Aux Cajunals

Doors 7pm

Beginner Friendly Zydeco Dance Lesson 7:30pm

Show 8pm

The Aux Cajunals, featuring the fiddle and vocals of Suzy Thompson, are a 6 piece band that mixes old-fashioned Cajun and Creole dancehall music with a bit of old-style blues (a la Memphis Minnie or Freddie King) for a down-home Southern style roadhouse sound. Suzy (who apprenticed with Cajun master fiddler Dewey Balfa) rocks the fiddle with a blues-drenched sound, whether it’s on a Cajun two-step or a blues, and she brings the Cajun-Creole and classic blues to life with her powerful vocals. Eric Thompson's lead guitar evokes a steel guitar on the Cajun songs and Freddie King on the R&B numbers. Agi Ban’s fiddle duets with Suzy are a hallmark of the Aux Cajunals, and she switches to froittoir (vest rubboard) for the blues and zydeco numbers. Allegra Thompson​(daughter of Eric and Suzy) adds her strong lead singing and solid upright bass playing to anchor the sound of the band. Karen Celia Heil's powerful rhythm guitar and Michaelle Goerlitz's drumming combine to underpin the groove, and sometimes Karen adds a third fiddle to the mix when the band performs 150-year-old archaic tunes learned from Dennis McGee.

Members of the Aux Cajunals have performed and recorded with a “who’s who” of Cajun music including Marc and Ann Savoy, D.L. Menard, Queen Ida, Michael Doucet & Beausoleil, Jesse Lege & Joel Savoy, Steve Riley, David Greely and many others. Suzy & Eric were founding members of the California Cajun Orchestra, featuring the late Danny Poullard, with 2 award-winning albums on the Arhoolie label.

Advance $20
Day of Show $25
Student Ticket with valid ID $15 at the door only

Ashkenaz is all ages, all the time. Kids and minors are always welcome. Those 12 or under are admitted FREE (unless otherwise noted).

You may also like the following events from Ashkenaz:

• This Wednesday, 7th May, 07:00 pm, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas in Berkeley
• This Friday, 9th May, 04:30 pm, Berkeley Makam Festival in Berkeley
• This Saturday, 10th May, 08:00 pm, Baila Caribe featuring Bululú in Berkeley

Also check out other Music events in Berkeley, Entertainment events in Berkeley, Kids events & activities in Berkeley.