Dominick Cross, story/photos
LAFAYETTE, LA — We’re knee deep in fall in South Louisiana.
Halloween is less than a week away. The New Orleans Saints are in action (such as it is), and the Blackpot Festival & Cook-Off is back in full form, Friday and Saturday (October 28-29, 2022) at Vermilionville, 300 Fisher Road.
If you’re counting, which includes not counting the COVID years of 2020-2021, Blackpot is in its 16th year of presenting an eclectic collection of music and musicians not commonly heard in these parts.
Yes, there’ll be Cajun and zydeco and la la, as well as Old Time, blues, string band, Western swing, bluegrass, singer/songwriter, Tex-Mex, ragtime, country — music you can enjoy even if the power grid goes down.
And, yes, again, the square dance session is in its usual Saturday morning slot at 11 a.m. with The Faux Paws with Nancy Spero calling.
Then there’s the camping.
Coupled with a wide-ranging line-up, the option to camp on festival grounds and partake in or simply enjoy pop-up jams (day & night and the wee hours), also sets BlackPot Festival & Cook-Off apart from other festivals in the area.
Another divergent particular at Blackpot is the costume contest set for 10 p.m. Saturday night at the Main Stage, between Los Texmaniacs and The Revelers. And why not? After all, Halloween is just two days away.
In the meantime, Blackpot Camp is underway at Lakeview Park & Beach, 1717 Veterans Memorial Hwy., Eunice. There are musical instrument and music style classes underway through Thursday, covering Cajun fiddle, guitar and accordion; Western Swing, Old Time, harmony vocals, rhythm, drums, and dance.
The nightly dances, open to the public, have two bands and begin at 8 p.m. and so far have featured Joe Hall & the Cane Cutters, Blackpot All-Stars, Chas Justus & the Jury, The Revelers, a Square Dance and the 99 Playboys.
Coming Wednesday, it’s Bruce Daigrepont, the Honky Tonk All-Stars; and Thursday, it’s Preston Frank, followed by Cajun music.
Blackpot Fest
The Blackpot Festival itself gets started 6 Friday evening with, well, options across three stages. The Fraulines open the Main Stage; a Cajun jam with the Daiquiri Queens takes place at the Chapel Stage; and Renée Reed performs at the Schoolhouse Stage.
The Pine Leaf Boys close out Day 1 of Blackpot and before that goes down, you can also hear K.C. Jones, Roochie Toochie and the Ragtime Shepherd Kings, Jackson & the Janks, John R. Miller & Chloe Edmonstone & J.P. Harris, and The Shabbys.
Come Saturday, Jesse Lege starts the day-long music extravaganza with a Cajun jam at 10 a.m. Square dancing begins an hour later and then an hour after that, all music breaks loose.
The impressive lineup includes: Sheryl Cormier, Cedric Watson et Bijou Creole, The Daiquiri Queens, Preston Frank and Ed Poullard, The Murphy Beds, The Georgia Parker Trio, Amis du Teche, Forest Huval, Diamond J. & the Ruby Red Raindrops, Travis Stuart, Libby and the Loveless, Epi & Friends, Ferd, The Hushabyes, Golden Shoals.
See Saturday’s extensive schedule here.
One of the many bands on the schedule is Lafayette’s Major Handy who will hit the Chapel Stage, Saturday, 6-7 p.m. While only Handy’s name is listed, do know the set will include his band, Major Handy & the Louisiana Blues Band.
“We’re going to have the whole band,” said Handy.
The band consists of Carmen Jacob, drums; Ramsey Robinson, guitar; Lincoln Landry, bass/vocals; and Handy, accordion/vocals.
And if you’re wondering what you’ll hear, well, here ya go:
“I’m going to be doing Major Handy, bro,” Handy chuckled. “You know, rhythm & blues and jazz and, I don’t know, maybe there’ll be zydeco.”
Handy’s set list includes Just My Imagination (The Temptations); Last Two Dollars (Johnnie Taylor); It’s Alright (Curtis Mayfield) Turning Point (Tyrone Davis); I’ll Take You There (The Staple Singers) and I’m On A Wonder (Clifton Chenier).
You can also expect a few of Handy’s tunes with Come On Home, Zydeco Feeling and Trailside.
Handy, steadily gigging after the pandemic, is also recovering rather well from a stroke in January 2020. Handy said he’s doing “Pretty good. I just got a little limp that aggravates me every now and then,” he said. “But, you know what? It’s leaving.
“It’s all but over,” continued Handy. “It’s not that bad. Every time I go to therapy, I come back a little bit better and stronger.”
While there will be food and beverages about, one would be remiss not to mention the Cook-Off. It is an integral part of the festival. Heck, it’s in the event’s name: Blackpot Festival & Cook-Off.
The cook-off takes place Saturday afternoon. Folks can visit each chef’s outdoor kitchen and sample their creations.
Anyone can enter from amateur to professional for a chance at prizes and bragging rights. Categories include Gravy, Gumbo, Cracklins, Jambalaya, dessert.
Entry fees are $75 for individuals; Civic organizations, $100; and Business, $125. Go here for more info.
BLACKPOT TICKET INFO
Weekend pass includes camping, $70; Friday night, 6 p.m.-midnight (no camping), $30; Saturday noon-midnight (no camping) $40.
Good preview story Mr. Cross!
wish I was going! I’m a couillon, what can I say?