Louisiana Crossroads concert celebrates Quebecois

DeTemps Antan

The Louisiana Crossroads series continues as the City of Lake Charles presents “Exploring Quebecois, Acadian and Cajun/Creole Connections” in Central School Theater, Wednesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. The connections between the traditional music of Francophone Canada and Louisiana are undeniable but largely unexplored. This show brings together stalwarts on both sides of that line-musicians who have unprecedented expertise in their fields but also great stage presence and a desire to create new music based on the commonalities of their heritage.

Ana Laura Edmiston

De Temps Antan, all current or former members of the legendary group La Bouttine Souriante, is at the pinnacle of Quebecois music. Since 2003, Éric Beaudry, André Brunet and Pierre-Luc Dupuis have been exploring and performing time-honored melodies from the stomping grounds of Quebec’s musical past. Using fiddle, accordion, harmonica, guitar, bouzouki and a number of other instruments, our three virtuosos blend boundless energy with the unmistakable joie de vivre found only in traditional Quebec music. They will collaborate with Cedric Watson, the great young talent in Louisiana Creole Music, Ana Laura Edmiston, whose stellar vocal work with Feufollet has won her great renown, and David Greely, formerly of the Mamou Playboys, whose expertise in Louisiana fiddle and ballad styles is unmatched.  

The concert will be broadcast live via 100,000-watt regional National Public Radio affiliate KRVS, simultaneously streaming audio worldwide via krvs.org. Advance tickets are $10 on line at www.louisianacrossroads.org, or at the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana on the second floor of Central School. Tickets at the door are $12. For more information, please call (337) 491-9147 or visit the department of cultural affairs at www.cityoflakecharles.com.  

Arts Council Hosts Regional Arts Network Luncheon

Every other month the Arts & Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana hosts the Regional Arts Network luncheon, and the next edition of this seminar series will be held on Tuesday, April 10th, at 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 108 at Central School Arts & Humanities Center. The Regional Arts Network (RAN) luncheons are designed for those working in the arts to come together to network, promote their events and programs, and establish working relationships with other artists and arts organizations.


Attending the RAN luncheon will be state officials and Christie Weeks, Chair of Louisiana Citizens for the Arts (LCA), who will discuss the upcoming legislative session in regards to the future of arts funding. Artists, arts organizations, and those working in the arts are encouraged to attend. LCA is an organization that provides advocacy services for the arts in Louisiana and plays a direct role in advocating for increased arts funding to Louisiana legislators.


The success of LCA is more important than ever with the state's Decentralized Arts Funding grant program facing a 33% decrease from last fiscal year's funding which adds to a 60% cut in funding from 2009's levels. The RAN luncheon is a great opportunity for artists and arts organizations to find out more about what LCA does for the arts and the impact the arts have on our state's economy.


With the Arts Council's annual Spring Art Walk on Friday, April 13th, the RAN luncheon will also discuss all that the event has to offer, including information on which artists will be at participating locations and what can be experienced at the second annual Art Battle.


Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. for $5 with the seminar to begin at noon. An RSVP is required. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Arts Council office at (337) 439-2787. To find out more information about LCA, visit www.louisianacitizensforthearts.org.