bay Festival, Wales, Millennium Centre, Wales, Swamprock Club "Mardi Gras Party" London, Big Cheese Festival, Wales, Ludlow Fringe Festival, Sheep Music Festival, Wales, Ledbury Festival, Coleford Music Festival, Cinderford Town Festival, Frankwell Beer Festival (Shrewsbury), Blue Front Blues Room Club, Gloucestershire, Llangorse Festival Wales, and many more. We play limited tours in UK and Ireland performing at Arts centres, theatres, festivals and events and at many other exciting venues. We have appeared on radio shows, including live sessions and broadcasts. We deliver high standard music workshops. GET IN TOUCH. WE'D LOVE TO PERFORM AT YOUR VENUE.
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| Whiskey River - opinions. | |
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Whiskey River; what are they like? "You guys are great!" KBON Radio, Eunice, Louisiana. Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Festival 2006 "We arrived at The Folk House, Bristol at lunchtime on the Saturday, following a breakneck speed drive from Canterbury on Saturday morning, after playing with Whiskey River at the Canterbury Festival on Friday night in anticipation of a weekend of great music and dancing, tasty food and meeting up with old friends and acquaintances. Whiskey River with Aidan Sheehan (vocals, accordion and blues harp), Martin Blake, (vocals and guitar), Ted Bunting, (saxophone), Rick Buck (bull fiddle), and Pedro Brown (drums) with Carole Lateman guesting on frottoir, played a great mix of danceable sounds, from Rockin' Cajun and Zydeco to Jump Jive and Rock 'n Roll, including some great Chuck Berry covers: a memorable Little Queenie and You Never Can Tell. The dance floor was jumping the whole set with dancers of all styles. Whiskey River have played at nearly 40 festivals in the last two years, and tracks from their CD, Tales from The Swamp, have been played on UK radio as well as KBON, Louisiana, to enthusiastic reviews. (We listened to the CD three times in the car on the way back to London and their versions of Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Chile and Dire Strait's Walk of Life are fantastic!). Bristol Festival 2006 Review. "A storming triumph... magic, sheer magic!" Mick Tems, Folk Wales."Whiskey River... the capacity crowd kept the dance floor jumping all night. We were delighted to welcome some visitors from across the Big Pond, from Atlanta, Georgia, Philadelphia and Texas, who couldn't believe they had found a little part of Louisiana on a cold February night in London!" Gary Hayman's US-based website (re; SwampRock Club event, London, 2006) "I really enjoyed your show as a three piece - you don't need anyone else - you are great as you are!" Andy Roberts "Jazz in Wales", BBC Wales. "You guys are amazing; you play real good, so full of energy". Sheryl Cormier, "La Reine de Cadjin" Louisiana. "I love this version of Mack the Knife! I've never heard a country jazz version before. Whiskey River, you are all great!!Anna Lea Pudan, singer, Toronto, Canada. Aidan & Martin. Congratulations on your excellent gig on Saturday. You really had us dancing with that accordion. WE can play "Jambalaya" but its not cajun unless you have that old cajun squeezebox. I'll watch out for Whiskey River again. You both play instinctively which makes for good music." "Brandywine Appalachian Cloggers". "These boys sound just like the real thing" Frank Hennessey, BBC Radio Wales "Whiskey River - fabulous band!" Owen Money; BBC Wales. "You put on a solid, professional show. It was a wonderful night. Thank you". Canterbury Festival 2006 "Mae Whiskey River yn creu gymbo cyfareddol o seiniau sy’n tarddu o Ddeep South America i Wylltiroedd". "TRAC Cymru", (Welsh Folk Music Support Organisation), Wales. Hello Aidan, Thanks very much for your e-mail. We all had a great time at Darley Abbey; you and the boys always provide us with a good nights entertainment and the added bonus is getting to see your family. We were all very impressed with the little interlude from the "Dynamic Duo". What talented musicians you are ! Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and maybe we will have the pleasure of dancing to WR in 2008. Maureen & Peter Nichols. Cajun UK members, Derby 2007. Now, come and see for yourselves.
(There are plenty more opinions to see below - scroll down a few entries) |
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| Testimonials section | |
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17 festivals in 2005 , 18 festivals in 2006 plus BBC Wales performances and appearances at quality venues countrywide and further afield. So, what are people saying about "Whiskey River" and their performances at home and abroad .......................................................................... "You guys are amazing; you play real good, so full of energy. I listened to your show at Gloucester. You saw that I was standing at the front. I enjoyed your show very much. Did you take your drummer with you to Louisiana when you visited? Your drummer is just the best. When I go back, I'm going to tell some people I know about you. They put on bands; let's see if y'all can come over and play. Come and visit with us next time you're in Louisiana". Sheryl Cormier, "La Reine de Cadjin" (following Gloucester C&Z Festival 2005). ............................. "Swamp Rock" London celebrated Mardi Gras Louisiana style once again last Saturday, with a rip-roaring Zydeco dance party starring the amazing "Whiskey River Zydeco Twisters", all the way from the swamps and bayous of Deepest Herefordshire, and the Welsh borders. Our American friends were amazed to discover that Whiskey River was a UK band - they thought they were the 'Real Thing' from Louisiana! The band, with their hot new line-up including Ted Bunting on tenor sax and Rick Buck on double bass, as well as our old friends Aidan Sheehan on accordion, harmonica and vocals and Martin Blake on guitar and vocals, were joined by Lil' Queenie on frottoir to give us two great sets of Rocking Zyde-Cajun blues and Rock 'n Roll. The capacity crowd kept the dance floor jumping all night. We were delighted to welcome some visitors from across the Big Pond, from Atlanta, Georgia, Philadelphia and Texas, who couldn't believe they had found a little part of Louisiana on a cold February night in London! Gary Hayman's US-based website (re; SwampRock Club event, London, 2006) ....................... "You put on a solid, professional show. You were all really "On the ball", and it was a wonderful night. Thank you". Rosie, spokesperson, Canterbury Festival 2006 ..................... "Thank you very much for playing at Bristol - everyone I have spoken to had a great time! Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did :¬) Good luck with the Harmonica Festival this weekend too; see you soon somewhere". Satu Phillips, co-organiser, Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Festival 2006. ....................... "You boys are SO amazing - we LOVE you!" Jack Doyle, Co-Director, The Carman Fair 2006, Co. Kildare, Ireland. ....................... "Aidan, I will play with you and Martin whenever, wherever - just ask". Bernard Kibride, musician, "The Kilbride Brothers". ........................ "I'm really enjoying your cd by the way...you guys are great! I will include your songs on the next "Bulletin from Britain" which will air this Summer on KBON. The album is great; I think Louisiana will approve!" Peta Waddington, KBON Radio Deejay, Eunice, Louisiana. ................................... WHISKEY RIVER; ("Reedham Ferry Folk Festival"; request). Dear Tony, if I may make so bold - will be brief, as you are doubtless flat out with this years bash. We are Norfolk locals (Hales Green) with long, strong links to Broadstairs and have just returned from the Folk Week down there. The definite highlight for us was "Whiskey River" - not dancers ourselves, we enjoyed them just for the music, while the whole room was a blur around us - people were dropping back into seats -knackered, then were back up as they kicked off again. I have just e-mailed the group to see if they ever get up to Norfolk and understand there is a chance they might be "in the frame" for next year at the ferry. Please consider this a plug' for the lads and count us in if you get them.... yours faithfully - D & K C. Denise and Keith Chapman (UK music fans) ............................ "To Whiskey River - thank you for making our 40th festival year so special" Kim Headly, Director, Broadstairs Folk Week Festival 2005. ..................... "We thought y'all were from Louisiana man. You have the sound and the atmosphere just right; y'all are just awesome". Zyde-Cajun fan from Atlanta, Georgia, USA (upon seeing WR in London 2006) ................... "Our old friend Martin Blake and harmonica ace Aidan Sheehan play great music together as "Whiskey River" - serial musos! Check them out when you can". Mick Tems, Llantrisant Folk Club, Wales. ....................................................... "What a brilliant set; I love cajun music and you don't see enough of it. Reminded me of the Swamp Club in Derby about 10 years ago. You sound like Dr. John - a bit of an influence there I think! Great accordion playing, great set. We had a great night and the crowd loved it. Thanks". Homegrown Festival 2006, Powys, Wales, UK. ................... Outstanding; what an event - great to see everyone dancing and having a wonderful time. Martin Featherstone, Director, "Gray Matter" PR, Bedfordshire. ............................. "Just caught your set - you were great". Dick Gaughan, folk musician, (at Courtyard Arts music event, Hereford 2005) ............................... "Hey man, thanks. You can really play that accordion - you oughta come over to the Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans - I made that!" Lazy Lester (Leslie Johnson), Louisiana Blues legend. .................... "Martin Blake and Aidan Sheehan: this seriously brilliant duo have been thrilling concert and festival audiences with their singing and guitar banjo mandolin Cajun squeezebox whistle and harmonica". Wyeside Arts spokesperson, Builth Wells, Wales. .......................... "You are an outstanding band. I highly recommend Whiskey River". Director, "Write to the Point" PR, UK .......... Hi Aidan You guys were fantastic on Saturday, everyone had a ball. Particularly liked your new line-up and set, very appropriate for Swamp Rockers and dancers. Very successful night, please come again! Carole Lateman, SwampRock Club, London (2006) ............ "Thanks for all your hard work - you were great!" Kate Sullivan, Thornhill Communities First, Wales. .................. "You guys are really talented; you are in fact .... GREAT". Spokesperson, "Maria Vincent and the Millionnaires" (band). ................. Hi Martin, I loved the music on Saturday night, it's a pity my leg isn't better or I'd have danced every dance. The acoustic part was brilliant! I loved the Mardi Gras that the three of you did. Your version of it is quite special, and the fiddle added something else, I wish I'd recorded it. Please pass my thanks on to the others who's emails I don't have. See you at the priory on 12th March if not before. cheers! Wendy Clare, organiser, Yarpole Cajun Night. ..................... "Hi Aidan, Ive just been playing a couple of tracks from your site. Lovely stuff. I have been a fan of Marty for years say "Hi" from me when you see him next. Looking forward to you doing some gigs in my neck of the woods... I am tempted". Blanche Rowen, "TRAC CYMRU", Wales. .................................. "You are "Whiskey River"? We heard of you you guys - Martin, I never knew it was you. We hear you're good! We want to come and see you play, maybe have a jam some time whilst we are over here in England. Keep in touch, great to see you guys. Martin, you are a GREAT guitarist. Come and visit next time you are in Louisiana". Bobby Michot, US Cajun musician, Lafayette, USA. ........................... "To Aidan & Martin, Thanks for the BEST of Music Live in "The Rising Sun" Brownstown. We really had a ball on both of your visits to us. Long may you reign, & the best of IRISH LUCK to you Both". Mai & Timmy Roles, (at The Rising Sun), Brownstown, Kildare, Ireland. ........................ "Another great night Aidan - what can I say. You'll be back for our festival next year". Mick Billings, Cajun UK event, 2005. .................................. Featured band "Whiskey River" - on our "One to watch out for" list... Announcer, Forest of Dean Radio, UK ........................................ "I have never seen a reaction like that - you're the best "Saturday night warm up band" we have had here in years". Sound Engineer, Broadstairs Folk Festival 2005. ............................. "Martin, a bit delayed this note I know, but just to say what a great night at the "Nightjar Folk Club" that was - many, many thanks. It's done the club a lot of good. They loved your music, and the humour was also appreciated. Please pass on my thanks and regards to Aidan. See you soon. Derek K". Derek Kent (Organiser, "Nightjar Folk Club", Hereford). ...........................
"Yes, I stumbled across Whiskey River by accident - the good news is that we are DEFINITELY booking Whiskey River!" Tony Dinsdale, Director, Reedham Ferry Folk Festival, Norfolk, UK. ................................. "Again I thank you for the wonderful music on Saturday night. I always love your concerts but there was something very magical about your performance the other night. The band line up was perfect. You all deserve it". Val O'Donnell, Whiskey River fan (at Cajun UK's Christmas bash with WRZT 2005). .............................. "I wish I could play harmonica like you." (Steve, member of festival audience) "So do I!" (Aidan, member of the band) Hereford Barrells Beer Festival, 2005. .......................................... "Yes it was a fabulous night, thanks to all in Whiskey River (loved the string bass). Have a great Christmas". JIM JEFFRIES, Cajun UK event, England. ................................ "Thank you for a great performance - you sounded really good, and I look forward to the next time. Ms. Eli Williams, Producer, BBC RADIO WALES (Royal Welsh Show 2005). ........................ "Aidan; you're certainly a tough act to follow." Ben Hewlett, Director, "Harps Cool" (UK's premier Harmonica tuition Organisation). ......................... "Mae Whiskey River yn creu gymbo cyfareddol o seiniau syn tarddu o Ddeep South America i Wylltiroedd Gwalia". "TRAC Cymru", (Welsh Folk Music Support Organisation), Wales. .............................. "I just thought I'd give you a call and say how much I enjoyed your show at Llangors Festival 2005. I am on tour to Bulgaria for the next few weeks, but I had to call and say it was absolutely brilliant - speak to you again". Alan Cooper, "Crannog" (Folk Group), Wales ............................. "These boys sound like an act not to miss". Paul Marx, Director, KBON Radio, Eunice, Louisiana. ............................ "Voor de eerste maal in Belgie!!!!!!!!! Whiskey River spelen Cajun, Zydeco en Rocking Blues - dit is een absolute aanrader". "Opwijk Louisiana Night Festival" - publicity 2005 ................................. Hello again Aidan, Thanks for the CD. This is indeed the stuff we need at our "Louisiana night". Yesterday we all agreed upon the bands we will schedule; "Whiskey River" is one of them. I'm sure you'll have a good time up here. (Flemish people are very warm and friendly). Kind regards, Peter. Peter de Nil "Opwijk Louisiana Night Festival", Belgium 2005. ............................. "Great set boys - just what the audience needed at this point in the day. You were the best band on at the fesitival, I mean it". Gerard Kilbride, "The Harbour Festival 2005", Cardiff Bay, Wales. .......................... "Whiskey River Cajun Band, will have everyone dancing to their heady mix of Cajun, Zydeco and bluesy Rock & Roll." Brian Pretty, "NovemberFest" Festival, Lichfield, England. ............................. "I haven't seen a night like this for years - all the applause - fantastic! Fair play to you". Owner, "The Rising Sun" (Famous Music Venue) Brownstown, The Curragh, Co. Kildare. ......................... "You are now booked for Pontardawe Folk Festival 2006". Organiser, Pontardawe Festival (immediately following our "Cardiff Bay Harbour Festival" performance). ......................... "Thanks again for a great night at Bramcote. Sue and I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of music which gave us a great opportunity to 2-step, jitterbug, waltz, swing jive, zydeco and dance the blues. Just 2-stepping and waltzing all night can get a bit monotonous. Love the harmonica bits. Well done to you all....and you are all so friendly". Best Regards, JJ. Jim Jefferies, CAJUN UK, England ............................. "Look at the reaction you boys got - you have something special, don't forget and don't loose it." Liam O'Neil, Music Agent, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. ........................... "Dear men - caught you at Broadstairs - a blinding evening! will keep eyes peeled for any Norfolk gigs - keep it live!" Yours, D & K C. Denise and Keith Chapman (music fans) ................................. "Hi Aidan & Martin. I just stumbled on to your site.Excellent site, so good to hear whole tunes! Really nice to have contact with you and say it's great that you are still playing and busy! No immediate prospect of a gig here at the moment but I will be in touch if something comes up. All the best to you both". Declan Connolly - Co-Director, "Span Arts", Wales. ................................ Thanks Aidan. I like the way you rock it up! When Carole Lateman told us what you were like we knew you would be well received at Mayfest. Great set; the audience loved it. Mike Jackson, Director "Mayfest" Festival, Herts. ............................... "I'd like to thank you for you slick and professional performance. The audience really enjoyed your music; we will see you again in June". Peter Reynolds, "Wales Millennium Centre", Cardiff. ............................. "The town party for the Ledbury poetry festival took over the whole of the town centre, closing all the streets and filling it with well over a couple of thousand people. "Whiskey River" is the Cajun band who played there tonight, and they were great fun. Street parties are not really my thing, but ...THIS WAS GOOD". "Green Man Archives" - July 2003 .............................. Hi Aidan re; Newport Folk Club., 28th July 2005. Nice to see you again after all those years. One of the best nights since the gigs at "The Boat at Penallt" a few years ago. Hope to catch up with you soon. Brian Humphreys, (music fan/musician, Wales). ............................ "What a super performance, and a great way to end our festival. You'll be back next year". Sophie Meek, Cinderford Music Festival. ................................. "Whiskey River are a funky, Rootsy Americana outfit that really got the audience going. Fine musicianship, heartbreak vocals and cajun rhythm - an excellent band for any occasion. Whiskey River made the "Blue Front Blues Room" Christmas Party a night to treasure. We had so many enthusiastic comments we must have them back. Thanks for also playing at our Forest Festival boys - your set was really well appreciated and the rain held off too". John Anderson, MC, "Blue Front Blues Room"/ "Coleford Festival" , Gloucestershire. .................................... Thanks for your great headlining performance at the festival Aidan. Whiskey River were exactly what we needed to complete the day's proceedings; you were everything I had expected. Adrian Peregrine, Director, Llangors Festival, Wales . ......................... "...An EXCELLENT performance. Thanks a lot! See you in Gloucester in January." Philippa Woodcock, 1st Bristol Cajun and Zydeco Festival. ................................. "Great to see you boys here again; you are my favourite band". Organiser, 1st Frankwell Beer Festival, Shrewsbury. ................................ Aidan & Martin, Great night last night..... Hope to see you soon / have a bash together (drinks provided) Aidan, that was a fabulous night. Your harmonica playing is outstanding; I am not just saying that. Come around to my house for a bash and we'll drink that bottle of whiskey - we're not getting any younger are we? Brian Pugsley - Newport Folk Club, Wales ........................... "Hey you! That's my girl. Give it a twirl. You're heard round the world. You right about the "killer cd stuff" - remember Peta you are an honourary back door cajun - a distinguished position not to be minimised. You are an open door to the world - give it to me / us!!!" "Frenchy" Huval ("Kyle Huval band", Eunice, Louisiana ) re; Peta Waddington playing "Whiskey River" tracks on KBON Radio, La., ............................. "You did good son! We were boppin' - well done! You enjoy the music, and that's what you gotta do - have some fun with it!" Russell Cormier, US Cajun musician (following Gloucester C&Z Festival 2005) ............................. "Whiskey River - a great Band, great stage presence, great time guaranteed! Real favourites of mine." Gary Price, BBC Radio Wales (Specialist Music Producer). ....................... Thanks for playing..hope you all enjoyed it - keep on Rocking! Chris Hall (Organiser/musician- Gloucester C&Z Festival) ............................ "Your band is just great to dance to. We are long time fans of your music as you know". Pete Smith, UK Cajun Dancer / tutor/musician. ........................... "Don't miss these guys. They cook up a heady gumbo of American Roots music with style and panache. Great playing, great harmonies - full house guaranteed. Come early to avoid disappointment"! Dennis Schiavon, The Courtyard Arts Centre, Hereford. ......................... "We surfed the net and we came across you guys. We listened to your music and we just couldn't stop dancing. We like "Geno Delafose" and "Jamie Bergeron and the Kicking Cajuns". Sorry to have missed you last time. If you are coming over to Louisiana again please let us know - hell, we'll stand y'all a round of beer!" The Grice family, (music fans), Baton Rouge, Louisiana. .................................. Thought you guys were fantastic in Gloucester; you really should have been on the main stage. But it was a great atmosphere in cinema, far better than "Cafe Bar", and room to dance! Please keep me posted of any gigs near to London - if any, would love to see you guys again before May Fest. Hope to see you again at Swamp Rock very soon! Take care. Carole Lateman, "SwampRock Club" (following Gloucester C&Z Festival) ..................... It's lovely to see you again. Just caught your second set (Gloucester Cajun Festival). You were fantastic, great - I really mean it. Glad to hear your still doing so well. Carole Wilson ("Zigazag" musician / C&Z dance tutor) ...................... "You're great! This is the best night we've put on, with the best band - thanks boys! We'l have to get you back soon." Greg & Wendy Clare, Herefordshire Cajun Dance Organisers. ........................... Hi Aidan Really enjoyed your sets in the cinema at Gloucester. Storming. Everyone else enjoyed it too. It needed a bigger room really. Great Festival! Neil Papworth, SwampRock Club, London. ......................... Aidan Thoroughly enjoyed you at Gloucester Cajun Festival, despite having my car clamped. Friday 18th March is fine for a gig at this club, so I look forward to seeing you all for a bit of "craic". Dinny O'Callaghan, "Aberavon Greenstars Club", Aberavon, Wales. ......................... I thought your spot at Gloucester C&Z Festival was GREAT, but dancing on CARPET in cinema room... not the best! I will have to check the band out again when visiting my folks especially if your doing anything near Hereford. Karen Blakey, Organiser, Plymouth Cajun Club. ................................... Fantastic set at Gloucester Festival, Aidan. See you when you play for us on Saturday 2nd July 2005. Looking forward to it. Keith Harris, Music Director "Folk on the Water Festival", Frampton on Severn, Gloucestershire. .......................... Hi Aidan You guys were fantastic; I really enjoyed both listening to you, and playing with you! Your mix of music was perfect, the dancers were very happy! Everyone had a great time, and we will definitely book you again. Hope the journey home wasn't too bad. Looking forward to seeing you again in Gloucester! I'll have my frottoir with me! (Hint). Thanks again for a great gig. Warmest regards, Carole. Carole Lateman, co-oganiser, SwampRock Club, London. .................................. Hi Aidan, I saw your gig at Gloucester Cajun Festival. Man, that was great! It was really good to see so many people up on the floor and dancing. Your drummer is really excellent, the way he holds that beat but then adds those little touches. Wicked! Phil King, performing jazz musician, Bristol, UK. ................................. Hello Aidan, Glad you enjoyed the gig. I enjoyed it very much and everyone else I saw and spoke to did too. See you on Sunday at Gloucester Cajun Festival. Neil Papworth, co-organiser, SwampRock Club, London. .............................. Hi "Cajun Aid", Thanks for Saturday; you were wonderful, (big boy). Hope to see you again soon Joe "P". Organiser, Manchester Cajun Club. .......................... "Martin - you're a SUPERSTAR!" Liam O'Neil, WR's Irish Tour manager, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. ...................... "My friend saw you in Herefordshire the other night and she said you were just fantastic. We loved your set at the 1st Bristol Cajun and Zydeco Festival. We are really looking forward to your playing at the Swamprock Club in the New Year - see you then". Carole Lateman, Swamprock Club, London. ................. "If your set is as good as the last time you were here (as "Baton Rouge") we are all in for an amazing time". Joe Podbilski, Manchester Cajun Club. ................... "Martin Blake & Aidan Sheehan - "Whiskey River" don't need any Whiskey to get going - if you want the roof raised then book them!" Arthur Hyde, "Open Mike Accoustic Sessions", Kington, UK. ............................ "Fantastic band - all your tracks move along nicely and are great to play along with on the harmonica. Thanks for permission to include one of your songs on my next harmonica tuition cd alongside Brendan Power". Ben Hewlett, Director, "Harps Cool" harmonica organisation, UK. .......................... "Now the dust has settled, I thought a big "Thank you" was in order. I couldn't think of a nicer bunch of blokes to finish of our festival. I don't really think I need to point out that you went down a storm, it was plainly obvious. You should try Broadstairs Folk Week for a gig. Good luck to you all. Miranda Manning-Press, Assistant to Festival Director, Canterbury Festival. ..................... |
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| Aidan & Lazy Lester (Leslie Johnson) | |
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I thought you might like to read this article from a well-respected Blues magazine. It describes Aidan's surprise appearance with famous blues star Lazy Lester. Lazy Lester Solo acoustic @ Blue Front Blues Room 23rd February 2004 Extract from Issue 19 ‘BLUES MATTERS!’ Review by Diane (Sister Feelgood) I have seen this fine Blues man twice before at two consecutive Colne festivals but this was my first experience of him in a small more intimate setting. Whereas I was impressed with the festival performances this smaller low key, informal affair was by far the best. The skittle alley made over for the blues club twice a month is just the right size and setting for acoustic solo or duo artists. The audiences are receptive, keen and cannot get enough of these top quality musicians that is becoming the “hall mark” of this venue Lazy Lester with his unique style of down home swamp blues was just made for this type of venue and audience. Friends Annie and Phil had beaten me up to the Forest and had been good enough to secure me a front row seat. What are friends for? Well! Keeping you one of the best seats in the house that’s what! "Jook Joint" were first up on stage as “support” and played a few Louisiana back porch numbers before quickly giving way to Mr. Johnson. Aidan, the accordion player from Whiskey River, who guested with "Jook Joint" was in for a real treat later in the evening! Lester is a tall, slim fellow and quite fit for his years and dressed ‘casual but smart’ and topped off with a fine blue/grey Stetson hat looking every inch the performer! His warm smile and friendly banter as well as his superb craftsman of his chosen art form wins the audience over immediately. He tunes –up his guitar and goes straight into a sprightly up tempo nearly ragtime guitar solo. That done it’s down a beat or two into Hank Williams’ “Cheatin’Heart” then “Must have been the Devil” His voice strong and clear with that earthy ruggedness very much the requirement for this style of swamp country blues. The next tune was “Leaving on the New River Train” that very much resembled “Rollin’ in my sweet baby’s arms”. He then called for the accordion man to come on up and help him out with the next number. Aidan Sheehan stumbled up amazed that he had been summoned by the master, himself, to play alongside him! The look of absolute glee tinged with a little disbelief flashed across his face as he pushed his way up front to the stage. “Gumbo Ya Ya” was on the spicy Cajun menu and the players and audience alike wolf it down with out hitting the sides as they say!! Aidan was later invited up again to do a Cajun waltz, and then a version of “Wildwood Flower”. The second set after a short break continued in the same vein and the folks there watched listened and entered into easy banter with Lester as he is such a charming and relaxed man with an obvious love and enjoyment for his music and those there felt the same, They marvel at the exquisite finger style and agility of those long digits of his flying up and down the frets like greased lightening at times and conversely holding a long note to perfection when needed. A rack harmonica was produced along the way - which proved a little problematic with its setting-up – bit like a seaside deckchair! This was passed off with typical Lazy humour. At his feet two wooden homemade beat boards on which his best polished cowboy shoes rapped out the tempo throughout. One board had a small tambourine attached at the end and the other a castanet set into a neatly scoped out recess. Both implements secured with baler twine to the front legs of his stool! Sophistication for you! I read somewhere that he had originally been a drummer in the start of his career before moving to the harmonica and then lastly going over to the guitar. What a talent. As John said so rightly at the end of proceedings we were certainly served up a fine menu of Louisiana back porch, twelve bar blues with Cajun, Zydeco, country blues, and others mixed in for good measure. My favourite? It had to be a real deep down dirty guitar version with rough hewn vocals on “Mannish Boy”. Oh! It was so good – so very, very good!!!! Annie agreed with me that this was by far the best night we have had here in the Miners Arms. We agreed, too, that the venue was just the right place with exactly the right appreciative audience for such a Blues maestro who cast a little Louisiana swamp voodoo over the dark mysterious Forest - that wooded land strip that lies between two rivers. |
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| Whiskey River in Louisiana 2003 | |
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Whiskey River in Louisiana by Aidan Sheehan (Originally posted on the "Blue front Blues Room Club" website, Jan 2004) Martin and I left the Days Inn, Lafayette to head on down to Mamou for the Mardi Gras celebrations. A couple of days before, we had been playing music with, talking to and enjoying some "cold brews" with Phil from the Cajun band "Sacaulait". We two travelling Brit musicians sat in the dimly lit bar at McGee's Landing, perched on the edge of the alligator-infested Henderson Swamp in the Atchafalaya basin. We had been jamming for several hours.with a bunch of local musicians including Jesse Leger and Phil, plus a bunch of cajun fans from Liverpool. I even put my box and mandoline down to play les tout ensemble a tinwhistle tune. They didn't know what a tin whistle was, so I obliged with a brief demonstration. Well, the place is called McGee's after all. Now the music had passed, most of the bar had emptied and it was time to chill out. We'd never met Phil before, however his reputation preceded him. He is a little "off the wall" most of the time, and when we mentioned we would visit Mamou on the actual Mardi Gras day, he actually performed a full backflip, but didn't appear to spill any of the contents of his half finished bottle of Bud - good trick. "Mamou, Fred's Lounge on Mardi Gras day - whoa, watch yourselves boys - they a little wild over there!" We laughed it off, thinking he was joking. We had read in books and seen the photographs regarding "Chasing the Chicken" ceremonies, ancient chants, the Zydeco trail rides winding through the early morning mist on horseback, followed by the crowds of locals dressed in outlandish carnival costumes chasing down greased pigs and poulets. To we "Limey" visitors, these "Capuchin" costumes seemed more than slightly reminiscent of Klansmen's garb, but I am told this is just a coincidence. They look spooky! The chickens and pigs would then be killed and added to a giant Gumbo pot to feed the whole town. We wanted to see what truth there was in the stories. I must explain they have a long weekend of revelry which reaches it's pinnacle on "Fat Tuesday" itself. On Ash Wednesday, everyone recives their ashes and all the fun stops for a while so they have to get it all over and done before Lent whilst at the Mardi Gras. Well, we had rather "over enjoyed ourselves" with beer and crawdaddies the night before, so we shamefully missed the early morning ceremonies. That might have been a disastrous start to the day, but there would be lots going on everywhere at Mardi Gras. When you're on holiday 5.30am doesn't exist! We chucked everything in the car and off we went. Off the freeway the roads are mostly long, straight and narrow country roads edged by rice fields. Crawfish thrive in these conditions, and are harvested, ending up on plates of many hungry Cajuns and visitors too. The previous night, Martin and I had bought a giant sack of spiced, boiled crawfish for six dollars, complete with boiled potatoes, corn on the cob and grabbed a few beers to go. As we munched on the Crawdads and downed the beers in our hotel's dining room (they opened it out of hours, just for us), a stout, elderley lady passer-by exclaimed "My God! I could just eat the whole sack all by myself". We were later advised by the manager not to go to that Crawdad shop again as she felt we may have got into trouble, ("mugged and shot dead") walking around that part of Lafayette after dark. Nice. No one was working in the fields on "Fat Tuesday". They were all busy doing what they do for Mardi Gras. We drove past many low white buildings on the sides of the road, neat houses with trucks on the driveways. We drove past one house, and couldn't' t help but notice the dead dog lying by a driveway, obviously hit by a car. That house was isolated, so it must have been their dog, and there it lay, as still as the atmosphere on those long, straight country roads. We drove on through the quiet fields. When we reached Mamou; well we missed the turn off and mistakenly drove straight past it. Considering it's fame in Cajun Country, it deserves a better sign with clear directions, especially as it is important as a centre of Cajun culture, language and music. We drove down the next street and followed our ears. We wound the windows down fully, and heard some accordions blasting away playing some hot Zydeco grooves. We parked, got out of the car and followed the sounds. In Louisiana, black people tend to play Zydeco and the whites play Cajun. We had driven into the black part of town. We parked up by neat, white shingled little chapel and walked around the corner into a square where all the residents were busily preparing for the celebrations. Although nothing was said by the older people, no one looked very happy as we arrived around the corner. There were some youths who were clearly not happy for us to be there, shouting "Oi" and glowering at us for disturbing their street party. It was clear "the white folks party" lay elsewhere. The people were listening to a booming sound system, not a band. The only white people around were ourselves. We were informed by a middle aged gentleman that the "place we were looking for" (?!) was just a few blocks away. We dutifully got back in the car and left. As we drove down the street we encountered some weary trail riders on horseback, black men in stetsons who had been up and at it since the early hours of the morning, drinking, singing and collecting this and that for the gumbo around the surrounding farm houses. They often play fiddles and accordions whilst drunk in charge of a horse, so accidents happen we were later told. We drove on. We found the "white part of town" two minutes later As we expected there were no black people around here apart from one cop. It seems the communities prefer to live separately even on this celebratory occasion. Sometimes it is very apparent that the South isn't so different as it used to be after all! The main street of Mamou like going back in time. It is a collection of ramshackle buildings either side of a wide road that reminds one of a cowboy town. The town is rough'n' ready - full of bikers, cowboys and wild people, but also families - it's fun in a rough old sort of way!! There is a biker's bar that looks like something out of a movie, maybe a crazed biker, pirate movie with vampires. We had walked into "Scooters Bar" - briefly listened to the blasting heavy metal eminating from the juke box, witnessed the " crazy gang", and within a minute we decided to leave as we didn't really fit in. The town is packed with people all drinking beer out on the street, and wearing various styles of Mardi Gras getup mixed with stetsons or sporting obligitory baseball caps. Martin had earlier decided to buy a mask and a sequinned Mardi Gras baseball cap. The polite, elderly lady behind the counter thought his accent quaint. She offered that we should leave our hire car outside her shop, as "its not safe further back down the street"... further down the street referred to the part of town where we had originally entered. The biggest hotel in the town, the "Hotel Cazan" is a sight to see. It may fall down if someone shuts a door too hard! It's ramshackle, and dark as a dungeon inside. It squats on the end of the main street, sans lightbulbs and in need of major decoration and repair work. They advertise that there is a band in the bar, but they haven't got one. I wonder if they have any interior lighting anywhere. Soul Food is being served in a side annex. When you step outside the light hurts your eyes. There is a large stage outside the Hotel where a fantastic old style Cajun band is pumping away, everyone playing at once. They are absolutely brilliant. There are lots of people dancing, all in couples and wearing Mardi Gras guises. We are later told that often men mistakenly dance with other men as nobody can tell who is who beneath the costumes and masks. There are food stalls selling boudin, which is a sort of fish or pork sausage depending on which one you buy. I found out afterwards that I was supposed to peel the skin off and suck out the contents, but not knowing, I ate it all. Seemed okay to me! A cop comes over and tells me I mustn't stand near the dancers and the band with a beer bottle in my hand. Remember the "Blues Brothers" movie, the scene, performing in the C&W club? Bands playing behind chickenwire to protect them from "personal injury" were first seen in Louisiana. Now I undestand the cops concerns, especially due to the lack of chickenwire. He is dressed like an unbelievably elderly SWAT team member but he is a town cop. That's how they all dress. He tells me forcefully but politely "only drinks in cans are allowed in the square", so I throw my now empty bottle in the bin and buy several cans of cold beer which I happily drink whilst listening to the band. Well, he told me to, so I must uphold the law!! Although the crowd looks a bit rough, the atmosphere was friendly in that rough sort of way. This is a farming community after all, and the term "Red Neck" is related to agricultural workers who acquired sunburned necks working in the fields all week long, only to blow their troubles away on the weekends. We expected nothing less. "Fred's Lounge" is tiny and like all the bars in Mamou it is pretty dark and run down. It was open for Mardi Gras (a Tuesday) but is normally just open on Saturday mornings around 9.00 am for a live music radio Broadcast on the local radio. No radio show today but there is a band. The bar is stacked several people deep and everyone stands around packed in like sardines drinking beer (Bud or Coors - that's it unfortunately) and some brave souls "going for it big time" on the "dance floor" (i.e. the very small gap in the crowd). The band are roped off at one side of the room, and blasting away with abandon; high volume, high energy - great sounding Cajun music in a style reminiscent of Nathan Abshire. What a place! We got talking (shouting really considering the noise) with lots of the locals, who were amazed to discover we were British. The local French was being spoken quite a lot in the bar, and the band's repertoire was all in French. Most of the male patrons were wearing baseball caps or stetsons, and were large blocky figures. Some of the men seemed incredibly tall. One chap became quite friendly, noticed we sounded different and enquired were we "from back east". He was surprised when I told him how far back east! He asked if we ever spoke French in England. We obliged by speaking some French to him, and I think we made a friend for life. He told us that he had an Englishman working on his farm the year previous, but he was "an illegal" and the cops had arrested him, and he had been deported. He told us the guy was a great worker, a nice guy and even had a Cajun girlfriend. He says, " We almost got him - what a shame he had to go". We were then lucky enough to witness a rendition by "Tante Sue" the widow of Fred Tate. ("Yes, Mr. Tate is deceased" we were corrected. We'd asked our friend if Fred was dead.), who sang a couple of raucous Cajun songs with the band. She must be around 80 years old but she belts 'em out in a tuneless, high pitched bellow that is a real treat! This style of singing was learned and practiced in this locality so that singers could make themselves heard over the roaring accordions before amplification was brought in; it is still a singing style apparant in Mamou to the present day. The male singers in the band were also practicioners of this distinctive style, though a little more tuneful. It fits the "Chanky Chank" music really well. I was so impressed by the atmosphere in here I bought the "Mardi Gras Purple" tee shirt featuring a squeezebox and a copy of the world-famous sign still hanging on the wall. It reads... "Please do NOT stand on the tables, chairs, Cigarette machines, booths and Juke Box! Thank You. Fred. Laissez les bon temps rouler!" This sign makes a lot of sense considering what we had witnessed. Martin bought the other Mardi Gras tee shirt, sporting a picture of "Tante Sue" on the front waving a bottle and singing. As the day wore on we decided to head back to Eunice to see the Mardi Gras parade. We made sure we took the "Right Road" out of town. On the way back via Eunice, (where we later caught several bands including the wonderful Steve Riley in more civilised surroundings), we noticed the dead dog was still lying in the road. It hadn't been moved and it wasn't going anywhere by itself. Maybe after the owner's hangover had passed. Check it all out on: www.http://lsue.edu/acadgate/mamou.htm This site is very good, and it gives some photos of the day we were actually there! There are some cracking pix of "Fred's Lounge" and the whole Mardi Gras celebrations in Mamou. |
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