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Mountain Home Music to Host Cajun Fiddlers Michael and David Doucet on Saturday

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Michael Doucet

Get ready to treat your musical taste buds to something a little more zesty than your usual mountain fare. Michael Doucet, the consummate Cajun Fiddler, will bring his spicy sounds to Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music on Saturday night at the Harvest House Performing Arts Venue in Boone. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Special guest will be Michael’s brother, guitarist extraordinaire David Doucet. The Doucet brothers are founding members of the world-renowned band BeauSoleil, considered by many to be the greatest Cajun band of all time.

Michael Doucet, from Lafayette Louisiana, is an American Cajun fiddler, singer and songwriter. He has won 2 Grammys, is a 2007 National Heritage Award recipient and is acclaimed to be the top scholar on Cajun culture. For the past 40 years, Michael has been making some of the most potent and popular Cajun music on the planet. Born out of the rich Acadian ancestry of his family, his performances offer spellbinding fiddle playing and soulful vocals – peppered with entertaining insights into Cajun life. Cajun music purists admire Michael’s traditional Cajun fiddling and his informed command of traditional Cajun history. But Doucet has not been restrained by tradition and has written and composed numerous songs and tunes that capture the full influences of life and the music in the Bayou Country of Southwest Louisiana. His compositions take the rich Cajun traditions of Louisiana and artfully blend elements of zydeco, New Orleans jazz, Tex-Mex, country, blues and more into a satisfying musical recipe.

“In following the late Joe Shannon’s lead to include in his concert series’ the best musicians from a diverse array of musical cultures, I am excited to present Michael Doucet to our JSMHM audience. Who better to represent Cajun music than a fiddle player who had been described as the authority on Cajun culture.” Says JSMHM director, Rodney Sutton. Sutton goes on to add, “What already promised to be a ‘do not miss performance’ is now doubly exciting with the news that Michael’s brother, David will be joining him on guitar. 2015 marks 40 years since these two formed the band BeauSoleil and began traveling the world sharing their love of Cajun music”.

“Well, it’s been about 15 years since I was last in Boone with the band”, says Michael Doucet. “I remember playing years ago at the club on campus and then later at the large auditorium(named Farthing at that time). This concert will give me more opportunities to weave in stories of Cajun life and background to the old songs that I love than I can when fronting BeauSoleil”, Doucet added.

In 2005, Michael Doucet was one of 12 recipients of the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts. The NEA award, which recognizes artistic excellence, cultural authenticity and an artist’s contributions, is the highest honor in U.S. folk and traditional arts.

Sutton said, “I feel enriched to have gotten to be friends with such talented performers over these past 44 years of teaching workshops, calling dances and performing at folk festivals all over the US. It is through these friendships that I am able to find out when folks like Michael will be in the area and when I can sometimes snag them to come up to JSMHM and share their love and passion for their music with us. Michael joins a list of National Heritage Fellowship recipients that include Sheila Kay Adams and Wayne Henderson who have graced the stage at JSMHM over the years. Playing as a duet with his brother David, will allow him to share stories of their family history of life down in Cajun country while also playing some of the best Cajun music you will ever hear. You will not want to miss this rare opportunity here in the mountains. Let’s show these Cajun boys some real High Country appreciation for performing in Boone.”

Private sponsorships for this week’s concert are Bob Goddard and Bonnie Guy, Lynn Hubbard, Merida H. Steele – In Honor of John H. Steele, and The Estate of Joe Shannon.

Business sponsors include the David Finck Violins, DeWoolfson Down, Harvest House Performing Arts Venue, The Mountain Times, and WETS-89.5FM.
Tickets cost $18 in advance and $20 at the door. Student tickets are $10. Children 12 and younger are admitted free. Advance tickets may be purchased online at www.mountainhomemusic.com. Tickets may also be purchased at Mast General Store (Boone and Valle Crucis), Fred’s Mercantile on Beech Mountain and Pandora’s Mailbox and the Dulcimer Shop, both in the Martin House on Main Street in downtown Blowing Rock.

Visit Joe Shannon’s Mountain Home Music online for more information.