2006 Featured Performers
This year, the Living Traditions Festival pays tribute to the many artists affected by -- and many still recovering from -- the hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast in 2005 by featuring two of Louisiana's most dynamic and accomplished bands.
 The legendary Cajun band, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet, performs on the North Stage on Friday night. Celebrating three decades together, BeauSoleil has packed dance floors and concert halls around the world with potent Cajun music that's deeply traditional, highly esteemed and very danceable. Led by singer, fiddler and songwriter Michael Doucet, who was recently honored with the national Heritage Fellowship Award from the National Endowment for the Arts, this Grammy-award winning band from the small town of Lafayette, Louisiana, captivates audiences with a rich Cajun tradition blended with elements of zydeco, New Orleans jazz and more. Band members include Michael's brother David, an innovative guitarist; Jimmy Breaux, Cajun accordionist and grandson of Cajun accordion pioneer, Amedee Breaux; drummer Tommy Alesi; percussionist Billy Ware; and Al Tharp on banjo, bass and second fiddle.
BeauSoleil will perform Friday night from 8:00 to 10:00pm on the North Stage.
 The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, for whom the City of New Orleans has designated and annual "Dirty Dozen Brass Band Day" to recognize their musical contributions to the community, performs on Saturday night on the North Stage. More than twenty-five years ago, this band in partnership with the Dirty Dozen Social and Pleasure Club revived two proud New Orleans traditions, social clubs and second line musicians, who followed funeral processions, first playing dirges and then breaking into more jubilant dance tunes.
The Dirty Dozen have performed around the world and have recorded ten albums of their own. They have been featured on recordings with other such stellar and diverse musicians as David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Dr. John and the Black Crowes.
In addition to their performances both bands will present lecture-demonstrations on the Workshop Stage.
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band will perform Saturday night from 8:00 to 10:00pm on the North Stage.
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