Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys

Be sure and join us this Saturday for a joint performance with Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys and the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, starting at 7pm at Parc International, Downtown Lafayette. The Playboys will play a set, there will be an amazing collaboration of the Mamou Playboys and the Symphony together, then the concert finishes with the Symphony and a fireworks display. Here's your chance to hear us supported by a full symphony orchestra. Don't miss it.

Steve Riley grew up in the prairie town of Mamou where French is spoken on the street, the national holiday is Mardi Gras, and a poor family is one without a fiddler or accordion player. American popular culture was stealing Mamou’s children away when Steve took up the accordion and became his hometown’s favorite son. He plays a single-row diatonic instrument made by his cousin, famed accordionist Marc Savoy. Steve concentrated on learning Savoy’s fiery, intricate style and the music of the Balfa Brothers. At age 15, this young prodigy was noticed by Dewey Balfa, who invited Steve to join his band. Under Dewey’s guidance, he grew as a performer, learning hundreds of French songs and how to sing them in Balfa’s singular hurts-so-good style, and taking up the fiddle as well.

In 1988, he and David Greely formed the Mamou Playboys, which rapidly gained prominence on the international folk scene without sacrificing the allegiance of Louisiana fans. In a land where accordion is king, Steve has inspired countless young men and women to follow him and keep Cajun music’s royal instrument alive.