Briefs

The Fourth Annual Gulf Coast Zydeco Music and Crawfish Festival

Date: May 16-18

Venue: Daphne Civic Center Complex

Tickets: Free for outside events/ $15 for night dances on Friday and Saturday, 251-626-5300

When Daphne decided to plan a community day, they did it right and the end result was the Gulf Coast Zydeco Music and Crawfish Festival. That was four years ago, and the City of Daphne is now home to this area’s biggest fais do-do, which attracts thousands to the E-Sho. This festival is a three-day tribute to Creole culture with plenty of rich food and high-spirited dancing.

The music at the festival will be bigger and better than ever with the Tip-Tops, Chris Ardoin & Nu Step, Leon Chavis & the Zydeco Flames, Thomas “Big Hat” Fields, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Lil Nathan & and the Zydeco Big Timers, Same Ol 2-Step, T. Broussard and the Zydeco Steppers, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie and Cedryl Ballou and the Zydeco Trendsetters set to take the stage.

The Pine Leaf Boys are also set to make an appearance. Based out of Lafayette, La., These Grammy-nominees set the stage on fire at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and have the potential to be hotter than the mudbugs at the Zydeco Festival.

Jeff & Vida

Date: Sunday, May 11, 7 p.m.

Venue: Callaghan’s Irish Social Club (916 Charleston St.) 433-9374

Tickets: $4 at the door

Jeff (Burke) and Vida (Wakeman) have made their way up the ladder of the NOLA and Nashville music scenes with their rootsy, acoustic sound. This duo has the tendency to get the crowd’s feet stompin’ with music that reflects their passion for everything ranging from country to bluegrass, which allows them to escape classification in a highly classified industry.

Jeff and Vida entertain audiences with their skill string picks and beautiful harmonies and have attracted attention at various venues including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the Johnny Keegan Banjo Festival in Ireland and at the legendary Ryman Auditorium (home of the Grand Ol’ Opry).

Jeff and Vida are spending their year touring heavily. Recently, they made a special guest appearance on Jim White’s upcoming release “Transnormal Skipperoo.” Coupled with Callaghan’s intimate setting should make for a memorable evening of excellent acoustic music.

Greg Brown

Date: Friday, May 9, 5 p.m.

Venue: The Blue Gill, 3775 Battleship Pkwy, www.bluegillrestaurant.com

Tickets: TBA

Everyone looks forward to taking off for the weekend after a week of relentless physical and/or mental labor. When the five o’clock whistle blows on May 9, Greg Brown will be waiting at the Blue Gill with relaxing music and plenty of ice-cold libations.

Brown is a guitarist/violinist schooled in the Parrothead tradition and has quite a local following playing local watering holes, BayFest and Brown Bag in Bienville. His skills on the guitar could be considered unlimited with his finger-picking style creating a truly complex sound. Factoring in his Parrothead attitude has made for the perfect mix.

It will be hard not to pick up a copy of Brown’s latest release “Ol’ Mobile.” This is Brown’s tribute to one of the Southeast’s greatest cities, and it is a great representation of Brown’s work with songs dedicated to everything from Mobile Bay to Prozac. With summer upon us, Brown’s music is the perfect kick-start to the weekend.

The Rundown

Roman Street (Noah and Joshua Thompson) has become one of Mobile’s most popular and sought-after bands. There are not many music lovers who do not instantly fall in love with their eclectic “Gypsy Jazz” style of playing. Their fans will be excited to know that they have just completed their sophomore effort “Tribute” and are planning an event to commemorate its release.

In other Roman Street news, they were the crème de la crème of the Seabreeze Jazz Festival in Destin, Fla., and also traveled across the pond to perform with their mentors Tonic Strings in Switzerland. Mobile needs to get as much of this duo as possible before the industry snatches them up.

Jumpin’ java

Dr. Java in WeMo has kept many a U.S.A. student from falling asleep in Western Civ with its potent beverages. And new owner, Nathan Blaesing, has big plans for this little coffeeshop. He is planning on adding an extremely eclectic flair with poetry readings, local art and photography (including from Lagniappe’s own Dan Anderson),as well as local, original acoustic acts and smaller musical groups. Local acoustic artists or small local bands are encouraged to stop by Dr. Java and schedule a performance.

Fish camp music

Everyone who was in attendance at the John Butler Trio show at Felix’s still have fond memories of that day. Patrons were allowed to jam barefoot in the sand with the steady breeze of the bay comfortably blowing through the crowd.

Felix’s Fish Camp is at it again with a steady schedule of quality music for the summer, and music fans will be pleased with some of the musical performers that they have scheduled.

They kicked off things with a stellar show from Back Door Slam, and they have scheduled the Wood Brothers for June 6. This group features Chris Wood (Medeski, Martin & Wood) and his brother Oliver. Join Felix’s for live music under the sun and make some more memories.

Idol worship

Mobile does not have a shortage of “American Idol” fans. The Blue Gill is getting in on the act with their “Alabama Idol” competition, which started on May 1. This competition will consist of two groups: adults 17 years of age and older and children 6 to 16 years of age. Individuals who make 50 percent or more of their income as a professional musician should not apply, and contestants need to bring a karaoke CD with their song on it.

The contestants will be narrowed down starting in July with the final four fighting for the prize on July 17. Prizes include Blue Gill gift certificates and cash with the grand prize being a trip to Nashville. Stop by the Blue Gill for more information, or fill out the online application at their website: www.bluegillrestaurant.com.

Stephen Centanni is Lagniappe music editor. Contact him at scentanni@lagniappemobile.com.

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