Mardi Gras Ball - Rhode Island Style - Feb '06

The 14th Annual Mardi Gras Ball in February was enjoyed by all. The evening started off with Balfa Toujours including Geno Delafose on drums. Geno followed with his band, French Rockin' Boogie. They played a terrific set of originals and covers and were followed by Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys who played a typically scorchin' Playboys set for about an hour. The final hour of the Playboys set was a cajun/zydeco jamfest that included (l. to r. in picture) fiddlers Courtney Granger & Kevin Wimmer from Balfa Toujours (Kevin also plays in the Red Stick Ramblers), Brazos Huval on bass, Steve Riley on fiddle and accordians, Geno Delafose on accordian and drums, Kevin Dugas on drums (partially obscured in pic). Not included in the posted pic are David Greeley (fiddle and sax) from the Mamou Playboys, Dirk Powell (guitar and accordian) and Christine Balfa (guitar and triangle) from Balfa Toujours and the Playboy's guitarist extraordinaire, Sam Broussard. What a nite!

From the moment Chuck Wentworth of Lagniappe Productions kicked off the show with the introduction of Balfa Toujours till the last sweet note of the evening, the floor of the Rhodes on the Pawtuxent was filled with costumed dancers sweatin' to the heat coming off the stage. The highlight of the ball is always the costume contest that takes place prior to the closing set. This year was no exception. Audience members showed their amazing creativity and sense of style. This years celebration was particularly poignant in the aftermath of Katrina, and many of the get-ups had biting and satirical themes...THINK - what are we paying for with our taxes?! Events of the past, however, did not dampen the celebratory nature of the evening.

This event has become an annual mainstay on my calendar and for anyone looking for a great evening out in the chill of the Rhode Island winter, this is truly a Ball in the best sense of the word. Highly recommended. For more information check out the Lagniappe Productions web site.

Klondike Sound, as always, provided pristine sound with Klon, the man himself, manning front-of-house.

Click here for more information on Balfa Toujours. Click here if you'd like additional information on Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie and finally click here for more information on Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys.

Y'all come back now, ya heeah!
Paul