UL Lafayette artists featured at Festival International 2016

Festival International de Louisiane is celebrating 30 years in Lafayette this year and we proud to have many of our faculty, students, and alumni featured in the lineup. The free festival celebrates the French cultural heritage of south Louisiana, and it's musical influencers. The four-day festival takes over downtown Lafayette at the end of April, featuring local musicians and French, African, Caribbean, and Hispanic acts from around the world.

UL Lafayette has always had close ties to the volunteer-driven festival, with scores of students, staff, and faculty serving on planning committees, performing, and volunteering their time to work shifts during the event.

Check out some of alumni, faculty and students performing this weekend!

Friday at 5:45, Scène TV5Monde Lafayette: Corey Ledet and his Zydeco Band

Acclaimed accordionist and Zydeco performer Corey Ledet is well-known throughout Louisiana’s dancehalls. The Grammy-nominated musician passes on his knowledge to UL Lafayette students by teaching a blues ensemble class in Angelle Hall.

Friday at 9:00, LUS La Craft Biergarten: Les Maringouins

Influenced by Louisiana, French and Brazilian roots, these Cajun music scene newcomers will serenade the Festival crowds with their culture-infused sound. UL Lafayette alumni Jo Vidrine and Jay Miller will take to the Biergarten stage along with bandmates Samuel Giarrusso, Jacques Boudreaux, and Justin Leger.

Saturday at 12:15 p.m., Scéne Chevron Heritage: Bonsoir, Catin

Grammy-nominated local favorites, Bonsoir, Catin has been rocking Louisiana dancehalls since 2005 with their fresh Cajun sound, blending ancient ballads, swamp pop stylings, dancehall era gems, and rock n' roll blues. Featuring Kristi Guillory, a teacher in the School of Music, on the accordion and vocals and Danny Devillier, '98, adjunct professor of percussion, on drums.

Saturday at 5:00, Scène Cypress Bayou Internationale: Sonny Landreth

Internationally renowned blues guitarist Sonny Landreth will be showcasing the best of slide guitar technique on the main stage Saturday afternoon, merging expertly crafted sounds of blues, jazz, and classic rock. Landreth studied music at the University of Southwestern Louisiana and visits UL Lafayette’s campus often.

Saturday at 6:15 p.m., Popeyes Pavillon de Cuisine: Brass Mimosa.

UL Lafayette alumni Eddie Muller ’09 and drummer Jack Langlinais, along with UL Lafayette student and guitarist Blake Pujol, will perform with local funk-rock band Brass Mimosa. Integrating brass elements with Muller’s trombone and two saxophonists, the band fuses high-energy jazz with groovy bass.

Visit the Festival International de Louisiane website for a full schedule and lineup.

Photo credit: Festival International de Louisiane