North American Ethnic Music - Native American - Cajun/Zydeco - Quebec
Often, ethnic music can be found just outside your back door, you just have to know where to look for it. Explore North American musical traditions, such as Cajun, Zydeco, Native American, Quebecois, Polka, Appalachian Mountain Music (Old-Time), Cape Breton Fiddling, and more!
The Faquetigue Mardi Gras Courir is a popular, albeit somewhat "underground," annual Mardi Gras run in Southwest Louisiana's Cajun area. The Faquetigue Mardi Gras is a traditional run, with traditional costuming and lots and lots of music. Here are some pictures of some of the musicians and other participants at the run.
Polka music is a form of European dance music which originated in what is now the Czech Republic. It migrated to the United States with Eastern European immigrants and remains quite popular in areas of the Midwest and Great Lakes Region.
Zydeco music, and its close relative, Cajun music, is one of the most exciting and vibrant genres of world music in the world. It is the bluesy, highly syncopated music of the French speaking Creole people of Southwest Louisiana.
Hawaiian slack key guitar is one of the most interesting forms of indigenous American folk music. Hawaiian slack key guitar is characterized by cross-tuning of the guitar strings and a distinctive bluesy sound created by highly embellished finger-picking.
In order to truly understand Cajun music, it's best to listen to some of the trailblazers of the genre. Here are ten great Cajun cds to get you started.
The difference between Cajun Music and Zydeco is not solely an issue of race, it's a difference of influences. Embrace the differences between these two genres of Louisiana music.
The country Mardi Gras celebrations in Southwest Louisiana are entirely different than the big-city bacchanalia of New Orleans celebrations.
This biweekly e-zine and collection of articles, music schedules and links is the most comprehensive Cajun and Zydeco resource on the web.
