Audio Postcard: Alaskans migrate to Louisiana

Last weekend, some 40 Alaskans journeyed down to Louisiana for the Blackpot music and food festival. The two-day festival is in its tenth year and takes place in and around the city of Lafayette in the south central part of the state. The weekend included a cook off, 25 bands, camping, jamming and lots of dancing.

postcard
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Many of the Alaskans are musicians, music appreciators and friends who know each other through the Alaska music scene, and their trip has become a tradition.

Hear their voices and music from the Pine Leaf Boys here:

“I love how the Cajun culture marries love of food, love of dancing, love of community, and it reminds me of home.” –Kate Consenstein, Anchorage

“The energy is just so positive. I feel like if you come here it’s like getting a cultural hug.” –WeeBee Aschenbrenner, Cantwell, Alaska

“We got Cajun music. We got blues. We got rock and roll. We got zydeco.” -Paul “Bird” Edwards, Eunice, Louisiana

“One of the things we have a lot of at our festival is food—from everything and anything deep fried, to some of the great Cajun dishes like gumbo and jambalaya and étouffées.” –Derek Landry, Lafayette, Louisiana

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