We're in the depths of a snowy New England winter and it looks like I've let my little blog here fall by the wayside. Partially because I didn't take a fall festival trip last year, and have been busy with other things, and its cold and dark and boring around here this time of year. But the sky is brightening in the late afternoon again, and there are a few festive happenings on the horizon that will help us get through the rest of the winter until the new festival season is in full swing again. Feb 7 is a Mardi Gras celebration in Woonsocket, RI, with a couple of zydeco bands, a dinner and masquerade. Although it is scaled back from the multi-venue event it has been in years past, it should still be a good time. More info can be found here: http://www.nrica.org/mardigras.html
The following weekend, Feb 13-15, is the Joe Val Bluegrass festival at the Sheraton in Framingham, MA. This is an indoor bluegrass festival complete with mainstage performances, picking parties, and music workshops. It's kind of like a conference for festival fans. See a review of last year's festival here
Feb 21 is the annual Mardi Gras Ball at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, in Cranston RI. Featuring 3 popular acts from Louisiana - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, and Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys - plus the Hot Tamale Brass Band from the Boston area, are scheduled to appear. Many fest-goers from Rhythm and Roots usually turn out and make it feel more like a night in the dance tent at that festival, than a one-night event in the middle of winter. As a warm-up to Saturday night's festivities, Sal's Productions is hosting their annual "Fat Friday Zydeco Frenzy" with Andre Thierry at the German Club in Pawtucket, which makes it feel even more like a festival weekend.
Maybe we can't have outdoor parades and carnivals this time of year up here in the frozen north, but we can look forward to these indoor festivals and events. Those will make February breeze right past, taking us into another fine festival season.
The following weekend, Feb 13-15, is the Joe Val Bluegrass festival at the Sheraton in Framingham, MA. This is an indoor bluegrass festival complete with mainstage performances, picking parties, and music workshops. It's kind of like a conference for festival fans. See a review of last year's festival here
Feb 21 is the annual Mardi Gras Ball at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, in Cranston RI. Featuring 3 popular acts from Louisiana - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, and Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys - plus the Hot Tamale Brass Band from the Boston area, are scheduled to appear. Many fest-goers from Rhythm and Roots usually turn out and make it feel more like a night in the dance tent at that festival, than a one-night event in the middle of winter. As a warm-up to Saturday night's festivities, Sal's Productions is hosting their annual "Fat Friday Zydeco Frenzy" with Andre Thierry at the German Club in Pawtucket, which makes it feel even more like a festival weekend.
Maybe we can't have outdoor parades and carnivals this time of year up here in the frozen north, but we can look forward to these indoor festivals and events. Those will make February breeze right past, taking us into another fine festival season.
