A&E

Magnolia Sisters, Bonsoir Catin get Grammy noms

A pair of popular “female” Acadiana bands and a expatriate native son are among five bands receiving Grammy Award nominations Friday.

[Correction: In an earlier version of this story we inaccurately wrote that Jo-el Sonnier lives in Nashville. He lives in Westlake. The story has been changed to reflect his correct residence.]

A pair of popular “female” Acadiana bands and a expatriate native son — Bonsoir, Catin and The Magnolia Sisters, and Jo-el Sonnier — are among five bands receiving Grammy Award nominations today for Best Regional Roots Music Album.

Bonsoir, Catin was nominated for its recent record, Light the Stars, on Valcour Records. The band features Kristi Guillory, Christine Balfa, Yvette Landry, Anya Burgess, Maegan Berard and token dude Danny Devillier. Balfa is the daughter of Cajun music legend Dewey Balfa; Berard is daughter of Al Berard, the Basin Brothers founder and multi-instrumentalist whose untimely death in February shocked the Acadiana music community.

The Magnolia Sisters are fronted by Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter/producer Ann Savoy, who is joined by Jane Vidrine, Anya Burgess and Lisa Trahan. If you’re having deja vu, it’s because Burgess also performs in Bonsoir, Catin. Their record, Love‘s Lies, was released on Arhoolie Records.

The Westlake-based Sonnier is a multiple Grammy-nominated native of Rayne whose Cajun roots and country-music influences have made him both a popular performer as well as a sought-after session player and songwriter. Sonnier‘s The Legacy is on the Takau Records label.

Also nominated in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category are Hawaiian musician Kamaku Kukona for Hanu ’A’ala and Native American singer-songwriter Joe Tohonnie Jr.

The awards will be handed out next year in Los Angeles.