Solo Zydeco Festival Gets a New Texas Host City and an All-Star, Three-Day Lineup
Formerly the Crosby (Texas) Zydeco Festival, the Solo Zydeco Festival has moved to Humble, Texas in 2008 due to its growing attendee numbers which are now in excess of 10,000. Produced by Solo Zydeco Productions, the Solo Zydeco Festival will take place from 11 a. m. to 10 p. m., on Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, at the Humble Civic Center Arena, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble, Texas, 77338.
Houston, TX (PRWEB) January 16, 2008
Formerly the Crosby (Texas) Zydeco Festival, the Solo Zydeco Festival has moved to Humble, Texas in 2008 due to its growing attendee numbers which are now in excess of 10,000. Produced by Solo Zydeco Productions, the Solo Zydeco Festival will take place from 11 a. m. to 10 p. m., on Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, at the Humble Civic Center Arena, 8233 Will Clayton Parkway, Humble, Texas, 77338.
"The City of Humble is proud to welcome the Solo Zydeco Festival to the Humble Civic Center Arena," said Mike Byers, president of the Humble Area Chamber of Commerce. "The Festival has a great reputation for being a fun, family friendly event that draws not only the top zydeco talent, but also thousands from across the Gulf Coast region and beyond. We believe the event will be a significant economic benefit to our City."
"The decision to move the Festival to Humble has attracted coast to coast attention," said Solo Zydeco Productions CEO Troy Barrett. "We are assisting guests with travel accommodations from as far away as New York and California."
Traditionally, a one-day event, the Solo Zydeco Festival is bursting at the seams with a three-day, all-star lineup featuring the best and hottest zydeco bands from Texas and Louisiana.
Friday, March 7 - Blue Ocean Club, 9541 Mesa Road, Houston, TX 77078
Kick-off dance featuring Chris Ardoin and NuStep
Saturday, March 8 - Humble Civic Center Arena
Chris Ardoin and NuStep Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers Jeremy and the Zydeco Hot Boyz T-Broussard and the Zydeco Steppers Marcus Ardoin and the Zydeco Legendz Same Ole 2 Step
Sunday, March 9 - Humble Civic Center Arena
Leroy Thomas and the Zydeco Road Runners Step Rideau and the Zydeco Outlaws Jeffrey Broussard and the Creole Cowboys 2008 Grammy Award nominee Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie
The Festival also features an array of vendor-provided food and beverages, professional services and products, and arts and crafts, as well as attractions for the children, two-step and accordion contests and giveaways.
A portion of the Festival proceeds will benefit the Black Professional Cowboys & Cowgirls Association, Inc. (BPCCA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Solo Zydeco Productions will help BPCCA double its impact in the lives of young men and women this year by matching each BPCCA scholarship dollar-for-dollar.
Barrett has been producing music festivals for more than 10 years. For Solo Zydeco Productions, promoting family music events is a passion and forte. The company's mission is to provide family oriented, culturally diverse music festivals and youth educational opportunities through college scholarships.
Zydeco has been steadily growing in national and international popularity over the past 15 years. Dating back to the 1800s, zydeco has its roots in African and Caribbean music and the Creole culture. Creoles represent the mixed offspring of Europeans, American Indians and Africans. Zydeco also is influenced by blues, jazz, rock and R&B music.
The two leading instruments in zydeco are the accordion and rubboard, often worn on the chest. The rubboard was invented in the 1940s by Willie Landry and accordion player Clifton Chenier (the "King of Zydeco"), and has become zydeco's signature rhythmic sound.
Zydeco culture is about family, music, fun and networking with enthusiasts and persons new to zydeco. It unites people of all backgrounds.
Available at the gate, tickets are $15 for adults ($25 for two days) and $5 for kids ages 6 to 12. Kids 5 and under are free. Group tickets, sponsorships and vendor booths are available. Special hotel rates also are available.
For more information regarding the Solo Zydeco Festival visit www. solozp. com. To reserve a vendor booth or become a sponsor, please contact event publicist Margo Williams Handy, MWH Public Relations, at 281.213.9554.
About Solo Zydeco Productions: Solo Zydeco Productions has been producing cultural music festivals since 1997 beginning with the Liberty County Zydeco and Crawfish Festival in Liberty, TX. In 1998, Solo Zydeco Productions moved to Humble, TX and started the Zydecopalooza music festival. Zydecopalooza ran for three years along with the Clifton Chenier Hall of Fame Zydeco music awards festival. Since then, Solo Zydeco Productions has grown and expanded its music festival experience producing three major festivals in the Texas region: the Solo Zydeco Festival formerly the Crosby Zydeco Festival, The Soul and Blues Festival, which also is moving to Humble in 2008, and the Festival de la Cosecha, held in Baytown, Texas. Solo Zydeco Productions produces family cultural events each year and it is excited about moving the Solo Zydeco Festival and the Soul and Blues Festival to the beautiful Humble Civic Center Arena. Log onto www. solozp. com or myspace. com/crosbyzydecofestival, for more information.
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