Artist of the Month

We’re bringing this month’s AOM in-house—on his new release, Valcour’s Joel Savoy offers a view into Acadiana’s own vintage country scene, showcasing the incredible talents of many of his peers who are oftentimes associated more with the dominant tradition of Cajun music.

“Food is medicine. Local food is community medicine; local food is conscious medicine.” -Lacey Dupre

For our December AOM, we are proud to bring you information about an organic farm in Acadiana owned and operated by Valcour family.

Valcour Records Co-founder Phillip LaFargue was recognized in November as an honoree in the Baton Rouge Business Report’s 2012 Forty Under 40 class of rising stars in the capital region.

Valcour Records has teamed up again with Festivals Acadiens et Créoles and the Archives of Cajun and Creole Folklore at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for this second release in the Rubber Bootleg Series, featuring selected festival performances by various configurations and members of The Balfa Family, spanning 1977 to 2010.

On the WebStory on the Dickie Landry Exhibit in DIG MagazineFeature on Dickie Landry from the Walls Street JournalA 2009 story on Landry from Country Roads Magazine  Dickie Landry was a founding member of the original group that formed the Philip Glass Ensemble in 1969 and performed with the Ensemble through 1981, including the opera Einstein Read more…

Creole cowboys and Cajun jockeys, Cotton Knights and Mardi Gras revelers reveal the long history and blend between Creoles and Cajuns and the horses they love.

Not much is known about Chicory except that he hails from Shreveport originally, where he wrote, produced and directed short films about raccoons with his brother, Coffeeweed.

The Mercy Brothers are a new Hillbilly Gospel outfit dreamed up by Kevin Sekhani and Mark Meaux of the Bluerunners.

Country-rock musician Denton Hatcher is one of the south’s budding singer-songwriters. Based out of Baton Rouge, he is currently touring the Gulf Coast to promote his new album, The Soapbox Blues.

Our April feature is a project by a couple of filmmakers who use their talents to highlight other artists and artisans in the Lafayette area via short, beautiful documentary films. Imagine Artist of the Month on steroids.

T’ Monde, meaning “little world” or “little people”, began playing together in early 2011.

New Orleans based DRUMCART is a marching drum corps and visual/performing artist collective formed in the Spring of 2006.

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.