Bayou Diesel, a high-energy accordion-led Mardi Gras dance band from Black Mountain, will appear in Mooresville at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb.13 at the Joe Knox Theater, part of the Mooresville Concerts series.
The group will play many of the popular French and Creole musical styles native to Southwest Louisiana, popular with Mardi Gras season. With the distinctive sounds of the button accordion, Bayou Diesel evokes the spirit of a community crawfish boil deep in the Louisiana swamps and prairies.
Their menu includes several Cajun and Zydeco two-steps, waltzes and "2nd line" tunes one finds common from New Orleans to Lake Charles. Like hot sauce on gumbo, the band flavors its show with tight swingin' rhythms and a spicy French lyrics for seasoning. Group members will also give some background on Mardi Gras and its music.
Bayou Diesel has been playing and performing locally since August 2005, with one CD to date, they have matured into a popular local dance band by drawing on the styles of favorite contemporary Louisiana artists like Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Boozoo Chavis, Bo Jacque and Keith Frank. They appear regularly at Asheville venues Jack of the Wood, the Westville Pub, and 11 on Grove where they have a strong following of dancers and enthusiasts. With guest rubboard players and call-and-answer audience vocal participation, the band is really fun to see and dance to. In 2006, Bayou Diesel appeared at the Tryon Barbeque Festival. 2007 and 2008 saw several appearances at local festivals and at Harrahs Casino in Cherokee, and 2009 at Asheville's Bele Chere Festival. They are the ultimate "Pardi-Gras band" and love to play for club and family-friendly festival audiences alike.
The five-member group plays several instruments to give the lively sounds of Mardi Gras. Steve Burnside, a multi-instrumentalist, including the button box, has skills in several different root musical styles such as bluegrass, swing, and Celtic. Steve has been playing and performing Louisiana style music for 20 years. John Mulholland, also a multi-instrumentalist and an original band member, is an expert percussionist on the Zydeco Rubboard. Paul Leech, "Tall Paul", is the Bayou Diesel bass player. He is also a multi-instrumentalist, exhibiting his skills on guitar, mandolin, cello, penny whistle and snare drum. David Zoll is a full time music instructor and the guitarist for Bayou Diesel. He has been with the group for about 1.5 years and is a solid musician on several levels. The fifth member, Ben Bjorlie, is the newest member of the band. Ben came to Bayou Diesel just over a year ago, interviewing first as a drummer but has most recently has been "cooking it up on the tubs." Let the good times roll for an evening of lively music with Bayou Diesel.
A "Meet The Artists" reception will follow the concert. Admission is $10, Students $5, children under 10 free; tickets can be purchased at the Mack Center or at the Mooresville Recreation Department office, or by calling (704) 662-3334.
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