Artist of the Month

American Thrift is ready to help you assemble the soundtrack for your life.

In 2011, Valcour teamed up with the Archives of Cajun and Creole Folklore at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette to collaborate on this first of what will be many musical releases.

With The Band Courtbouillon, three accordion masters who are shaping Louisiana music team up to play the songs they grew up on.

The South Louisiana Black Pot Festival & Cookoff is one of the most unique festivals in Louisiana. Held annually at Lafayette’s Acadian Village, the festival celebrates its 5th year this October with two days of great music, dancing, food, camping & jamming.

Our September Artist of the Month, Joy Kills Sorrow, is an incredible string band hailing from Boston – not a Louisiana band but good friends of Valcour and regulars at the Blackpot Festival and on the Louisiana music venue circuit. This group of elite musicians have come together to strike magic with their sophomore release, This Unknown Science.

Philip Gould is a documentary/architectural photographer who has made Louisiana his home and favorite subject since first coming to the Bayou State from San Francisco Bay Area in 1974.

Baton Rouge Music Studios started out as a private lesson business, but has since become a full fledged “School of Rock”.

Back to music this month with Jolie Blonde et Les Bassettes! These talented young ladies are further proof that the Southern Louisiana talent stash is overflowing with beautiful undiscovered voices and excellent musicianship. Valcour Records provided a grant to Jolie Blonde et Les Bassettes to produce their new release, On My Way Home, providing them with a way to support their musical endeavors and get their tracks into the hands of their fans.

There are lots of amazing things happening in the small Acadiana town of Arnaudville on the banks of the Bayou Teche, not the least of which is Louisiana’s new standard in microbreweries: Bayou Teche Brewing Co. The Arnaudville native Knott brothers have struck gold with their innovative Louisiana-inspired brews, and the whole Southeast is beginning to catch on.

Our third non-musical Artist of the Month in the four months of 2011! Gabrielle Savoy, daughter of Marc and Ann Savoy and sister to Valcour founder Joel Savoy is a highly talented emerging visual artsit, getting ready to put her work on public display for the first time. Check out our latest Artist of the Month feature for more details and to see some of her work!

Lakeview Park in Eunice, recently re-opened by the Rodriguez/Pitre families (good friends of Valcour), features leisurely recreation combined with foot-stompin’ good times.

In CREOLE -Gourmet Secrets of Louisiana, John Lafleur II collects the recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation in his family and his friends’ families.

Louisiana music traditions have always blended well with country, blues, gospel, pop, swing, jazz, bluegrass and old time. Its like adding cayenne pepper to a decent dish – it gives it the extra kick to push it over the top.