C.J. Chenier, son of the ‘King of Zydeco” Clifton Chenier headlines Downtown After 5 on Friday, May 15. This is the first installment of the free music series that run on the third Friday of the month, May-September.
Press release from the Asheville Downtown Association:
The Asheville Downtown Association’s 27th season of Downtown After 5, presented by Prestige Subaru, begins Friday, May 15. Downtown After 5 is from 5-9pm on North Lexington Avenue, and is always free and open to the public.
Bands:
Headliner: CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band
C.J. Chenier, son of the ‘King of Zydeco’ Clifton Chenier, joined his father’s Red-Hot Louisiana Band playing saxophone at the age of 21. His musical style ranges from the traditional zydeco of Clifton Chenier right on up to modern funk with healthy doses of blues, R&B, swamp pop and even country. C.J.’s total mastery of the accordion combined with his rich, satisfying voice are the driving forces behind this power-house zydeco band.Opener: Bayou Diesel
The Bayou Diesel Band has been touring the bayous and valleys of Western North Carolina since 2002. The band has always focused on performing the powerful Cajun, Zydeco and Mardi Gras style dance music of Louisiana. Featuring the accordion, rubboard, rhythm section and occasional French lyrics, Bayou Diesel has cooked up some tasty jam-balaya.“We’re harkening back to the roots of Downtown After 5 with the zydeco theme,” noted Meghan Rogers, Asheville Downtown Association’s executive director. The Asheville Mardi Gras krewe will help celebrate the theme with a Second Line Parade between the opening and headlining bands.
Downtown After 5 features local, regional and national brews for sale as well as wine and soda. Plus, attendees will find plenty of great local fare from food vendors: Rosetta’s Kitchen, Lobster Trap, Kettle Corn, D.O.G.S., Ultimate Ice Cream, The Lowdown Food Truck and Gypsy Queen Cuisine.
Each year, the Asheville Downtown Association chooses five nonprofits to sell wristbands at each Downtown After 5. The nonprofit receives $2000. May’s nonprofit is Homeward Bound of Western North Carolina working towards ending homelessness by moving people into housing and providing them with the resources they need to remain housed.
The Asheville Downtown Association is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its events. Downtown After 5 features compostable food and beverage containers, a complimentary bike corral and staffed compost and recycling stations.
Downtown After 5 is sponsored by: Prestige Subaru, 97.7 The Brew, 98.1 The River, 880 The Revolution, 105.9 The Mountain, Asheville Scene, The Laurel of Asheville, WNCW, Go Mini’s, Asheville Regional Airport, Diamond Brand Outdoors, Theology Pub, Sound Mind Creative, City of Asheville, Buncombe County, The Orange Peel, The Southern, Strada Italiano, Asheville Color & Imaging, Able Rent-a-John, WLOS, Ray’s Weather and Catawba Brewing.
Volunteer opportunities are still available for the Downtown After 5 Music Series. More information at www.ashevilledowntown.org/volunteer.
Downtown After 5 is a production of the Asheville Downtown Association, a nonprofit organization committed to the preservation and improvement of the central business district.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.