Legendary Cajun Band BeauSoleil Celebrates 50 Year Anniversary at Acadiana Center for the Arts
LAFAYETTE, LA – January 17, 2024 – BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet marks the fiftieth year of their remarkable career with two star-studded concerts at the Acadiana Center for the Arts (AcA) in Lafayette, LA on Thursday, February 1, and Friday, February 2, 2024, as part of the Louisiana Crossroads series, presented by First Horizon. Each night of the 50 year anniversary celebration promises a special musical journey.
Nick Spitzer, producer and host of NPR’s “American Routes,” will serve as guest emcee both nights, and the performances will be recorded live for future use on “American Routes.”
These performances feature an array of guest artists who have performed with BeauSoleil during the course of the band’s five decades of making music, plus a few new faces. Guest artists include Tommy Alesi, Bill Bennett, Annick Colbert , Steve Conn, David Doucet, Matthew Doucet, Chad Huval, Tif Lamson, Dickie Landry, Gary Newman, Mitch Reed, Don Vappie, & Chad Viator.
Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet issued a proclamation recognizing the band for their role as ambassadors of culture.
“For generations, Lafayette and Acadiana have punched far above their weight in culture, compared to similar sized communities. The musicians of BeauSoleil are shining examples of the world-class innovation and talent that makes Lafayette stand apart,” says Boulet.
“It is our privilege and pleasure to help celebrate BeauSoleil as artists from our region who have left an indelible mark on the world through their music,” says AcA Executive Director Samuel Olivier.
“When we all agreed in 1981 to leave our day jobs to see how BeauSoleil’s wonderful unexpected success would grow, we never thought the band would make 36 albums or tour 13 countries and play all 50 states at least three times,” said Michael Doucet, the band’s founder.
“Cajun culture has always included music making in its celebrations and socializing,” Doucet continued. “These AcA shows will highlight the many ways our music has been made, along with showcasing the talents of our collaborators over the years as we Cajunized the world.”
BeauSoleil has won numerous awards including two Grammys and fourteen nominations, has played at Super Bowl XXXI, the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter, and on multiple episodes of “Prairie Home Companion.”
Their music has been in movie and TV soundtracks including for “The Big Easy”, “Belizaire the Cajun”, “Treme”, and most recently “I Don’t Feel at Home in the World Anymore”.
In addition to the two February performances, AcA presents a retrospective view exhibiting photos and memorabilia from the half century of BeauSoleil’s career in the Coca-Cola studio gallery.
This performance was made possible in part by support from NOLA Jazz & Heritage Foundation.
Tickets & info: https://acadianacenterforthearts.org/events/50-years-of-beausoleil
