Main Menu NEWS RELEASE
Contact: David West (west@alpha.nsula.edu
)
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
7/3/2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES - More than two dozen singers and musical groups representing most of the types of music heard in Louisiana will be featured at the 22nd Annual Natchitoches NSU Folk Festival July 20-21 in Prather Coliseum on the campus of Northwestern State University.
The Festival, which has been recognized as a four-time winner of the prestigious "Top Twenty Events in the Southeast" Award given annually by the Southeast Tourism Society, will feature groups performing blues, Cajun, country, folk, gospel and rhythm and blues.
Trini Triggs, a Natchitoches native and Curb Records recording artist, will headline the Friday night music show. Triggs' music reflects a wide variety of artists and genres such as The Commodores, George Jones, Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers. Triggs has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry and on programs such as Crook and Chase, Nashville's New Faces and Prime Time Country.
The Friday music show will open with Don Fontenot and Les Amies de Acadiens, a popular Cajun band. The Saturday night music show will feature blues musician YZ Easley and Roque's Blues Band & the Gators.
This year's Festival will include acts on the main stage in the arena of Prather Coliseum as well as stages in the East and West Concourses. Performances will begin at noon on Friday.
Among those scheduled to appear on Friday are Curry Perkins, Kevin Naquin & The Ossun Playboys, Blackie Forestier, John Wilson and the Zydeco Houserockers and Ronnie Wolf & Hayriders. Other performers on Friday's bill are Remnants of Harmony, Armadillo Jackal and the Back Porch Band. Also on Friday, the Festival will also feature the popular open microphone program on the East Stage at 7:30 p.m. Any area musician is welcome to perform during this segment.
Performers booked for Saturday include the African-American Gospel Choir, Scotty Pousson & The Pointe Aux Loups Playboys, J.W. Kelly, Donnie Broussard & The Louisiana Stars and Choupique. Also scheduled are Willie Mae Kennedy, Peter Lamson, the Baton Rouge Blue Review and Prodigal Sonz. The Back Porch Band and Armadillo Jackal are also on the program for Saturday.
This year's festival will focus on the influence of African-American folk traditions in Louisiana.
African-American craftspersons and storytellers from the entire state will be represented at this year's Festival. Other highlights will include appearances by The Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians from New Orleans along with a second-line presentation. There will also be a blues workshop and the unique Easter Rock demonstration by members of the Original True Light Church in Winnsboro. The Festival will also showcase African-American riding club members
Discounted weekend passes are available for the Festival at $12, a $2 discount from the on-site purchase price. Festival donors who contribute at least $25 are also eligible to receive a Festival pass and additional benefits
For further information on the Festival, call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332.