Europe & Africa Tour Details March 20 – April 15, 2009
Countries included in the tour:
o Austria
o Italy
o Switzerland
o Slovenia
o France
o Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa
Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys, an Opelousas, Louisiana based Zydeco band will be performing in Europe and Africa from March 20- April 15, 2009. The first portion of the trip consists of a tour of Europe, beginning in Vienna, Austria. Tour dates include eight performances in Austria, and one performance each in Italy, Switzerland, and Slovenia.
The second portion of the trip, a week in Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa, is being sponsored by the United States Department of State by a Fulbright-Hays Grant. Invitation for the trip was extended to the band by the United States Department of State Public Affairs office in Paris through their Africa Regional Services Office. For more on the Fulbright program, go to the Fulbright website http://fulbright.state.gov/
“The purpose of the visit is to build bridges between the people of the United States and Cote d’Ivoire and allow musician and music lovers to learn more about each other and the cultural heritage of these two countries.” – Sharon N. White, Public Affairs Officer, Embassy of the United States of America, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
The band will be performing at:
o Private residence of the United States Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan
o National School of Music (ENM)
o International University of Grand Bassam which is linked to Georgia State University
o San Pedro, a port town, southwestern Côte d’Ivoire on the Gulf of Guinea
o EDEC (Ecole de Dance et d’Echange Cuturel), a boarding school for disadvantaged youth, some of whom are orphans and war children
The focus of the tour will be on youth (high school thru 35). There will also be radio interviews and workshops with local musicians.
“Musical events are an important tool to support the Mission’s goals of expanding our audience and encouraging Ivorians to open themselves to the wider world, as well as increasing knowledge of American Culture and values. Ivorians are struggling with a civil crisis that has split the country. Programs such as this one that bring people together and remind them of their common humanity advance this high Mission priority. The blending of traditions in zydeco to demonstrate the value of multicultural societies, as well as encouraging people to express themselves through culture rather than bullets, are reinforcing objectives of this program.” - – Sharon N. White, Public Affairs Officer, Embassy of the United States of America, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
“Audience will include music teachers and students from the National School of Music, members of local musical associations/orchestras/and chorals; Mission and PD key contacts including academics, members of political parties, journalists, members of Fulbright, International and Hubert Humphrey Alumni Associations; government and local officials, members of the diplomatic corps, etc.” – Sharon N. White, Public Affairs Officer, Embassy of the United States of America, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Upon return to Paris, the band will perform twice for the United States Embassy in Paris. These performances will be held in the Jardin d’Acclimatation in the famous Bois d’ Boulogne and will consist of hour-long concerts, held April 14 and April 15, each followed by a conference on Creole culture with French panelists, with opening remarks being given by Jeffery Broussard.
The European tour will be filmed for a documentary that is being made about Jeffery and the band. Additional filming has been done in Louisiana and other U.S. locations.
The band’s album, Keeping the Tradition Alive, (Maison de Soul, Ville Platte, Louisiana) was named Best Zydeco Album of the Year at the OffBEAT Magazine “Best of the Beat” Awards ceremony at the House of Blues in New Orleans, Louisiana on January 31, 2009. Jeffery Broussard is a recipient of the prestigious Artist Fellowship Award from the Louisiana Division of the Arts for 2008-2009. The award was presented in October 2008 at the Governor’s Arts Awards in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Jeffery was also named the 2007 Accordionist of the Year at the Zydeco Music & Creole Heritage Awards. Jeffery is also recipient of an honorary Key to the City of Opelousas, Louisiana “Zydeco Capital of the World”. A native of Frilot Cove, Louisiana, Jeffery has been a professional musician since the age of 8 years old.
The band will be heading into the studio on March 11, 2009 to begin their next album.
For further information, visit the band’s website.