Spicy musical fare for Dulac, La. benefit

Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Zydeco and Cajun music will shake up the island all day Sunday, when local musicians gather to help residents of hurricane-ravaged Louisiana.

Families, friends and neighbors are invited to the two-part fund-raiser: the “Simply Instrumental Concert,” which will raise money and collect donated instruments for evacuee musicians; and the “Dulac Dance,” to benefit the town of Dulac, La.

The event will be held from 1 to 10 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Filipino-American Hall on High School Road.

Dulac is the hometown of islanders Claudette Boudreaux, a registered nurse who plays in the bands Les Femmes d’Enfer and Whozyamama, and Chris St. Romaine, who works for the island’s Public Works department, both of whom still have family there.

The fishing village, located on the bayou about 11 miles south of Houma and 70 miles southwest of New Orleans, is populated by Houmas Indians and Cajuns, many of whom are trawlers and most of whom are poor, Boudreaux said.

Dulac was hit hard by Hurricane Rita. The only structure not left under water in the hurricane’s aftermath was the Holy Family Catholic Church’s Knights of Columbus Hall. The hall became the distribution center for food and supplies, Boudreaux said. Dulac has received very little government aid to date.

“For the town to lose everything…it was really hard for me to be up here and hear that my home is under water,” she said. “I thought, ‘This is something we can do to help those wonderful people directly. You can’t put the shrimp back in the water.”

Boudreaux’s parents and grandparents are from Dulac. The only grocery store in the town was passed down from one of her family members to another. The store was demolished by the hurricane and now the town goes without.

In addition to enjoying local groups playing blues, swing, jazz and Bayou music, concert-goers may feast on gumbo from Winslow Way Cafe and chicken dinners, which will be for sale. To get everyone on the dance floor, swing lessons will be offered.

The afternoon lineup includes Billy Forester, TJ Wheeler with the Merry Pranksters and Gypsy Swing and Del Rey. Performing at the evening dance will be Les Femmes d’Enfer and the Zydeco Locals with Captain Leroy, plus the Zydeco band Whozyamama, making its debut. In between acts, students from Barbara Deering’s music school will perform.

Organizers include Deering, Boudreaux and Tami Allen, all of whom will perform at the event. Proceeds will go directly to the Knights of Columbus for distribution in time for the holidays.

Guests are urged to strap on their dancing shoes and bring used musical instruments to donate.

Tickets are a suggested donation of $20 for the concert and $20 for the dance. Tickets are half-price for seniors and children 12 and under. The schedule is :

1 p.m. – Billy Forester

2 p.m. – TJ Wheeler with the Merry Pranksters and Gypsy Swing

3 p.m. – Del Rey

4:30 p.m. – Teen swing dancers

5 p.m. – Cajun/Zydeco dance class

6 p.m. – Les Femmes d’Enfer

7:15 p.m. – Whozyamama (Zydeco)

7:30 p.m. – The Zydeco Locals With Captain Leroy.

For more information contact deeringmusicco@yahoo.com or see www. lesfemmesdenfer.com.