The Bayou Region is invited to attend the first annual Swamp Stomp Festival, a compilation celebrating the culture of Southern Louisiana. The festival will take place on Friday and Saturday in the parking lot near John L. Guidry Stadium. Friday’s activities will begin at noon and last until 10 p.m. Admission will be free for Nicholls students until 3 p.m., after which it will be $10. Saturday festivities will be held from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Anke Tonn, associate librarian and head of interlibrary loans for Ellender Memorial Library, is the event co-chair, along with Brenda Haskins. Swamp Stomp is a result of many trying years, Tonn said.
“I started with a Cajun zydeco display when I came to Nicholls. I volunteered to be part of the committee. I was introduced to Cajun music when I moved to New Orleans, which was two years beforehand,” Tonn said. “We asked a local band, who used to play for the Cajun French Music Association, to play and it was so successful that the director of the library asked me to do it as an annual project.”
The event became celebrated each year after that in similar ways, with a display in the library, invited musical artists and receptions often sponsored by Jubilee. The events were made possible by grants, but when the 13th year loomed, the grant did not happen.
“A year before, Brenda Haskins approached me and said, ‘Anke, I know you really struggle with this grant writing and often you don’t get enough.’ Brenda said we should do a festival outdoors,” Tonn said.
Due to this lack of funding and relocation, the festival was named Swamp Stomp.
“I think it will be very successful because we will have two stages for the music. When one group stops, another group will start,” Tonn said. “We have announcers Gary LaFleur and Quentin Fontenot.”
The Lost Bayou Ramblers are among the bands scheduled to perform. They have performed at the International Country Music Conference in Nashville, the National Folk Festival, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens’ Chile Pepper Fiesta and the New Orleans Jazz Fest. They have also performed in France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Renaissance Cadienne, another group to perform at the festival, is a folkoric-theatre troupe composed of 20 members specializing in older music from France, Canada and Louisiana. Their dances take inspiration from German, French, Scots-Irish, Canadian and Polish influences.
French Rockin’ Boogie, whose lead singer Geno Delafose breeds cattle and raises horses outside of Eunice, performs 150 shows each year. The band received Best Zydeco Artist at the 2003 Big Easy Awards and a 2008 Grammy nomination for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album.
The Mamou Playboys, led by Steve Riley, hail from the town of Mamou where the French language is predominantly spoken. Riley strived to maintain the culture he grew up with by taking up the accordion at a young age and became a notable figure in his hometown.
In addition to musical performances, there will be vendors, beer and displays by Nicholls academic departments.
“We hope to have a good audience to enjoy those two days. I think it will be just great to have that Cajun culture. It’s so important to have the younger generation get involved,” Tonn said. “It’s an absolutely fantastic heritage. It should be preserved.
