The past Bristol Cajun and Zydeco Festivals
19th to 21st October 2007
20th to 22nd October 2006
16th to 18th September 2005
8th to 10th October 2004
This page is dedicated to the past Bristol Cajun and Zydeco Festivals!
Here's what previous year's festival-goers said:
"Great music, great friends, great atmosphere, great dancing, who could ask for more!!!"
“Just brill! What can we say except THANK YOU!”
“Smitten and addicted…”
“Brilliant job!”
“More of everything.”
“Friendly and welcoming”
“I want to make sure the festival happens again…
“Great Weekend – when's the next one?”
“Excellent bands, great staff – same time next year?”
A message from the organisers after The Third Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Festival 20th-22nd of October 2006:
"Bristol" is now over for another year - but never fear- we'll be back in 2007 (19th to 21st October)!
We are absolutely delighted that this year's festival was as successful as it was, with Saturday night sold out in advance and people having such a wonderful time. Especially nice was that the festival attracted many people completely new to cajun and zydeco music and dancing - hope to see y'all back next year!
As always the most important thing is to say a heartfelt thanks to everybody there; the bands, the people who put their time and effort to volunteer during the event and beforehand, the fabulous staff at the Folk House, the sponsors and the festival goers who turned up and made the event what it was.
Also, thanks to all those who sent in comments (please keep them coming!) and wrote on the comments book - we appreciate it and will take them on board wherever possible (currently working on Bristol City Council to remove the big hill on Park Street!)- and those who bought raffle tickets. £166 was raised for the Acorn Hurricane Recovery and Rebuilding Fund.
Finally, Carole Lateman of Swamprock, London, has kindly written a review of this year's festival - see Review of Bristol 2006.
See y'all next year!
A message from the organisers after The Second Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Festival 16th-18th of September 2005:
This year's festival is now over and of all the things that still need doing, the first and foremost is a massive thank you from all of us involved with organising the Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Festival - we had a truly fantastic weekend!
Best of all, together with Swamprock's Hurricane Benefit gig on the 10th of September, the final amount raised to be shared between the American Red Cross and MusiCares Hurricane Katrina relief funds came to £723.81!
So thank you to everyone there - the bands and individuals who so generously donated prizes and items to auction and of course the people who turned up - we hope you had a lovely time and come back next year!!! Also a special thanks to the Folk House staff and those who helped during the festival - couldn't have done it without you :-)
Any comments and suggestions for next year would be most welcome - as would be any photos. I'd like to put a gallery on the website, but the ones I took are absolutely awful! You can get in touch via the Contact page or e-mail us directly.
And finally, next year's festival will be running from Friday 20th October to Sunday 22nd October 2006 - be there!
A message from the organisers after The First Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Festival 8th-10th of October 2004:
"It's Official – The Good Times Rolled!
A Big Bristol Thank You must go first and foremost to all you amazing punters for showing up, from far and wide, and making the weekend a sizzling success. It seems like everyone felt great energy and a welcoming vibe way beyond the music. It was especially good to see people new to the culture show up and get down.
Thanks are due to those who risked their own money up front to secure bands and venue – fortunately the turn-out means those individuals have had their stakes back, and there's a margin left over to go back into the Club for future events.
We're also grateful to our sponsors, to all the fabulous Folk House and terrific Tantric Jazz staff, and the many volunteers and well-wishers who made things go with a swing.
As well as a plateful of tasty compliments, we also have food for thought - thanks to suggestions from guests;
Due to its proximity to housing, the Folk House risks loss of licence if doors and windows are opened – they just have to stay closed. We'll be thinking about how to improve ventilation if a second festival goes ahead: steamy's good - blast furnace conditions, not so good.
There've been requests for more jamming and alternative ways to do workshops, even spicier food, and some good ideas on the practicalities of accommodation and organisation – thanks.
The organisers will now take a well-earned break, but watch this space for a decision on whether there will be a Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Festival 2005.
Meanwhile, if you'd like to email photos for to share on the site, send them in to here*, and they can be incorporated during the next site update. (Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Club, October 2004)"
* Still applies - if you have photos to share, please use the above link to send them to us
Nigel Worthington (http://www.zydeco.org.uk/) has kindly written reviews of Bristol 2004 and Bristol 2005!