Friday 23rd until Sunday 25th January 2009
The UK’s Number One Cajun and Zydeco Festival - a three-day, non-stop Louisiana style party!
Celebrating its 16th year, the Gloucester International Cajun and Zydeco Festival promises a non-stop party with the cream of the crop of UK bands.
One of the big highlights of Gloucester's prestigious festival calendar, the International Cajun and Zydeco Festival is now firmly established as the premier event of its kind in the whole of the UK and brings a little piece of Louisiana culture right into the heart of our winter! There is quite simply no better festival in the country for this music. It may be cold outside but inside the beautiful historic Gloucester Guildhall things are hotter than ever!
The festival attracts people not just from all over the UK but regularly brings in visitors from Germany, Holland, Belgium, France, Ireland and even the USA. The line up is hand picked by Chris Hall, the guy who kick started the Cajun Scene in this country almost 30 years ago. Needless to say you can be assured that with a line up that features the best of the UK bands, there’s no better time to join us for the best Cajun and Zydeco Party this side of the Atlantic.
Chris Hall, Swampmusic
Get Festival updates, more news and links to the performers’ websites at www.swampmusic.co.uk| and from this website when they are available.
We're pleased to announce that we have not increased any of our ticket prices this year. Some ticket prices have been reduced. Details of ticket packages may be found here, and all tickets are now on sale|.
Concert details are available on our concert tickets page here|.
Details of Festival passes are available here|.
Details of Festival workshops are available here|.
If you would like to request an official festival guide to be sent to you, or would like to join either our postal or our e-mailing list please call 01452 503050 or click here|
The festival guide is now available for download here (pdf file 3.3Mb)| - please note, there is a mistake in the festival guide. Concerts and some classes that are taking place in the Theatre are listed as being in the 'Main Room'. The main room at the Guildhall is the Theatre. All concerts shown as being in the 'Main Room' are included in passes for concerts in the Theatre.
2009 Performers
The 2009 Festival will feature the following bands and artists:-
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Petite et la Gross
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Joe Le Taxi Zydeco Band
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Z Funk
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R Cajun And The Zydeco Brothers
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The Bearcats Trio
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Zigazag
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Gavin Lewery
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Hackney Ramblers
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Whippoorwills Big Band
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The 309s
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Cajun All Star Jam
It will also feature music and instrument workshops with the following artists:-
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Gavin Lewery
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Ian Tothill
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Hazel Scott
Cajun and Zydeco dance workshops will be taught by the following tutors:-
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Kay Anderson
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Satu Philips
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Phil Underwood
For further information about this year's performers, please click here|
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Cajun Festival Film
Routes Dancing to New Orleans (certificate tba)
Dir: Alex Reuben (UK 2007. 48mins)
In 2005, London-based DJ and director Alex Reuben took a trip from North Carolina to New Orleans to document the everyday music and dance of the Deep South. Subtly the choreogeography of Appalachian Bluegrass, clogging, Mississippi fife-and-drum blues, krumping, Memphis hip-hop, the Tuscarora Indian smoke dance, Lousiana Cajun, zydeco and swamp pop makes telling links between the landscapes and communities in which they are firmly rooted. Racial faultlines, political undertones and historical continuities gradually emerge as the film builds to a life-affirming climax in Katrina-hit New Orleans…
This will be shown in the Guildhall's cinema on Friday 23rd January at 7.45pm| and on Saturday 24th January at 2pm|. Tickets for the film are currently on sale, prices £5.50 (£4.50 concessions)
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Jam Sessions
Hosted by Richmal Wild and Friends
This year we've again set aside the bar area where people can get together, jam, eat, and drink. Check it out - pop in for an acoustic jam or just hang out and chill. Bring your instruments and join in or try out your own tunes and songs. Obviously you will hear Cajun and Zydeco but all musical styles are welcome.
There are also other smaller rooms in the building that are available for those who want to jam in a quieter, less public environment. Alternatively, space is available at the European Blues Association's resource centre at Greyfriars. They also have guitars to borrow and places to sit and play.
About the European Blues Association
The European Blues Association is a registered charity dedicated to the promotion of music evolved from African American roots. Its archive of African Americam Music is a rich resource for anyone interested in the historical past and the modern progression of Cajun, Zydeco, Blues, Soul and Jazz.
Rare recordings, literature and memorabilia are freely available to the public in its Resource Activity Centre. It's located on the second floor of Gloucester's Music and Drama Library, just the other side of The Mall and Indoor Market from the Guildhall. Drop in to check out their Cajun and Zydeco collection between 11am and 4pm on the Friday and Saturday of the Festival. For further information call 01452 503775.
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Cajun Kitchen
The Guildhall's Cafe-Bar, The Place| will be offering a range of authentic Cajun dishes for festivalgoers to savour during the festival weekend, as well as providing liquid refreshment.
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Festival Location
The festival takes place at the Guildhall in Eastgate Street, right in the heart of the pedestrianised centre of Gloucester, and is signposted Guildhall Arts Centre on the many pedestrian signposts within the city centre. Please visit our 'how to find us|' page for detailed directions.
Events will be taking place in the Guildhall's Cinema, Theatre and meeting rooms during the weekend.
If you need information about how to get to Gloucester, please visit our travel information pages, available here|.
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Accommodation
If you require details of hotels, guest houses and B&B's in and around Gloucester, please visit www.visitgloucester.info| or call the Gloucester Tourist Information Centre on 01452 396572.
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Facilities for Disabled People
Wheelchair access is available to the box office, cinema, theatre, galleries, meeting rooms, cafe-bar and toilets from the lift at our Eastgate Street entrance.
We are pleased to offer a complimentary ticket to the carer of any disabled patron who purchases a ticket for a live performance in the Guildhall.
Please advise the box office in advance if we can do anything to make your visit easier.
An induction loop to assist the hard-of-hearing is available in the cinema, theatre and meeting rooms.
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Age Limits
We advise that under 18's should be accompanied by an adult.
Daytime events are open to all ages, however evening concerts in the theatre are open to over 14s only, as a result the three passes that include concerts in the theatre are for over 14s only.
Booking Information
All Festival tickets are now on sale. You can book these online, by post, by telephone or in person. Click here for details of ticket prices|. Tickets have been kept at the same prices as the 2007 and 2008 Festivals or have been reduced.
BOOKING ONLINE
All Festival tickets may now be purchased via our secure server. Just click on the Internet Bookings link below, or click here| and follow the simple onscreen instructions. We will hold your tickets at the Guildhall's box office for collection when you arrive for the festival, and will send you a confirmation email detailing the tickets that you've purchased. Customers who qualify for the concessionary rate will need to provide proof of status when they collect their tickets. We charge a fixed fee of £1 per event for online purchases. We regret that there is no 'shopping basket' facility available on our website.
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All Festival tickets are now available for purchase via our secure server, just click on the Internet Bookings link to the left. We regret that there is no 'shopping basket' facility available on our website.
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BOOKING BY POST
Please send us details of your ticket requirements, contact information and payment details. These should be sent to Gloucester Guildhall, 23 Eastgate Street, Gloucester GL1 1NS, UK. We may need to contact you about your booking, particularly if tickets you have requested have sold out, so please ensure that you provide us with a daytime and evening phone number that we may call you on.
Cheques should be made payable to Gloucester City Council. We also accept payment from VISA, MAESTRO (SWITCH) and MASTERCARD. A processing fee of £1 will be charged on all credit/debit card bookings. We will hold your tickets at the box office for collection when you arrive at the festival, and will either email you or send you a letter of confirmation detailing the tickets that you've purchased.
BOOKING BY TELEPHONE
Call Gloucester Events on 01452 50-30-50 with your ticket requirements. We accept payment from VISA, MAESTRO (SWITCH) and MASTERCARD. A processing fee of £1 will be charged on all credit/debit card bookings. We will hold your tickets at the box office for collection when you arrive at the festival, and will either email you or send you a letter of confirmation detailing the tickets that you've purchased.
During busy periods our staff will ask you to leave your name and telephone number. We will then call you back as soon as possible.
Outside opening hours calls will be transferred to our answering service. Please leave your name, telephone number and brief details of your ticket requirements and a member of our team will call you back as soon as possible to confirm your booking.
BOOKING IN PERSON
Call into the Guildhall's box office in Eastgate Street, open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday, from 10.30am to 3pm on Saturday, and from 6.30pm on the evening of performances. You may also purchase tickets from the Tourist Information Centre in Southgate Street, open from 10am to 5pm from Monday to Saturday.
Personal callers may pay by cash, cheque or credit/debit cards. We accept payment from VISA, MAESTRO (SWITCH) and MASTERCARD. A processing fee of £1 will be charged on all credit/debit card bookings.
Refunds
We are unable to exchange tickets or offer refunds unless an event is cancelled.
Concessions
Concessionary ticket prices apply to students, senior citizens, the unemployed and under 16's. Proof of status is required.
Programme Changes
We reserve the right to make unavoidable alterations to the programme without prior notice.
Refusal of Admission
The Guildhall reserves the right to refuse admission to the venue.
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Smoking Policy
Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the Guildhall.
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This information was updated on 29th December 2008.
Go back to the main Cajun & Zydeco Festival page|
Go to the Gloucester Guildhall page|
Go to our Festivals and Events page|