AARON NEVILLE
The 30th annual Crawfish Fest — taking place at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, May 31 to June 2 — will feature, among its many acts, one of the most important artists in the history of New Orleans music. Aaron Neville, lead singer for the Neville Brothers as well as a hitmaker outside the group (“Tell It Like It Is,” ‘Everybody Plays the Fool,” “Don’t Know Much”), will be the last act on the festival’s main stage, June 1.
Other artists performing on the festival’s three stages throughout the weekend will include the Marcus King Band, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the Rebirth Brass Band, Terrance Simien, Geno Delafose and Cowboy Mouth. And, of course, for many attending the festival, the authentic Louisiana food — boiled crawfish and jambalaya and po’ boys and so on — is as much of an attraction as the mostly Louisiana-flavored music.
This is also a camping festival. Overnight camping begins on May 31, and there will be live music for campers only, the nights of May 31 and June 1.
For information and tickets, visit crawfishfest.com.
Below is a video preview of the festival: The schedule, accompanied by videos for all 22 artists (six of whom will play sets at two different times). Below that, you’ll find the schedule without the videos.
MAY 31
PAVILION STAGE
5 p.m.: Big Mamou (for campers only)
7 p.m.: Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes (for campers only)
9 p.m.: Neville Jacobs (for campers only)
JUNE 1
MAIN STAGE
11:30 a.m.: Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience
1 p.m.: John “Papa” Gros
2:45 p.m.: Rebirth Brass Band
5 p.m.: Aaron Neville
PAVILION STAGE
11:30 a.m.: The Iceman Special
1 p.m.: Jonathon Long
3 p.m.: Flow Tribe
5:15 p.m.: Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience (for video see Main Stage, 11:30 a.m)
9 p.m.: Corey Henry & the Treme Funktet (for campers only)
DANCE HALL
11 a.m.: Cajun/Zydeco dance lessons
12:30 p.m.: Big Mamou (for video see May 31, 5 p.m.)
2:45 p.m.: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
5:30 p.m.: Jesse Lége & Bayou Brew
8 p.m.: The Iceman Special (for campers only; for video see 11:30 a.m., Pavilion Stage)
10:30 p.m.: Walter “Wolfman” Washington (for campers only)
JUNE 2
MAIN STAGE
11:30 a.m.: Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie
1 p.m.: Corey Henry & the Treme Funktet (for video see June 1, Pavilion Stage, 9 p.m.)
2:45 p.m.: Dirty Dozen Brass Band
5 p.m.: The Marcus King Band
PAVILION STAGE
11:30 a.m.: Tony Smith & the You Know How We Do Crew (gospel set)
1 p.m.: Amanda Fish
3:15 p.m.: Bishop Gunn
5:15 p.m.: Cowboy Mouth
DANCE HALL
11 a.m.: Cajun/Zydeco dance lessons
12:30 p.m.: Jesse Lége & Bayou Brew (for video see June 1, Dance Hall, 5:30 p.m.)
2:45 p.m.: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas (for video see June 1, Dance Hall, 2:45 p.m.)
5:30 p.m.: Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie (for video see Main Stage, 11:30 a.m.)
____________________________________
Here is the schedule without the videos:
MAY 31
PAVILION STAGE
5 p.m.: Big Mamou (for campers only)
7 p.m.: Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes (for campers only)
9 p.m.: Neville Jacobs (for campers only)
JUNE 1
MAIN STAGE
11:30 a.m.: Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience
1 p.m.: John “Papa” Gros
2:45 p.m.: Rebirth Brass Band
5 p.m.: Aaron Neville
PAVILION STAGE
11:30 a.m.: The Iceman Special
1 p.m.: Jonathon Long
3 p.m.: Flow Tribe
5:15 p.m.: Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience
9 p.m.: Corey Henry & the Treme Funktet (for campers only)
DANCE HALL
11 a.m.: Cajun/Zydeco dance lessons
12:30 p.m.: Big Mamou
2:45 p.m.: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
5:30 p.m.: Jesse Lége & Bayou Brew
8 p.m.: The Iceman Special (for campers only)
10:30 p.m.: Walter “Wolfman” Washington (for campers only)
JUNE 2
MAIN STAGE
11:30 a.m.: Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie
1 p.m.: Corey Henry & the Treme Funktet
2:45 p.m.: Dirty Dozen Brass Band
5 p.m.: The Marcus King Band
PAVILION STAGE
11:30 a.m.: Tony Smith & the You Know How We Do Crew (gospel set)
1 p.m.: Amanda Fish
3:15 p.m.: Bishop Gunn
5:15 p.m.: Cowboy Mouth
DANCE HALL
11 a.m.: Cajun/Zydeco dance lessons
12:30 p.m.: Jesse Lége & Bayou Brew
2:45 p.m.: Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas
5:30 p.m.: Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie
CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET
Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.
