Lori’s Best of the Bayou Update-6/4/12

As we prepare for what’s shaping up to be another sweltering summer in South Louisiana (and unfortunately the official start of hurricane season), preparation for Houma’s newest festival is also heating up. Since my last report, Best of the Bayou has achieved a few “firsts” worth noting — among them, our “Friends of the Festival.”  You may recall from the last report that five friendship levels, which start at $50, allow for individuals or small businesses to invest in the festival and secure it as a free-admission event. I am proud to say we’ve made a few friends, and I want to take this opportunity to say “thank you” (again) to them. This is about the time where a certain theme song comes to mind. Think Betty White and “The Golden Girls.”

Seriously though, I speak on behalf of the Chamber and Best of the Bayou staff, volunteer board and leadership when I say that everyone is dedicated to developing a long-term event that Terrebonne and the bayou region can be proud of, but we can’t do it without the help and financial support of community and corporate partners.

If you’ve decided to be our friend on Facebook (hint, hint) or perhaps checked out our website, you may already know that earlier this month, we announced our first headliners scheduled to play the festival. In case you haven’t heard or read the news, they are Louisiana’s own Marc Broussard and Cowboy Mouth and Ruthie Foster of neighboring Texas. Blues songbirds Broussard and Foster are expected to appear Saturday, Sept. 29, on separate stages, and NOLA rockers Cowboy Mouth will close out the festival at the main stage on Sunday, the 30. Times are not yet confirmed.

Now here’s the part where I tell all of you reading this that we’ve secured a few more headliners. Drum roll please………………… Best of the Bayou proudly welcomes Bonerama, The Gourds, and the Red Stick Ramblers! These artists come to us by way of New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Austin, Texas. (Can you guess which band is from Baton Rouge?) These regionally-bred bands offer an eclectic mix of traditional Cajun, alternative honky-tonk and funky brass beats. Details on all the festival’s bands will be issued via a press release in the coming months; however, more band info can instantly be found on our website, Facebook and YouTube pages. The most important thing to note right now is that the booking of these nationally and regionally-known artists helps put BOB and Houma-Terrebonne on the map, while also showcasing an array of Southern music genres, and possibly introducing festival-goers to artists they hadn’t yet discovered. Some locally-based bands will also be featured at the festival.

Last but not least, I mentioned in my last report that Best of the Bayou was putting together an art contest for the inaugural festival poster. The details have been revealed! The contest is open to professional and amateur artists, ages 16 and up, living in Terrebonne, Lafourche and surrounding bayou parishes.  Various types of artwork are welcome for submission. The winning artist will receive a cash prize. Please go to our website at bestofthebayou.org for full rules and regulations of the contest. The contest ends June 15, so get busy!

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