Free outdoor concert celebrates Louisiana's vibrant Cajun and Creole musical traditions

Experience the sounds, rhythms, and musical traditions of Louisiana when Grammy-nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist, and songwriter Cedric Watson and his band, Bijou Créole, perform a free outdoor concert Friday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m. on the Center for the Arts’ Patricia Buckley Moss Lawn.

The free outdoor concert has become an annual tradition, bringing around 1,000 people to the center’s lawn for live music each year.

Based in south Louisiana, Watson brings Cajun and Creole traditions to life, channeling centuries of African, Native American, French, and Spanish influence. With his band, Bijou Créole, he moves seamlessly from ancient contra dance melodies to modern zydeco grooves, tossing in bluegrass fiddle tunes for good measure. 

Rhythmic, soulful, and irresistibly danceable, this open-air concert invites audiences to gather, move, and start the season in full swing with music that has brought communities together for dances, celebrations, and gatherings for more than a century. 

Originally from San Felipe, Texas, Watson made his first appearance at the Zydeco Jam at the Big Easy in Houston, Texas, when he was 19. Just two years later, he moved to south Louisiana, quickly immersing himself in French music and language. Over the next several years, he performed French music in 17 countries and on seven full-length albums with various groups, including the Pine Leaf Boys, Corey Ledet, and Les Amis Creole with Ed Poullard and J.B. Adams, as well as with his own group, Bijou Creole.

Watson and Bijou Créole draw connections across generations of Louisiana music, from French and Spanish contra dance and bourré to rhythms rooted in West African musical traditions.

Watson's expansive repertoire ranges from forgotten Creole melodies and obscure Dennis McGee reels to contemporary Cajun and zydeco songs. A prolific songwriter, he writes much of his original music on his double-row Hohner accordion, drawing on his diverse musical and cultural influences to create a sound distinctly his own.

In the event of inclement weather, check the Center for the Arts website for the latest event information.

Related events

Join Cedric Watson and Bijou Créole for an inclusive jam session celebrating the shared rhythms and community of Creole, Cajun, and Appalachian music on Friday, Sept. 11, from noon-1 p.m. on the Solitude Porch, located at 705 West Campus Drive.

Hosted by the Appalachian Caucus at Virginia Tech and the Appalachian Studies Program, the event is free and open to the public. No prior experience is necessary to play, sing, or listen.

The center’s galleries will also be open before and during the concert, featuring work from Salvadoran artist Guadalupe Maravilla, whose multidisciplinary practice centers on sculpture, sound, and communal healing.

Venue and parking information

The free performance will be held on the Center for the Arts’ Patricia Buckley Moss Lawn, located at 190 Alumni Mall. Attendees are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket for comfort. Convenient parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street and in downtown Blacksburg. Find more parking details online.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Jonathan Boulter at least 10 days prior to the event at 540-231-5300 or email jboulter@vt.edu during regular business hours.