A&E

Powell, Watson at Parish Ink Wednesday

by Walter Pierce

Dirk Powell and Cedric Watson will perform together during an intimate gig at Parish Ink, 310 Jefferson St., from 9-11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The coolest thing about Festival International de Louisiane is Festival International de Louisiane. The second coolest is the many eruptions of creativity and artistic synergy that serve as satellites to Lafayette's flagship festival.

Wednesday night at an apparel shop on Jefferson Street is no exception. Dirk Powell and Cedric Watson will perform together during an intimate gig at Parish Ink, 310 Jefferson St., from 9-11:30 p.m. Doors open at 8 and admission is $10. Parish Ink will provide free food and beer while supplies last.

A native of southern Ohio well-versed in Appalachian music, Powell has performed with Joan Baez and was a founding member of the Cajun band Balfa Toujours. The multi-instrumentalists' banjo playing was featured in the 2003 motion picture Cold Mountain. Watson, a native Texan who began exploring his Creole musical roots in his teens and is also a multi-instrumentalist, has risen to the top of the heap in South Louisiana roots music circles. As the folks at Parish Ink put it: "These two are crazy good on their own, but in combination, they are truly amazing!"