The Band
From the steamy Bayous of Louisiana come Friends of Louisiana. Their unique sound is as seasoned as Louisiana Crawfish. The band’s name means exactly that, friends of the bayou country. Not only playing the great variety of music this state has to offer with undying passion but also cajunizing fans along the way. Friends of Louisiana don’t make fans they make friends. Their mixture of smooth harmonies, burning guitar, keyboard and accordion rides, along with their dynamic music arraignments has made this band the talk of the town. The bands stage show and sound is as hot as a Cajun Gumbo on a Saturday night.
It all started with a simple idea; play music from the heart, do it the best you can and make great friends along the way. Friends of Louisiana have been on the Cajun music scene for over 16 years now bringing the best of Cajun, Zydeco, Swamp Pop, Country, and Rock music to Louisiana and beyond. On accordion and vocals, Irving McFarland has won numerous awards including the New Dawn Award from the Cajun French Music Association. It was said in an article in Billboard magazine, Friends of Louisiana’s “Ride the Donkey” (with former front man, Don Fontenot) is, “A song that can be a door to exposing younger people to Cajun and Zydeco music it is a rediscovery in Cajun and Zydeco music.” The title cut, Ride the Donkey was not only a hit in the United States but also in the United Kingdom where there was even an animated video made of the song.
With the success of the Ride the Donkey CD, Friends of Louisiana was asked to bring their music gumbo across the United States and Internationally playing Cruises, Dance Halls and Festivals, spreading their variety of music the only way they know how, with heart, soul and passion. 2010 has seen Friends of Louisiana add more seasoning to the band’s musical gumbo. They have always been known for writing their own material. However, it is evident from their latest effort Wide Open that they have raised the bar in every aspect of their music writing and stage performance. With four musicians that write in the band, material and creative ideas are never in short supply.
To widen the spectrum of music even more, Friends of Louisiana has brought in the very talented Steve Hagan into the already diverse group. Steve has been playing the Louisiana and Texas circuit for many years and has just returned home from Nashville, TN., where he recorded his latest cd. He is very excited to be part of the band. His stage presence is like no other and his vocal ability, along with Irving’s, enables Friends of Louisiana to have no musical boundaries.
To make a good musical gumbo you have to start with a great roux and that’s just what they have done. Friends of Louisiana are a well-respected group of musicians with impressive resumes. The rhythm section is made up of a rock solid drummer along with time-tested and veteran musicians. Leading the group, Irving is a master of the squeezebox and has a vocal range few artists can rival. He’s not afraid to push the envelope and experiment with his music, which has left his fans in aw! With these guys, you’re always guaranteed to get a little Lagniappe (Extra something good) in every show. So come on out, kick your shoes off and let the Bon Temp (Good Times) begin. |
