Welcome to the

16th-18th August 2019

A joyous celebration of Cajun – Creole and Louisiana roots music, dance and culture – set in the heart of the beautiful North Shropshire Lakelands!

We are proud to present a rich variety of music, dancing and cuisine at this year’s Big Weekend festival. Featuring our international Artists from Louisiana and Europe, as well as the very best of our own homegrown UK Cajun & Zydeco bands, much more to be announced over the coming weeks! – a truly hot and spicy Gumbo of dancing delight!

And if that’s not enough, we can also offer you:

Cajun & Zydeco dance workshops
Instrument workshops (led by international Louisiana musicians)
Festival campsite and late-night camp fire area including the festival tent which will be hosting jam sessions, workshops and informal gatherings.
Jam sessions at the Sun Inn featuring our popular ‘Beer & Breakfast’ sessions led by prominent UK Cajun & Zydeco musicians to keep the party rolling
Cajun and Creole cuisine all weekend presented by the mouth wateringly tasty Cajun Food Company, featuring our legendary giant barbeque!

Tickets

Please see our ticketing structure for 2019

We look forward to welcoming you to the hottest weekend of Louisiana roots music, dance and cuisine on the UK Summer calendar!

Big Weekend 2019 Lineup

Corey Ledet

Corey Ledet was born and raised in Houston, Texas, but spent his summers with family in small-town Parks, Louisiana. The Creole culture has its roots in Louisiana, but spread across the country, including neighboring Texas. Because of this, he...
Courtney Granger

Courtney Granger is one of the finest and most sought-after Cajun fiddlers in South West Louisiana and beyond. As the great-nephew of the legendary Balfa Brothers, Courtney Granger has followed in the footsteps of his uncles by traveling the world...
Joe Le Taxi

"Hot Zydeco Dance Music from the Welsh Frontier!" Joe Le Taxi & The Zydeco Band play hardcore Louisiana Zydeco, authentic Creole blues, sleazy shuffles and old school waltzes, heavily influenced by the raw dance music of such Zydeco legends...
The Boat Band

The Boat Band have been sailing around for 30 years, delivering their distinctive brand of downhome Cajun to harbours around the Seven Seas. Luckily there's a canal near the festival site so they should be able to make it,...
The Barceló Brothers

Hailing from the West of Ireland, the Barceló Brothers Trio are a vibrant and exciting band of young Irish lads, made up of two brothers- Séamus (Drums, Rubboard and vocals) and Mícheál (Accordion, Harmonica and vocals), and their father...
The Rip Roaring Success

The Rip Roaring Success are the hottest Western Swing Band East of El Paso featuring Wild Miss Lucille on double bass, Miss Jay tearing it up with some smokin' hot fiddle and the token gent, the one and only Rusty on six strings...
Out of the Swamp

Out of the Swamp are a trio who between them have close to 100 years of experience playing the Cajun and Creole music of S.W. Louisiana. The trio are Chris Hall on accordion, Mitch Proctor on fiddle and Hazel Scott...
Lil Jim

Lil Jim is an award winning, multi-instrumentalist. Dynamic and irrepressible. Seamlessly tying the roots of traditional music with modern arrangements and hooks. Combining guitar, harmonica and accordion with vocals and foot percussion to create a fresh sound of unstoppable...
Joli Blon Cajun Band

Joli Blon, who take their name from a much-loved Cajun waltz, play traditional dance music from South West Louisiana. You’ll hear two steps and waltzes with a bit of blues to spice up the mix, played on the fiddle,...

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The Cajun Food Company

Food at the Big Weekend is once again brought to you by The Cajun Food Company, a small family run business, cooking South Louisiana food located in the South East of England. Each dish they make uses a rich sauce and amazing spice mixes! And, most using the ‘holy trinity’ of ingredients (celery, green pepper and onions). It’s warmth and happiness for the heart, tummy, and soul! Vegetarian dishes will be available to purchase.

Where to stay

Please note, the listing of any accommodation provider on this site does not constitute a recommendation on behalf of NorthShropshireCajun.co.uk Please check them out for yourself before booking. The Big Weekend Campsite The campsite is situated in Welshampton village, close to the Parish Hall. Campsite facilities will include portable toilets, running water and a wash-up area. Showers are also available to campers in the Parish Hall from 9am until mdnight. A large tent will also be erected for informal gatherings. […]

Festival Info

Important ticketing info: The ticketing structure for 2019 has changed! We have been listening to feedback and tried to strike a better balance between having an easy to manage ticketing system, keeping fees to a minimum and being able to keep the festival afloat. Therefore we now have three tiers of tickets: Tier 1: Early Bird Ticket £50 +fees (£53.89) – These have been frozen at the 2018 price of £50 and are limited to the first 30 tickets; after […]