SIMI VALLEY, Calif. — The 28th annual Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival will celebrate great music again this Memorial Day weekend. The event takes place Saturday, May 27th, and Sunday, May 28th, at Rancho Santa Susanna Community Park, and features a full stage for each of its musical genres. Music will go non-stop each day from 12 noon until 7:30 p.m. (or 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.).
The Blues stage will feature headliners the Yardbirds, the Robby Krieger Band (celebrating 50 years of the Doors), Mitch Ryder, Lazy Lester and the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Also firing up the crowd will be L.A.-based roots-rockers the 44’s, soulful SoCal songstress Alex Nester and festival returnees Kelly’s Lot. Another festival favorite, Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, returns for the fourth straight year and will be performing at both stages.
The Cajun and Zydeco stage will showcase the “original ragin’ Cajun” fiddler Doug Kershaw; Grammy-winning accordionist Jo-El Sonnier and the Cajun Trio featuring Michael Doucet, David Doucet, and Mitch Reed. Performing on this stage too are Crawdaddio and the Bayou Brothers, who also will back Lazy Lester on the blues stage, while Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles will play on both the Cajun/Zydeco and Blues stages.
The annual Mardi Gras Parade will take place both days, and everyone is invited to join in with the marching bands, stilt walkers, and other costumed characters. Also, during the breaks at the Cajun/Zydeco stage, dance instructor AJ Gibbs will lead the crowd in free dance lessons.
Besides the great music, festival-goers can enjoy great food too. Southern BBQ and authentic Cajun-Creole favorites such as jambalaya and crawfish are available at dozens of food booths, which will also feature a variety of other dining options. There will be rows of craft booths and retailers to check out as well.
100% of the festival’s profits are donated to charitable, educational and humanitarian causes on a local, national and international level. See the list of organizations here.
The Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival is a presentation of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise.
This schedule is subject to change:
SATURDAY MAY 27th
BLUES STAGE
Kelly’s Lot
Lazy Lester
The Yardbirds
The Robby Krieger Band
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
CAJUN/ZYDECO STAGE
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
Cajun Trio featuring Michael Doucet, David Doucet, and Mitch Reed
Mardi Gras Parade
Jo-El Sonnier
Doug Kershaw
SUNDAY MAY 28th
BLUES STAGE
Alex Nester
The 44’s
Mitch Ryder
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & the Golden Eagles
CAUN/ZYDECO STAGE
Bayou Brothers
Crawdaddio
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
Mardi Gras Parade
Cajun Trio featuring Michael Doucet, David Doucet, and Mitch Reed
Jo-El Sonnier
When:
Saturday, May 27th and Sunday, May 28th
12 noon until 7:30 p.m. (or 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.)
Where:
Rancho Santa Susanna Community Park
5005 E Los Angeles Ave, Simi Valley, CA 93063
Phone: (805) 584-4456
NOTE: The only tickets available at the gate are single-day, $30
Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival
