Whrrl-ing From Festival International

So it started innocently enough.  Justin Bacque says, "Hey have you heard of Whrrl?"  He explained to the rest of us in the room that it was an app that allowed users to post photos and text into a collaborative story through their mobile phones and on the web.  

We checked it out and fell in love at first site.  With the app and with Justin.

And we decided the best event to test drive the new toy would be Festival International de Louisiane.  Everyone with the app is invited to join in and there are people contributing that we just met.  It's pretty cool to tell a story of the same event from so many different vantage points. For the first two nights it will be pretty easy because we will all be together for the most point.  It will get really exciting over the weekend when we are all spread out through the 5 different stages all listening to different bands.

Festival International kicked off last night with amazing performances by The Pine Leaf Boys and Keith Frank.  Tonight the performers are from around the world:

Marc Broussard w/ surprise special guests (Louisiana)
Locos Por Juana (Colombia/Venezuela)
Ilê Aiyê (Brazil)
Tarace Boulba (France)
Chicha Libre (Peru/France/US)
Chic Gamine (Manitoba)
Ladysmith Red Lions of S. Africa (South Africa)  
Feufollet w/ The Quebe Sisters Band (Louisiana/Texas)

If you want to be a part of Festival but can't get to Downtown Lafayette, you can follow us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/jacirusso)  and get updates as they happen (hashtag is #festintl).

Even better you can get the photos and text all in one place at Whrrl (http://www.whrrl.com) 

Check out the lineup for the rest of the weekend.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Grupo Fantasma (US)
Cherish the Ladies (Ireland)
Dobet Gnahore (Ivory Coast)
Alpha Ya Ya Diallo (Guinea)
Bonerama (Louisiana)
Tarace Boulba (France)
Ilê Aiyê (Brazil)
Morikeba Kouyate Kora Connection (Senegal) 
Quebe Sisters Band (Texas)
Zulu Connection (Louisiana)
Sherman Robertson (Louisiana)
Corey Ledet (Louisiana)
Divine Jones (Louisiana)
Cedric Watson w/ Lil' Buck Sinegal (Louisiana)

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Rachid Taha (Algeria)
Locos Por Juana (Colombia/Venezuela)
Orange Blossom (France)
Zachary Richard (Louisiana)
Grupo Fantasma (Texas)
Dengue Fever (Cambodia/US)
Malajube (Québec)
Dobet Gnahore (Ivory Coast)
Cherish the Ladies (Ireland)
Tarace Boulba (France)
Crocodile Gumboot Dancers of South Africa (S. Africa) 
Zulu Connection (Louisiana)
David Egan & 20 Years of Trouble (Louisiana)
Chicha Libre (Peru/France/US)
Les Chevres a Pul (Belgium)
Rupa and the April Fishes (India/France/US)
Ladysmith Red Liona of S. Africa (S. Africa)
Firecracker Jazz Band (US)
Bombes 2 Bal (France)
Bertrand Laurence (France)
Coatimundi (France)
Balfa Toujours (Louisiana)
Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole (Louisiana)
Chic Gamine (Manitoba)
Genticorum (Québec)
TBC Brass Band (Louisiana)
Quebe Sisters Band (Texas)
Red Stick Ramblers w/ Firecracker Jazz Band (Louisiana/US)
Louisiana Folk Roots presents: A Tribute to Walter Mouton (Louisiana)
Louisiana Folk Roots presents: International Fiddle Summit (Various)
Louisiana Folk Roots presents: The France-Louisiana Connection w/ Bombes 2 Bal (France/Louisiana)
Peter Villegas (Wyoming)

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Rootz Underground (Jamaica)
Dengue Fever (Cambodia/US)
Alpha Ya Ya Diallo (Guinea)
Orange Blossom (France)
Crocodile Gumboot Dancers of S. Africa (S. Africa)
Rupa and the April Fishes (India/France/US)
Malajube (Québec)
Tarace Boulba (France)
Ladysmith Red Lions of S. Africa (S. Africa)
Genticorum (Québec)
Les Chèvres à Pull (Belgium)
Masankha Banda (Malawi)
Zulu Connection (Louisiana)
Roddie Romero & the Hub City Allstars (Louisiana)
Lil Buck Sinegal (Louisiana)
Racines (Louisiana)
Lil Nathan & the Zydeco Big Timers (Louisiana)
Horace Trahan & Matt Doucet w/ The Bluerunners (Louisiana)
Peter Villegas (Wyoming)
Worship With a Purpose Gospel Singers (Louisiana)

So the weather is beautiful.  There are 500 bands from around the world.  Food vendors on every corner.  It's going to be a great Festival.  Hope you can be a part of it.

Jaci Russo

Sr. Partner

The Russo Group