NEW! “Gator By Night” Dinner and Dancing on Friday Night
More than 25 Bands on Five Stages, Free Dance Lessons, and 8,000 Pounds of Crawfish Straight From Louisiana!
GATOR BY THE BAY, the biggest Zydeco and Cajun festival on the West Coast, celebrates the rich and unique culture of Louisiana for a ninth year with a return to Spanish Landing Park on May 7, 8, and 9, 2010.
This spirited three-day music and food festival features an impressive variety of music and entertainment. For the first time, a special Friday-night event, “Gator by Night,” has been added to the festivities.
“Gator by Night” will feature a Blues Supper Club atmosphere around the Bourbon Street stage, with Louisiana cuisine for dinner and dancing to top Zydeco and Blues bands.
The Gator by the Bay festival creates a rich cultural experience with zesty Zydeco, Cajun, Blues, jazz, country, and Swing bands; authentic Creole food; dancing and dance lessons; costumed New Orleans-style daily parades; and lots of kids’ activities. More than 10,000 are expected to attend.
Four nationally known Cajun and Zydeco bands with roots in Louisiana, including the Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, offer a delicious mix of tempo and mood. Headliners will include Brian Jack and the Zydeco Gamblers, Keith Frank & The Soileau Zydeco Band, and local bands such as Theo and Zydeco Patrol, San Diego Cajun Playboys, The Bayou Brothers, and Billy Lee and the Swamp Critters.
Swing and Blues highlights include two-time Grammy winner Roy Rogers and Johnny Vernazza, both legendary blues and slide guitarists. Lady Dottie & the Diamonds will bring their brand of soul to the Bourbon Street Supper Club stage on Friday night. Former lead guitarist for The Fabulous Thunderbirds, David “Kid” Ramos, and Lynwood Slim are featured with Jimmy Woodard’s Swingin Kings on Saturday, and on Sunday, Cafe R & B performs gritty, hard-hitting early blues and R&B, fronted by the steamy and soulful singer Roach.