Creole and Cajun Music Spice Up Weekend Festival in Agoura

Laron Doucet moved to Los Angeles when he was 4, but his family maintained its Creole traditions--food, language and music. During the summer months, Doucet would visit his grandparents in Louisiana, where he listened to the rich oral history of his ancestors who settled the region during the early 1700s.

“I guess I became something of a self-taught historian by about 14. Our people are very proud of their French, Native American and African- American heritage,” said Doucet, 26. “And I am very proud of it too.”

Doucet will speak about Cajun and Creole history and some of its lasting influences on popular music, as he introduces the bands at the Cajun Occasion Festival tonight, Saturday and Sunday in Agoura. The festival, sponsored by Fair Share, Inc., is a benefit to provide training and equipment for the physically disabled. The concerts run from 7 to 11 each night.

The festival presents a variety of Cajun- and Creole-based bands such as Zydeco Party Band, Gumbo La La, T-Lou and Los Rock Angels. Dixieland music will be played by Little Red School House, New Orleans Connection and blues singer Sweet Baby J.

Differences in Cajun and Creole musical styles are detectable but very subtle, said Doucet, who notes that Zydeco uses more African and Caribbean beats than Cajun does. Both styles use the accordion and the frottoir, a washboard or rubbing board, Doucet said, noting that fiddles, drums and guitars have been added recently.

Zydeco is a Creole term, which loosely translated means snap bean. The genre derives its name from the song “Zydeco Sont Pas Sales” (or “The Snap Beans Are Not Salty”), Doucet said.

“Believe it or not, the Zydeco style is very similar to the traditional norteno style of Northern Mexico,” said Louie Mendez of Los Rock Angels. The group is sometimes billed as a Latino Zydeco band, but Mendez said the blend is true to both traditions.

“We use the accordion and rub board as well,” said Mendez, 26. “I also incorporate the bajo-sexto , a six-stringed bass guitar. We play traditional Zydeco songs, sung in French, as well as original music in Spanish and English.”

Lisa Haley, 36, of the Zydeco Party Band said, “The first time I heard Doug Kershaw, a Cajun fiddler, the music hit me. I was trained classically on the viola, but my parents are from the South, and Zydeco just stirred me. I went to Louisiana in 1972 and got some roots .”

Cajun and Zydeco music have been popular in Europe for the past 10 years, said Haley, who toured with Cajun accordionist Queen Ida in 1981. “Back here, I played weddings. But it’s catching on,” she said.

“Zydeco is the backbone of rock ‘n’ roll. And almost everyone can enjoy it, because there’s so many beats going on at the same time. You just can’t miss.”

The Cajun Occasion Festival will be held from 7 to 11 tonight, Saturday and Sunday at Agoura and Kanan roads in Agoura. Admission is $3, with proceeds to benefit education, research and training of the physically disabled. Information is available at (805) 496-1111.