THE line-up is complete for North Yorkshire's finest Cajun occasion of the year, the sixth Yorkshire Cajun & Zydeco Festival at the Milton Rooms, Malton.
Running from March 16 to 19, the annual event offers festivalgoers the chance to dance on a sprung dance floor as assorted bands play on stage, while energy levels can be topped up with the Cajun and Creole food prepared by the Cajun Kitchen Krewe.
A prelude to the main festival will take place on March 16 at Suddaby's Crown Hotel, in Wheelgate, where festival favourites Miriam & Phil will play for early arrivals and locals alike. A small charge will be made.
The festival weekend will kick-start with Bosco Beret on the Friday night at the Milton Rooms. "They played Suddaby's last year and have become firm favourites with their laid-back and country-influenced style," says Yorkshire Cajun's Glyn Roberts, the festival organiser. "We also loved the all-girl band Joli Blon last year and as they rarely travel this far north from their London base, we just had to ask them back to close our Friday night."
The 2016 Yorkshire Cajun & Zydeco Festival. Picture: Tony Bartholomew, Turnstone Media
Saturday at the Milton Rooms promises dance workshops, mask making and a Mardi Gras-style lunchtime parade, followed by the Mardi Gras band Rough Chowder, on stage at 1pm. The evening will feature two contrasting bands, first up Good Ol' Boys, a new combination of festival friends Ad and Wolfert from the Netherlands and Sam Murray, and later, the eagerly awaited festival debut of Chris Hall's Double Shots.
"Any band put together by Chris Hall, the Godfather of British Cajun and Zydeco, is sure to be special," says Glyn. "Chris tells us we can expect Creole Zydeco influenced by the likes of Geno Delafose, Jeffrey Broussard and Boozoo Chavis. Nice!"
Sunday's bill will comprise Yorkshire's own Cajun Aces from the Bayous of Bradford in the afternoon and a rousing festival climax by leading French Zyde-Cajun band Pain d' Mais at night.
To book tickets or find out more festival information, visit yorkshirecajun.com
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