Lafayette's answer to Austin City Limits - Louisiana Crossroads - returns with Aaron Neville opening this fall.
Louisiana Crossroads begins its 12th season at its relatively new home at the Acadiana Center for the Arts in downtown Lafayette this month. This is the second year Louisiana Crossroads will call the James D. Moncus Theatre in the ACA home, which is a superb state-of-the-art performance space with acoustics that are worth the admission price.
Louisiana Crossroads is shooting a television pilot for a national audience. Every performance will be taped and this will hopefully get picked up by stations across the country and eventually across the pond to reach international audiences. There will be eight shows this year, up two from past years. Many of the artists will also perform in Lake Charles the night or two around the Lafayette performance as our two cities continue to work in conjunction. Louisiana Crossroads will continue to be streamed live on KRVS for those not able to come or those lonesome for home.
The concept of Louisiana Crossroads remains the same: to highlight and feature artists who best represent the elusive "Louisiana sound" that no one seems to quite be able to pinpoint but everyone knows when they hear it. Ticket sales for this season begin Wednesday. Go to the ACA's website or call the box office at 233-7060 for ticket prices and availability for this line-up:
Sept. 28 at 8 p.m., An Evening with Aaron Neville
This will be Aaron Neville accompanied by a pianist.
Oct. 20 & 21 at 8 p.m., Accordion Blowout - Cajun, Zydeco, Lebanese and Conjunto
Featuring Kristi Guillory and Bonsoir Catin, Elias Lammam, Corey Ledet and Eva Ybarra.
Nov. 25 at 7:30 p.m. & 27 at 4:30 p.m., Songs From the Coast
Performances by DL Menard and Jeffrey Broussard and premiering the hour-long Louisiana Crossroads film with Q&A for the filmmakers. Refreshments and a zydeco dance at the end.
Dec. 8 & 9 at 8 p.m., Lil' Band O' Gold Swamp Pop Christmas Pageant
Featuring Warren Storm, Tommy McClain, David Egan, Steve Riley, CC Adcock, Richard Comeaux, Dickie Landry, David Ranson and Pat Breaux.
Jan. 12 & 13 at 8 p.m., An Evening with Steve Earle
Steve Earle performs with Joel Savoy, Linzay Young and Dirk Powell as well as doing solo acoustic.
March 8 & 9 at 8 p.m., A Tribute to Louisiana's Little Walter, Featuring James Cotton with Henry Gray
A tribute performance to Little Walter, known as the father of the blues harmonica and a Marksville native.
April 12 & 13 at 8 p.m., Exploring Quebecois, Acadiana and Cajun/Creole Connections
A musical examination of the connections between the French areas of Canada and South Louisiana. De Temps Antan with virtuoso fiddler André Brunet, guitarist Eric Beaudry and accordionist Pierre-Luc DuPuis play with David Greely, Anna Laura Edmiston and Cedric Watson.
May 9 & 10 at 8 p.m., Zigaboo Modeliste, King of the Funky Drums
Former percussionist for The Meters and Wild Tchoupitoulas plays with a seven-piece band.