Free Concert August 17—

Sounds Like Creole At Booth Library

River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs will bring the exuberant sounds of the steamy bayous of southwestern Louisiana to the back yard of C.H. Booth Library for the final concert of the library’s annual summer series. The band will be in Newtown on Friday, August 17, for a 7 pm performance. Admission is free.

The Zydeco Hogs will cook up a spicy musical gumbo that combines the traditional sounds of the button accordion and washboard with a driving, syncopated beat.

River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs hail from the Hartford area. WWUH roots music DJ and drummer River City Slim provides the beat. He has played drums with several Cajun and Zydeco bands — Backroad Zydeco, Bayou Brethren, Dirty Rice, Krewe de Roux — and has also performed on rubboard and harmonica with the Zydeco Zombies and the Zydecats.

Mark Thompson, a noted traditional accordion player, handles the squeeze box chores. He has jammed with the best at folk and roots music festivals throughout New England, being spotted onstage with such Louisiana luminaries as the Basin Brothers and D.L. Menard.

Blues guitarist Mike Bloomer provides the melodic counterpoint to the accordion while jacking the energy level up a notch or two. Equally adept at churning rhythms and soaring leads, Mr Bloomer also contributes his distinctive baritone vocals to several songs. Bassist and vocalist Jon Mack keeps the groove funky, and Rockin’ Robin Bean’s rubboard syncopations and occasional flights of furious fiddling round out the rhythm section.

Zydeco music was born during the early 1950’s, when traditional Cajun and Creole music collided with the rocking rhythm and blues sounds that were sweeping the country at the time. It was christened Zydeco, from a song popularized by Zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier. The Zydeco heard in Louisiana today is a popular and exciting dance music that owes much to Mr Chenier and his contemporaries.

River City Slim & The Zydeco Hogs bring these sounds into the hills of New England, regularly traveling across not only Connecticut but the entire region for their own performances and participation in festival. Copies of the group’s first CD, High On The Hog, will be available during the August 17 performance for $12 each.

Picnics are welcome (bring bags to carry out your own trash); bring low chairs or blankets for seating. The library is at 25 Main Street/Route 25 in Newtown, just below the flagpole. In the event of rain the concert will be moved indoors. Call the library, 426-4533, for additional information.