LAFAYETTE — In 1974, on a Tuesday evening in Blackham Coliseum, Clifton Chenier went on stage while it was storming at the inaugural Festivals Acadiens et Creoles. He played the gig for free, just like every other musician did, in front of a crowd of around 12,000 who showed up and danced despite the rain. Ever since, Chenier has been an important figure and contributor to the festival’s legacy and the legacy of Cajun and zydeco music in Louisiana.
In its 49th year, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles has honored and paid tribute to many places, practices, and musicians over the years—the importance of dance halls, zydeco dancing as an act of socialization, and also women in Cajun music. This year’s festival is dedicated to Chenier and his legacy. “We will be celebrating not only his huge musical legacy, but also his legacy in eroding social barriers,” said Barry Ancelet, festival founder and organizer.
With his first national hit “Ay-Tete Fi” in 1955, Chenier’s music career was propelled forward. Garnering the attention of the nation with his sound, he went on tour with many popular rhythm and blues artists like Etta James and Ray Charles. Following several years of performances in clubs and at festivals, Chenier was awarded a Grammy in 1983 at the height of his popularity for his Album “I’m Here.”
Regardless of how large his international popularity was, home always remained important to him—and Chenier remained important to his home. With his rise to fame erupting only a few years after segregation was deemed illegal in the United States in 1964 , the social tensions in the country had reached a new summit. However, Barry Ancelet said Chenier’s music was attracting the college-aged white crowd and “it was just so good that everybody came to listen and dance to his music.”
Through Chenier’s music and message, something that once seemed so impossible in Louisiana a few years before due to Jim Crow was made possible through zydeco music. “Clifton Chenier’s music did locally for us what Chuck Barry did for the rest of the world,” Ancelet said. Chernier helped to break down racial barriers not only for performers and entertainers, but for listeners and spectators alike.
Starting Friday, October 13, the festival will open with tribute performances from Roddie Romero and the Hub City Allstars, Corey Ledet, Sonny Landreth, and Sherelle Mouton-Sinegal, Clifton Chenier’s granddaughter. There will also be tribute performances throughout the weekend. On Saturday, CJ Chenier, Clifton Chenier’s son, will be performing a tribute to his late father. “My dad always had a special place in his heart for his home,” CJ Chenier said. “I’m happy he’s being celebrated for his work at this year’s festival.”
While this year boasts an all-star line-up of musicians, Festivals Acadiens et Creoles is plural for a reason, Ancelet noted, combining three separate festivals into one: music, food and crafts. There will be an array of food vendors this year, in addition to the Scene Atelier, which will have cultural workshops put together by the Center of Louisiana Studies.
Although performances on Saturday and Sunday will end around 7 p.m. each evening, local bars and restaurants across Lafayette, like the Blue Moon Saloon and the Hideaway will welcome festival goers with live music performances.
