Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys (Saturday)

Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys began 35 years ago with a reputation for excellence. Their stunningly clean and cohesive performance of Cajun French music from the backwaters of Southwest Louisiana propelled them into the world music limelight early on, and by their third release, Trace of Time, had garnered them a Grammy nomination in the worldwide field of traditional folk music, another in 2004 for Bon Reve, in 2009 for Live at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and again in 2011 for their release, Grand Isle.

From the day they started, they have gone from strength to strength. Never before in Cajun music has a comparable wealth of skills been brought to the same table. Featuring three songwriters and four vocalists, the most recent line up includes David Greely on fiddle and vocals, Steve’s son, Burke Riley, on drums and vocals, Thomas David on bass, and Sam Broussard on guitar and vocals.

When all that heart and all that skill focus on the revelry of a hot two-step, then turn on a dime and deliver an a cappella ballad, then play something that sounds like Howlin’ Wolf fell in love with a Creole girl, you’ve found the most Cajun music you can find in any one spot. You’ve found Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys.

Bandleader, Steve Riley, of Mamou Louisiana, is a widely acknowledged master of the Cajun accordion and its singularly powerful sound. His playing is a standard by which timing, phrasing and ingenuity are measured on the royal instrument of South Louisiana.

In addition to having recorded and performed with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson and Paul Simon, Steve is also a founding member of the Lil Band o’ Gold and the Band Courtbouillon with whom he, Wayne Toups, and Wilson Savoy won a Grammy award in 2013!