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Based in Kent and happy to travel the world!
Le Rue is a band for any occasion where dancing is on the menu! Their style of music from Louisiana USA is certain to get your folks up dancing and stay on the floor until the party is over. The instrumentation and playing style of Le Rue is designed to create an engaging, danceable sound that reflects the spirit of Louisiana. Whether it's the high-energy, syncopated beats of zydeco or the melodic, rhythmic drive of Cajun music, This band will deliver the goods that you crave for a feast of Cajun flavour tunes.
“Le Rue” was formed around 1984, in the San Francisco Bay Area of CA and soon they were travelling the states, Canada and Europe.
In the hands of Le Rue, the traditional sounds of the South are served up as a furious, modern blend of Americana, with surprises waiting around every corner. Le Rue's sound is heavily seasoned with Cajun, Zydeco, Blues, Country and Bluegrass.
Le Rue recorded their first album in Bangor, Wales at a live show, the music was recorded by the BBC Mobile recording studio and was released by a Yorkshire based record label that specialized in Americana and Blues called “Un American Activities”. Le Rue went on to tour and record for the next 15 years.
Le Rue have been seen and heard at:
Glastonbury Festival
Cambridge Folk Festival
Winnipeg Folk Festival
Bury Cajun and Zydeco Festival
Womad Festival
The Venue London
The Meanfiddler London
The Melkveg Amsterdam
Rotterdam Festival
and hundreds of other venues throughout the US, Europe and the UK!
The band:
Pierre - Fiddle and vocals
Tony Weatherall - Accordion
Tony was a pioneer of the cajun accordion in the early days of the British Cajun scene. Helped form “The Crayfish 5” in the '80's, playing mostly around London. Then Tony went on to tour the UK with “The Companions of the Rosy Hours” in the early '90's, from there it was the “LeRue” acoustic offshoot “Swamprat” and then the “Le Rue” band 'til the mid '90's. Alongside that, the old Crayfish 5 band morphed into “The Hackney Ramblers” and then it was all at sea with the venerable English Folk group “The Boat Band”!
Richard Studholme – Guitar
Richard played Guitar and Bass in Le Rue during the 90s, and is a songwriter, producer, guitarist and bass player, coming primarily from a blues and r&b background. He has gigged and recorded with Arthur Brown, Eric Bibb, Hubert Sumlin, Carey Bell, George “Mojo” Buford, Larry Johnson, Sam and Dave, Rockin Sidney, Josh Phillips, David Bronze, Sam Tanner and John Illesley, among many others, Richard is a highly respected veteran of the UK and European Blues scene!
Toby Allen – Bass, Fiddle
Toby is a musician of a very high caliber. Playing bass and guitar he has played with the “Allen Family” (Pierre’s family band) for 12 years , “Lapis Lazuli” a jazz fusion/progressive Rock outfit based in Canterbury, UK, “The ParksideSwing Band” UK
Steve Thorneycroft - Drums
Steve has played with Le Rue during the 90s, and is seasoned musician who concentrates on keeping the dance floor alive!
If your ears and feet are up to it, come on out to a big time dance concert fuelled by the hottest band in the land, LERUE!
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Cajun music is traditionally associated with the French-speaking Acadian descendants who settled in Louisiana. Its defining features include the use of the accordion and fiddle, lively two-step rhythms, and soulful waltzes. The lyrics are often sung in Cajun French, reflecting themes of love, hardship, and everyday life. The music has a danceable rhythm. Cajun bands typically include an accordion, fiddle, guitar, and sometimes bass and drums. Zydeco music, on the other hand, emerged from the Creole community of Louisiana, blending African, Caribbean, and French influences. Zydeco music has a more pronounced rhythm and blues influence, with additional elements of soul, reggae, and rock and roll. It's often sung in a mixture of English and Creole French. The genre is highly rhythmic and syncopated, making it especially suitable for dance. Cajun music tends to maintain a more traditional and acoustic sound, whereas zydeco often integrates electric instruments and a broader range of influences. Cajun is more aligned with folk traditions, and zydeco is more rhythmically diverse, reflecting its broader cultural synthesis. Both genres play a crucial role in the social and cultural life of Louisiana, with lively performances at festivals, dance halls, and community gatherings.
This act's standard set times are as follows:
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