Rock the Casbah

The Festival International de Louisiane, in Lafayette, LA., the last weekend of April, is the other wondrous musical event this time of year in our neighboring state. In no way comparable in scope, grandeur, or commercial appeal to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, this far more modest fete is still basically a regional event, although it's grown considerable in size and attendance in the 15 years since I last trekked to Acadian.

The free annual festival celebrated its 23rd year in the usual manner: music and arts from the French-speaking parts of the globe, including Africa, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Canada, France and, of course, Louisiana. South Africa, Ireland, Jamaica, Belgium, and several South American countries were also represented.

All told, this year’s fest featured close to 500 artists from 15 different countries performing on six stages spread around downtown Lafayette, including day-long activities for children at a local schoolyard. It’s even expanded in recent years to include a French film festival and related art exhibits. And let’s not forget the scrumptious eats.

A sampling of what I was able to take in included an Afro-Brazilian carnival troupe from Bahia, Ile Aiye, and West Africans Alpha Yaya Diallo from Guinea and Dobet Gnahore from the Ivory Coast. The former had a lively, lovely sound augmented by a traditional wooden xylophone, the balafon, and the latter was an energetic dancer that fronted a guitar-driven trio.

Austin’s Grupo Fantasma tore it up at the conclusion of Friday night and, along with the other main stage groups, was broadcast live on local NPR affiliate, KRVS 88.7. Lafayette heroes Lil Nathan & The Zydeco Big Timers provided an alternately rockin’ and funky soundtrack that locals used to party down in a most joyous manner. Another local hero, Cajun rebel Zachary Richard, introduced tunes from his new album, Last Kiss. Dengue Fever brought their psychedelic Cambodian pop to the fore, while Miami’s Locos Por Juana, with members from Columbia, Venezuela, Argentina, and Puerto Rico, laid down a deep, infectious, reggae-con-cumbia groove with an alternative edge.

The highlight for me was Algerian-born, Paris-based Rachid Taha, whose innovative mixture of high-energy rock riffs with the exotic Arabic melodies of North African rai was irresistible. Featuring a small harem of belly dancers and a strong percussive undertow, his raucous rendition of the Clash’s “Rock the Casbah” brought down the house.

Although not as quaint as years ago, Festival International is still a family-friendly alternative to Jazz Fest.