Joe Hall (accordion) The Hall family was blessed with a hard-working father figure who provided in every way for his family of six out on the southwest Louisiana prairies. Even though Joe never had to work in the fields like most of the Creole share croppers since the days of the Civil War, his is an old soul. He did not necessarily break corn or pick sweet potatoes, but he did lend an attentive ear to the many kernels of ancient wisdom from his elders. They recognized him as the “anointed one ” and willingly, Joe Hall accepted the torch of the Creole cultural flame. The American Cajun Blues & Zydeco Festival is a wonderful event to feature the music of Joe Hall & The Canecutters.
Marshall Baker (fiddle) grew up in Portland, Oregon USA. His father taught him to play the fiddle when he was six and he hasn’t stopped playing since. He entered local and national contests and usually placing top five in the state championships. Marshall now tours with Joe Hall & The Cane Cutters and plays regularly on Bourbon Street at his view home in New Orleans, Louisiana. Baker describes fiddling as “having its own little subculture” and is honored to play with Joe Hall & The Canecutters.
Mark Palms (guitar) a musician who chased the heritage of traditional American music by studying knee-to-knee with cultural giants from West Virginia to West Africa. Mark joined forces with Joe Hall when they met in Louisiana at the Eunice Mardi Gras in 2005. He founded Fruge Records to support Louisiana artists (Nolton Semien, Mitch Reed) and as a member of The Cane Cutters or as a solo artist, Mark continues to honor the legacy of traditional masters through performing and teaching.
Dwight 'Black Cat' Carrier (USA)
Dwight 'Black Cat' Carrier Band
Dwight Carrier - accordion / guitar / vocals
Tim Romain - bass Ronelle Smith - drums
Greg Crockett - guitar
NN - rubboard
Bandleader, accordion player, and singer Carrier comes from a long line of distinguished musicians (he’s the nephew of Roy Carrier and cousin of Troy “Dikki Du” and Chubby Carrier, to name just a few), a family where zydeco music was a pastime for holidays and family gatherings. He embodies both tradition and a unique style that is infused with his blues and R&B influences.
Growing up in Church Point, Louisiana, in the time when rap music was gaining popularity, Carrier’s friends would laugh when he and his brother Joseph practiced their zydeco music. In 1988, his first band, Dwight Carrier and Zydeco Rockers was created, with Dwight playing accordion and Joseph on drums. When he was just 14, Dwight released his first album entitled “My Baby Left Me,” which earned him local status. In 1991 Dwight was asked to join the Creole Zydeco Snap Band, headed by Creole and blues musician Warren Ceasar. Dwight became the group’s accordionist and traveled extensively around the world for several years, including multiple appearances at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. After a break from music, Carrier returned to the family business of zydeco in 2008, forming his band Black Cat and the Zydeco Ro Doggs. They have taken their pumping style of music to both coasts and the Midwest as well as throughout Louisiana.
Michael Juan Nunez (USA)
Michael Juan Nunez
Michael Juan Nunez is a singer, guitarist, songwriter, from South Louisiana whose music taps into the heart of American southern culture. It’s fresh, and urgent, yet unmistakably sprouting from very deep roots. His music paints pictures of life, as seen through the eyes of southern Louisiana. His guitar playing is raw and passionate…moaning, screaming, singing, and driving modern day melodies, with echoes of long lost dancehalls.
Along the way, he has worked and performed with many other artists from time to time, including the great Chess Records pianist Mr. Henry Gray, Sonny Landreth, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Corey Harris, Doug Kershaw, Chubby Carrier, Roddie Romero as well as New Orleans icon Dr. John.
His music has also been featured in the hit HBO series“True Blood", The LifeTime Network holiday movie "Christmas On The Bayou", as well as being a featured studio musician on numerous session for other artists.Along with C.C. Adcock Michael also wrote and recorded the theme song to the Amazon series pilot "Cocked".
He's released 5 solo records for ParishLine Records.
He’s also written songs for Roddie Romero, Steve Riley, and others.
Michael can often be seen playing guitar for Brother Dege’s Band The Brethren. No matter which format you find him in, go and check it out live, and see what the critics are raving about…this is the real deal.
He is performing for the first time in Germany at the ‘American Cajun, Blues & Zydeco Festival’ 2019.
