Swamp Pop fest returns to Grand Bois

If R&B, rock’n’roll, country and New Orleans-style Cajun and Creole music married and had children, they’d be Swamp Pop.

After a one-year hiatus, locals can enjoy the entire musical family at the Grand Bois Cajun/Swamp Pop/Zydeco Music Festival April 4-6 in Bourg.

No one is happier than Houma Native American and Grand Bois resident Ernest Dardar that the musical fest is making its comeback. He has organized the event off-and-on since 1996.

“Grab your lawn chairs and head out to Grand Bois Park for a relaxing weekend with good music and great food,” he said. “Grand Bois is a great place to be. People gather around the big tent and have a good old time.”

The festival started as a small gathering of local residents and musicians and has grown into a cultural experience that visitors consider more down to earth than commercialized events such as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

“South Louisiana has some of the best entertainment you can ask for,” Dardar said. “I can assure you if you come once, you will come again.”

Swamp Pop made its debut in south Louisiana and a small part of Texas back in the 1950s, when teenage Cajuns and black Creole musicians began to experiment with modern pop music elements.

The teens fused the sounds of Fats Domino, Elvis Presley and Little Richard, to name a few, with traditional south Louisiana beats. The sound includes the high emotional vocals, simple lyrics that are often bilingual (English and French) and a strong rhythm and blues downbeat.

The upbeat compositions often pose as the bouncy rhythms of Cajun music, Dardar said.

South Louisiana favorite Treater will headline the event, performing all three days. They get the fest under way Friday, playing from 6 to 10 p.m. “Treater is one of the most popular dance bands around. They have performed all over the world – from New Orleans to Korea,” Dardar said.

Brunson Billiot Band performs at noon Saturday, followed by Southern Boyz from 3 to 5:30 p.m. and, finally, Treater and Charles Mann from 6 to 10 p.m.

“The bands that we use are good dance bands. We don’t use show bands,” Dardar explained. “We don’t allow our bands to curse or use bad language because this is a family-oriented festival.”

Sunday starts with a Cajun flair as Cajun Tou Jour takes the stage. Treater will close out the day from 3 to 6 p.m.

Joining Treater will be area recording artists Mann, Frog Man Henry, Johnny Allen, Pott Folse, Henry “Horn Man” Billiot and several others.

“Sunday is like the big jam session,” Dardar said. “This is one of the reasons that makes our festival different.

Fest goers will also have a taste of south Louisiana cuisine. Visitors can enjoy jambalaya, white beans, shrimp patties and gumbo.

Proceeds will be split between the Grand Bois Park upkeep and the Terrebonne Indian Association.

For more information, call (985) 594-7410 or (985) 860-9431.