Nearly 95 years later, Tarzan returns
April 3, 2012
Fried pork Champ urges competition
April 3, 2012
Get those Frisbees and picnic blankets ready, because Houmapalooza returns from noon to 10 p.m. April 14 at Courthouse Square in Downtown Houma.
Houma’s newest independent music festival is still in its infancy, but after 18 months it has already had more than 120 local musicians grace its roster.
The bi-annual festival features numerous genres of original music ranging from zydeco to rock to hip-hop (see the schedule below). Yes, I did say original music and yes, I did say hip-hop and zydeco on the same bill.
This is a festival that has something for everyone and is absolutely free of charge to music lovers of all ages.
It’s like a battle of the bands minus the battle part. It’s more like a synergy of the bands; it’s a building of personal connections amongst musicians and festivalgoers.
Houmapalooza is grassroots music at its finest. The name doesn’t offer much clarification as to what the festival is, but once people come out and experience it, it will make perfect sense – Houmapalooza is just a beautiful celebration of everything that is right about music today.
It celebrates the songwriters and artists that will one day define and shape the culture of our generation.
In 100 years, Houma’s music scene may be a blip on the radar of music history, but what’s happening now is just as valid and relevant as any other art movement. Houmapalooza serves as the platform for our local unsigned artists to be recognized and their music experienced.
The experience doesn’t stop when the clock strikes 10, though. This is when the night owls flock to Main Street in Downtown Houma for Houmapalooza…On Tap.
Participating venues in Downtown Houma become satellite stages of Houmapalooza. Houmapalooza…On Tap lasts until 2 a.m. and features bands from previous, current, and future Houmapalooza lineups.
This is a budding era in local music; come be a part of it.
• Nonc Nu & da Wild Matous (Thibodaux) blends zydeco, rock and country styles with English and Cajun-French lyrics to tell stories of their childhoods in south Louisiana with a humorous twist. Noon.
www.reverbnation.com/noncnudawildmatous
• The Tributaries (New Orleans) combine the driving rhythms of new rock with shredding blues licks and a bold female vocalist. 1 p.m.
www.reverbnation.com/thetributaries
• Alex Mark & the Makeshift Men (Houma) is a modern folk-rock band comprised of frontman Alex Mark Juckett and whichever musicians are performing with him that week. 2 p.m.
www.reverbnation.com/alexmarkband
• Whom Do You Work For? (New Orleans) is an experimental pop trio that implements electronics, vocals, guitar and percussion. They have a deep affection for international bass music. 3 p.m.
www.whomdoyouworkfor.com
• Syllable Seven (Baton Rouge) describes its sound as “feel good music.” They blend funk, reggae, rock and hip-hop to get the crowd moving and grooving. 4 p.m.
www.reverbnation.com/syllableseven
• The Kingmakers (New Orleans & Baton Rouge) is a hip-hop collection of individual artists of many styles. If you like Wu-Tang Clan, come see this show! 5 p.m.
www.marzthesuperior.bandcamp.com
• Glassbeard (Houma) mixes smooth groovy rhythms with introspective lyricism and a sprinkle of classic rock. Their styling ranges from ambient folk pop to jazz rock. 6 p.m.
www.reverbnation.com/glassbeard
• Barnaby Bastille (Morgan City) is an experimental pop band that has been together since 2006. They play a mixture of spunky pop tunes and ambient progressive music. They are not easily defined. 7 p.m.
www.myspace.com/barnabybastille
• Maps and Makers (Houma & New Orleans) is an energetic rock band with positive lyrics. 8 p.m.
www.facebook.com/pages/Maps-and-Makers
• SIGHTINSOUND (Raceland & Thibodaux) is a fast-paced and energetic progressive rock band that likes to “tastefully make noise.” Don’t miss this one. 9 p.m.
www.sightinsound.bandcamp.com
For more information about Houmapalooza Music Festival, Houmapalooza…On Tap, or to preview these musicians online, log on to www.houmapalooza.com or contact the Houma Regional Arts Council at (985) 873-6367.
– Rusty Bouvier is co-founder of Houmapalooza Music Festival and Art Versus, a part-time rock star and artist. Bouvier has a BFA from Nicholls State University and is currently serving as the community development coordinator for the Houma Regional Arts Council.
www.facebook.com/pages/Maps-and-Makers
www.reverbnation.com/noncnudawildmatous
www.reverbnation.com/alexmarkband
www.whomdoyouworkfor.com
www.reverbnation.com/glassbeard
www.sightinsound.bandcamp.com
