Festival International de Louisiane kicks off this week, celebrating 23 years of music, art, cuisine, and more. This year’s line-up includes performances by Marc Broussard, Dengue Fever, Rootz Underground, Rachid Taha, Locos Por Juana, Tarace Boulba, Zachary Richard, and a bunch more. Over 100 performances over five days and the whole thing is free. Can’t beat that with a glow stick. Last night’s opening ceremony bolted out of the gate with The Pine Leaf Boys and Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band, drawing impressive numbers of festive people who sipped from plastic cups and wandered about the downtown area in a transfixed state of anomalous gladness while staving off the ominous possibility of a world gone insane. It’s festival time. A time to enjoy. And be happy. Don’t miss Lafayette’s own Marc Broussard as he rocks tonight’s crowd at the Popeyes Scene International stage at 9:45 p.m.
Other Thursday night performances include:
Locos Por Juana (Colombia/Venezuela)
Ilê Aiyê (Brazil)
Tarace Boulba (France)
Chicha Libre (Peru/France/US)
Chic Gamine (Manitoba)
Ladysmith Red Lions of S. Africa (South Africa)
Feufollet w/ The Quebe Sisters Band (Louisiana/Texas)
For a complete schedule of festival performances, click HERE.
Festival International de Louisiane is a community-based, non-profit arts organization formed in 1986 to produce an annual visual and performing arts festival celebrating the French cultural heritage of southern Louisiana – primarily a combination of French, African, Caribbean and Hispanic influences. The largest outdoor, FREE Francophone event in the U.S., the Festival places special emphasis on highlighting the connections between Acadiana and the Francophone world. Each year performing, visual and culinary artists from Europe, Africa, Canada, the Caribbean and the Americas are invited to share their talents with Louisiana artists, residents and visitors.