Festival International de Louisiane is so quintessential to Acadiana that in a sea of Louisiana celebrations, it is the only one we simply deem Festival.
I treat this time of year as a choose-your-own-adventure game. I meander downtown during the afternoon and evening, and every sound, smell and taste is a surprise. This is not, however, how I approach the events and afterparties. The Festival International afterparties require a different approach. Strategy, organization, a surprising amount of small bills and, of course, stamina. Lucky for you, I’ve curated some of the most fun shows to attend when you’re not stage-hopping.
4/25: LIME 2019: The Louisiana International Music Exchange, or LIME, is an event designed for musicians and music industry professionals to meet. This daylong showcase will feature pop-folk duo Jelly Toast, with GIVERS’ Tiffany Lamson and Julie Odell, Swamp-rock/zydeco band Radio Zydeco, Americana act Lane Mack & the Balladeers and the show closes with Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers. This jam-packed show starts at 1 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Tickets are free to the public and are available on Eventbrite.
4/26: Links EP release/Bored Wax’s first show: Lagniappe Records hosts two local acts Friday afternoon for a free show in the middle of Festival! On record, The Links have the kind of slick production that fans of New Order would appreciate. Live, though, the band leans into organic instrumentation, at once maintaining their sound and providing a distinctly separate experience. Bored Wax will play live for an audience for the first time, and special guests Metro Video bingo round out the evening. This free show goes from 3-8 p.m.
4/26: Brother Dege and Lachez-Prise avec Michael Doucet: Also known as Dege Lege, Brother Dege is a true Southern weirdo, and he wears it well. If you’re looking for an afterparty with a bit of a bite, head to The Pearl. Dege’s apocryphal Delta blues is brooding and bizarre and a wicked good time live. Michael Doucet of Beausoleil fame will bring his latest collaboration to the stage: a smooth Cajun outfit that features Sarah Quintana on guitar. Show starts at 10 p.m.
4/26: Festival late night silent disco: Clandestine Collective will take over the Tsunami lounge Friday night for a silent disco! Guests will be handed a set of wireless headphones upon arrival. Three DJ channels will feature DJ Digital’s open format/anything goes playlist, Andre’ Broussard’s soul/funk/blues set and Concourse’s house/EDM tunes. LEDs will correspond to guests’ DJ choices! Tickets are available on Evntbrite for $10. The party starts at 10 p.m.
4/26: The Daiquiri Queens, Mike Broussard, Nu Edition Zydeko: I’m a sucker for any show that takes place in an unexpected location, and this one delivers. Friday night of Festival, the Acadian Superette will open its doors to host three bands for a late-night dance right in Freetown. The Superette will also serve some late-night food and drinks for the occasion.