Area musicians were guiding lights for the creation of what has become Festivals Acadiens et Créoles
Performing at the Blackham Coliseum in a 1974 concert, from left, are Varise Conner, Lionel Leleux, Marc Savoy and Don Montoucet. The concert was the beginning of Festivals Acadiens et Créoles in Lafayette. (Submitted photo)
Blackham Coliseum was packed and there was no room to dance by design, according to Barry Ancelet, who was one of the organizers The point was to have people listen to their music, he said. (Submitted photo)
Barry Ancelet at the Liberty Theater in 2009. (Photo by David Simpson)
The program for the 1974 concert, which was intended to entertain French-speaking journalists. This year’s Festivals Acadiens et Créoles is scheduled Oct. 11 to 13 in Lafayette.
The powerhouse fall festival of Cajun and Creole culture in Lafayette owes its existence to a concert 50 years ago in Blackham Coliseum.
At a glance it is easy to find the roots to the two-and-half-day festival in Lafayette in the Eunice area’s musicians and culture, according to Barry Ancelet, a festival founder and current president of Festivals Acadiens et Créoles.
“Marc Savoy was one of the…
