Once you’re doing a good thing well, it’s hard to imagine that it could get even better.  For its 20th Annual Fundraiser, the Comprehensive Child Development, Inc, CCD, has perfected the Bayou Festival and made it into a three day Cajun, Zydeco and Blues Festival that’s quite a treat for the ears.

Did I mention the mouthwatering food, rock climbing wall, outstanding vendors selling everything from crazy hats to jewelry, to beautiful clothing?  Having been to this event a few years ago, pre-Katrina, Kim and I were amazed to see the huge crowds that attended and tore up a rug on the dance floor June 23, 24, and 25th at the Queen Mary Events Park in Long Beach, California.

As the Queen Mary’s horn bellowed its Homer Simpsonesque, “Brrrrrrrrrrrrrp” the dance floor was packed throughout the entire day and night as each Cajun and Zydeco band took their turns rocking the packed crowd.  I wondered how many displaced people from N’awlins and the whole Gulf Coast were here since nearly one year after Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc barely one third of the New Orleans residents have been able to return home.  No matter where they were from, they sure could dance, whether it was a waltz or a Cajun swing step.  For those of us, me included, born with two left feet, dance lessons on Murphy’s memorial dance floor under the festive purple, yellow and green banners were mandatory.  Lucky for me, they were held during every intermission while the bands tore down their equipment and the next band unpacked their gear and prepared to wow those in attendance.  As they said, “Get out of your seats, and get on your feets.” 

Wanna learn how to waltz or dance till you drop?  Just watch some of the teachers, Diana Castillo and Peter Schiller, and pardon my pun, follow their step by step instructions.  They broke each fluid dance movement down very well.  It was Cajun dancing 101, or for the pro’s who pack the War Memorial in Pasadena on a regular basis, a time to strut your stuff and work up a healthy sweat.  As I fumbled and forgot which foot had the nail in it I looked around and observed that it simply didn’t matter.  “It just looks easy.” I overheard a guy in a baseball hat say after he missed a dance step and his girlfriend gave him a gentle correcting shove and they both smiled and laughed.  Everyone was there to pass a good time: couples in cowboy hats, girls dancing together as Mardi Gras beads twirled to and fro.  The common denominator was the ear to ear grin as people laughed, smiled and twirled around. 

It certainly felt like old home week.  Friends were visiting with each other, catching up, shooting the bull and kicking back under the plethora of sun colored tents and umbrellas that were set up to block out the warm sun.  I couldn’t tell if this was Jazzfest or not, and that’s not a bad comparison since Jazzfest is certainly one top notch musical festival that needs to look back as the Long Beach Bayou Festival is coming on strong.  Meanwhile, each tent represented someone’s front porch as friends, family, Tulane University and Lafayette Alumni Associations gathered to share a cool drink, and rest their feet.  A local hero, ZydecoBrad, does his best to share all that is Cajun music and dancing via email so everyone knew the skinny on this great festival.  Of course the weather was humid just like Louisiana, but for at least part of the day it was overcast to try to cool it down a little.  I found it interesting that a few sailboats kept cruising back and forth soaking up the sweet Cajun, zydeco and blues music.  Smart folks, I thought, as they were enjoying one of our other passions.

As we wandered through the festival grounds after Walter Mouton and the Scott Playboys, a five piece rockin’ band, finished their set there were plenty of things to keep one amused.  Frontier Airlines had five lucky employees wearing large stuffed airline seat costumes and were playing musical chairs with groups of people to see who was the last person standing that would win a round trip airline ticket.  Not a bad deal.  It was probably still better than hearing, “Congratulations!  You’ve got the job.  But, the bad news is that you’ve gotta wear this dumb chair costume.”  Oh well, you’ve got to hand it to CCD for bringing in interesting entertainment for kids of all ages.  We easily got distracted perusing the French Quarter Vendors Area and met some very nice people.  Luckily, we mossier back to the main stage and still caught a good chunk of the San Diego Cajun Playboys set as they showed everyone why they’re voted the #1 Cajun band outside of Louisiana.  Impressive stuff, guys!

As the children’s parade started, it was obvious that there were lots to do for kids at the Kids Bayou Tent.  There, all children’s arts and crafts and activities are free, and designed to help the little ones get involved with the big parade.  With the hand painted masks, funky outfits, beads, face painting, umbrellas and hats, these kids were coming to party Mardi Gras style.  The Parade Marshall, Alvin Harrison, led the Critical Brass Band and the LA LA Second Liners throughout the entire Queen Mary Events Park as more and more people joined onboard to celebrate the memory of one of CCD’s dearly missed Board Members, Murphy Matthews, Jr.  The entire line of people were struttin’, waivin’ and dancin’ up a good time.

With a large crowd like this, how do you attract even more music fans?  Have two stages set up.  At one end of the park was the Cajun and Zydeco stage, while at the other end was the Blues stage.  Among some of the talented blues acts we saw, Luther Davis and the Blues Jam, a good three piece band, played bluesy versions of Lionel Ritchie’s “Brick House”, and a favorite of mine by Muddy Waters that was dedicated to the ladies in the crowd, “I’m Ready”.  The band was having a good time and played a good version of Rockin’ Dopsie’s “My Toot Toot” as well.  Kim and I decided to wander back to the Cajun stage since we were momentarily satiated with the blues.

We got there right in time!  The Pine Leaf Boys from Lafayette, Louisiana were just taking the stage.  They’re an extremely talented five piece band specializing in old time French Cajun style of music.  The ladies were up and doing the electric slide before the second song even started.  This infectious group kept growing and growing, and ended up forcing some of the seated crowd back further to make way for those dancing in unison.  Again, the smiles were plentiful as the dance floor was absolutely packed as the cool evening breeze came off the Pacific Ocean just a few steps away.  If you were getting cold you just weren’t dancing enough.  Kim pointed out a cute purse she saw that was embroidered with the key phrase of the day, “I have come here to dance”.  As the band was rocking out and showing off their best rock star poses as they switched between their three singers, their barefoot drummer kept time better than some of the dancers trying to keep up.  It dawned on me what I needed: practice, practice, practice…….and lots of coordination, too.  Like the other bands, they also autographed their cd’s after their set was over.  But, they had what was easily the longest line of the day.  We even picked up their cd and it gets regular rotation among our Cajun and zydeco music. 

After literally being a dancing fool, it was time for good food.  As they so correctly say, “Cajuns do it with spice.”  With great Cajun, Zydeco and Blues music, you simply gotta feed the soul some chicken and sausage gumbo that was spicy, juicy and very good.  Wash it down with a cold beer and all is right with the world.  Save room for the crawfish, jambalaya, crawfish etouffee and beignets for dessert.  Food is one thing that those from the South do well, so come hungry and sample all they’ve got to offer from an ever expanding number of food vendors.

After a long fun day, the final set of our Saturday night was by Keith Frank and Soileau Zydeco Band.  They played covers of a million and one songs the crowd knew, all set to a continuous zydeco beat.  Some of the interesting songs the seven members belted out were: “The Theme from Rocky,” and a Bob Marley song, “Stir it Up,” “Take Me to the River” by Al Green, “Low Rider” by War, and one of those catchy songs you rue the day you ever learned: the theme from the TV show, The Jeffersons.  This good time band summed up the mood for this 20th Annual event as they and 95% of the crowd sang, “We’re moving on up to the top….”  Well, we can’t wait until next year to see what’s in store and on stage at the 21st Annual Long Beach Bayou Festival.  We’ll see you there.

— By Don and Kimberly Tatera, Jetsetters Magazine Los Angeles Jetsetters Correspondents.

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