Southern California Cajun Zydeco Festival

Only a decade ago, most people's knowledge of Cajun music began and ended with what they knew about fiddler Doug Kershaw, and that was only because he's always billed himself as "The Ragin' Cajun." Nowadays, pop fans across the country--in fact, around the world--have had numerous opportunities to discover how much more there is to the unique music of southwestern Louisiana than that one manic musician with the Marty Feldman eyes.

The Southern California Cajun & Zydeco Festival will expand beyond those two styles when blues-R&B pianist-singer Marcia Ball tops a seven-act bill June 3 and 4 in Long Beach, festival producer Franklin Zawacki announced Tuesday.

The Southern California Cajun & Zydeco Festival will expand beyond those two styles when blues-R&B pianist-singer Marcia Ball tops a seven-act bill June 3 and 4 in Long Beach, festival producer Franklin Zawacki announced Tuesday.

In a repeat of what was described last year as a scheduling gaffe, two major folk-oriented music festivals will again take place in the Southland on the same weekend in June just 30 miles apart. More than 50 performers of folk, country, blues and roots-based styles will participate in the Troubadours of Music and Crafts Festival slated for June 4-5 at UCLA's Drake Stadium.

In a repeat of what was described last year as a scheduling gaffe, two major folk-oriented music festivals will again take place in the Southland on the same weekend in June just 30 miles apart. More than 50 performers of folk, country, blues and roots-based styles will participate in the Troubadours of Music and Crafts Festival slated for June 4-5 at UCLA's Drake Stadium.

THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAJUN & ZYDECO FESTIVAL today and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Rainbow Lagoon, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach (562) 427-3713.

The lineup for the eighth annual Southern California Cajun & Zydeco Festival: * Noon: The Poullard Brothers Band (Saturday only). * Noon: Joe Simien & Lisa Haley (Sunday only). * 1:15 p.m.: D.L. Menard & the Louisiana Aces (Saturday-Sunday). * 2:30 p.m.: Walter Mouton & the Scott Playboys (Saturday-Sunday). * 4 p.m.: Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys (Saturday-Sunday). * 5:30 p.m.: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas (Saturday-Sunday).

The annual Southern California Cajun & Zydeco Festival in Long Beach and the Troubadours of Music & Crafts Festival will not clash on June 4-5 after all. Troubadours fest promoter Jim Rissmiller said the event has been postponed, probably until late August, because of rising costs and the loss of the event's airline sponsor. He said the festival will not take place in UCLA's Drake Stadium as announced, but at a location to be determined.

The annual Southern California Cajun & Zydeco Festival in Long Beach and the Troubadours of Music & Crafts Festival won't clash on the weekend of June 4 and 5 after all. Troubadours fest promoter Jim Rissmiller has announced postponement of the event, probably until late August.

The Sixth Annual Southern California Cajun & Zydeco Festival will bring some top Louisiana talent to the Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach on Memorial Day weekend. Performing both May 30 and 31 are Michael Doucet & Beausoleil, John Delafose & the Eunice Playboys, Dewey Balfa, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas and the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band. Rounding out the Saturday lineup will be Bad Boy Zydeco, while Joe Simien & the Country Boys will play Sunday only.

Only a decade ago, most people's knowledge of Cajun music began and ended with what they knew about fiddler Doug Kershaw, and that was only because he's always billed himself as "The Ragin' Cajun." Nowadays, pop fans across the country--in fact, around the world--have had numerous opportunities to discover how much more there is to the unique music of southwestern Louisiana than that one manic musician with the Marty Feldman eyes.

Remember the sultry intro to Ike and Tina Turner's version of "Proud Mary," where Tina snarls: "We never, ever do nothin' nice and easy."? The Southern California Cajun & Zydeco Festival turns 10 this weekend in Long Beach, and its founder and still-head-cheerleader, Franklin Zawacki, just may be the Tina Turner of concert promoters. Noticing that audiences around the country are getting more and more enthusiastic about the pumped-up rhythms of zydeco, what did Zawacki do for this year's fest?

The annual Southern California Cajun & Zydeco Festival this weekend in Long Beach takes a giant step into new territory with the addition of blues pianist and singer Marcia Ball. It's the first time since the festival began in 1986 that its producers have strayed from Cajun and zydeco performers.