Cedric Watson, a four-time Grammy nominee, leads the next Zydeco Capital Jam from 1 to 3 p.m. April 12 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Center at I-49 exit 23 in Opelousas. Admission is free to the jam, open to musicians of all skill levels and fans.
A gifted fiddle, accordion, banjo, guitar and bagpipes player, Watson, is no stranger to the Visitor Center. In 2019, he accompanied the late Creole music legend Lawrence “Black” Ardoin and Chris Ardoin during a birthday tribute to trailblazer Amédé Ardoin. A 1,200-pound steel sculpture of Amédé resides at the center.
Born in 1983, Watson was 21 years old when he left his native San Felipe, Texas, to become immersed in Creole and zydeco music of south Louisiana. He traveled the world with the Pine Leaf Boys before starting his current band, Bijou Creole.
Along with 17 countries and seven albums on his music resume, Watson has an April performance schedule that includes the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice, Festival International de Louisiane in Lafayette and two appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Watson is also a radio personality, host of “La Nation Creole” at 4 p.m. Sundays on KRVS 88.7 FM. Last January, the bilingual show landed on Garden & Gun Magazine’s list of “7 Southern Radio Programs Worth Tuning Into.”
For more information, visit the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission web site at cajuntravel.com.
