Doors at 7:30 pm; Cajun/Zydeco Dance Lesson with Cheryl McBride at 8 pm;
Show at 8:30 pm
Tickets are $12
You can’t get much more authentic than Andrew Carriere, especially when he’s backed by his top-notch Zydeco/Cajun Allstars. A native of Southern Louisiana, accordionist and singer Andrew Carriere brings a long family tradition into his playing. His father was the legendary Creole fiddler “Bebe” Carriere, his uncle was accordionist Eraste Carriere, and cousins Chubby, Calvin, and Roy Carrier are popular in the zydeco arena. Carriere moved to the Bay Area in the ’60s, learned accordion from the late Danny Poullard, and is featured vocalist on the California Cajun Orchestra’s “Not Lonesome Anymore” CD. He performs regularly with the Creole Belles and CZ & the Bon Vivants, and more occasionally in the Cajun Classics.
Carriere’s Zydeco/Cajun Allstars include steel guitarist Billy Wilson, drummer David “Killer” Hymowitz, guitarist Mitch Polzak, and bassist Steven Strauss. The lineup might not seem particularly “traditional” to current followers of Cajun and zydeco, but, Wilson explains, “This is the real tradition that came out of the ’50s and ’60s honky-tonk Cajun bands, where they just had fun and played for dancers. The steel guitar was right there, and fiddles and an occasional lead guitar.” And, of course, the accordion. The repertoire is the standards and classics of Cajun and zydeco, old and new.
Annie Staninec has been playing the violin since the age of four, began
performing professionally at the age of 12, and now makes her living playing,
recording, teaching and touring internationally with renowned groups spanning
several genres. Annie’s fiery playing and unassuming charm have been
captivating audiences around the world for years, whether she is on the festival
stage with a bluegrass band, playing an intimate club with a gypsy jazz combo,
or just playing for the local Cajun dance.
Annie toured with the 2006 Gypsy Caravan Tour, featuring such luminaries as
David Grisman, Stephane Wrembel, and the Robin Nolan Trio, and has
performed numerous times at Djangofest either leading her own group or with
the Avatar Ensemble. She has just returned from an expansive European tour
with the internationally acclaimed Kathy Kallick band, including headlining the
annual European World of Bluegrass Festival in Voorthuizen, the Netherlands,
and will be performing on the main stage at the prestigious California Bluegrass
Association annual festival in June.
Annie makes her home in San Francisco, CA and is currently performing with
the Kathy Kallick Band, Andrew Carriere and the Cajun Allstars, Doug
Martin’s Avatar Ensemble, the George Cole Quintet, and others. Her playing
can be heard on albums from numerous artists including Kathy Kallick, Town
Mountain, Avatar String Ensemble, and a soon to be released project by Jerry
Vessel. Annie is proudly sponsored by Saga Cremona Violins, and the L.R.
Baggs company.
