photo credit: James Dean
AppTheatre LIVE presents
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience
Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. / Doors open at 7 p.m.
Regular Adult - $25/each* - Day of Show - $30/each* Student RUSH - $15/each* (in-person purchase at lobby box office with valid student ID)
All Ages (children under 17 admitted with parent/legal guardian)
All Seating is Reserved.
*AppTheatre inclusive pricing combines fees, tax, and ticket value.
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience- For over 40 years, two-time GRAMMY award winning, 8th generation Louisiana Creole, Terrance Simien, has been shattering the myths and often misinformation, about what his traditional Zydeco roots music is – and is not. It most certainly is American roots music and it is music born of the black and mixed race French speaking Creoles of South Louisiana. It’s exhilarating and as complex and diverse as the Creoles. It’s also more than just one rhythm and one tempo. Sure it’s about dancing; “less dancing please”, said no-one ever! But, it’s also about grooving in place and dancing freely. It’s definitely about the vocal performance as well. Terrance’s lead vocals and the stunning three part harmonies of he, Danny and Stan – are proof positive that vocal performances matter – a lot! Zydeco is dynamic and evolving – remaining relevant to allow its artists to express themselves within their genre without constraints.
The late, Dr. John and Terrance’s friend/hero, once told him “if the music ain’t changin, it’s dyin.” We couldn’t agree with you more, Mac!
Simien leads a highly skilled Zydeco Experience band with long time member and creative collaborator Danny Williams (30+ years, two-GRAMMY award winning), keyboards, vocals; Stan Chambers (15+ years, GRAMMY award winning), bass, vocals; Ian Molinaro – Thompson, drums; Revon Andrews, trombone and Michael Christie on trumpet. Ian MT is a Berklee College of Music graduate and Mike a Shenandoah University graduate. SU is in the top 10% of music programs in the country. Another Berklee College grad, Ethan Santos, trombone, also lends his skills to us on tour at times. Not only is the group multicultural and multi racial, it’s also now intergenerational! Three OG’s and three Gen Z’s.
Simien is blessed with an extraordinary vocal talent and on- stage charisma. He expresses our deepest human emotions through the original instrument: The Voice. He and his band mates take their audiences on a multicultural tour of the world as the many countries they’ve visited while touring have informed their musical language. This stellar group of artists create a hypnotic blend of New Orleans funk and brass- reggae-flavored-world-blues-American and zydeco roots music, that beckons you to your feet and into the groove. Simien has found an authentic and artful way to deliver his roots music as a relevant, evolving artist who is clearly rooted in Louisiana Creole music traditions. Well known for his legendary live performances, Simien also helped change the vocabulary for his genre by introducing complex vocal harmonies, diverse repertoire and carefully crafted high quality recordings.
Visit TerranceSimien.com to learn more.
Simien has become one of the most respected and accomplished artists in American roots music today. He and his band mates have performed nearly 10,000 concerts, toured millions of miles to over 45 countries during their eventful career. Their music has been placed in multiple major studio theatre release films, including a Disney animated film, TV shows and radio commercials. They’ve shared studio and stage with legends the Meters, Art Neville, Los Lobos, Marcia Ball, the late Robert Palmer and Dave Matthews Band to name a few. They’ve been cultural ambassadors for their country since the mid 1980’s as part of the U.S,. State Department ongoing cultural diplomacy tours. They performed in Ukraine twice (2012, 2015) with the U.S. Embassy in Kiev and toured Russia for two weeks as well in 2015.
Terrance who speaks French, also sings many traditional zydeco songs in French. With near expert knowledge of his music genre and Creole culture, he’s also only one of a handful from a generation with a direct link to the pioneers of contemporary zydeco, who with the exception of the Queen, Ida Guillory (born in 1929), have all passed away. When Simien started his band in high school in 1981, he was one of only 3 young zydeco artists performing this traditional music. All of the others at time were 20+ years older than he was. Simien counts himself fortunate to have been supported by mentored by John Delafose and encouraged by Clifton Chenier “to do his own thing, like me”, Cliff told him. Simien applied that seasoned advice, done and done, Cliff!
Another little known fact for those not as knowledgeable about the history of zydeco is that Simien is one of those young emerging artists who was also responsible for the 1990’s renaissance of zydeco music. The three GRAMMY wins in the early-mid 80’s by Queen Ida, Clifton Chenier and Rockin Sidney Simien were a huge boost to the national visibility of the genre, but in the early 1990’s there was still only a handful of young, emerging artists stepping into the music to breathe new life and energy, like Terrance was.
Know Before You Go
THIRD PARTY SELLERS / SECONDARY MARKET
Tickets for events at the Appalachian Theatre of the High Country are sold exclusively through the theatre box office and online at AppTheatre.org . We DO NOT partner with third party sellers. We DO NOT accept tickets sold on the secondary market. We reserve the right to decline entry if you are not the original ticket buyer.
Tickets purchased from alternative sources may be any or all of the following:
· Not authentic
· Over-priced
· Invalid (cannot be used to enter the event)
The Appalachian Theatre of the High Country (ATHC) is not responsible for tickets purchased from third party vendors and is not able to honor, replace or refund invalid tickets. Please purchase your tickets from approved sources.
PARKING INFORMATION
Please carefully read the information and instructions below to ensure the best experience when you visit the theatre.
Metered street parking and pay lots are monitored and parking is enforced Monday – Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 pm except on town observed holidays.
Parking is $1.00/hour at all metered parking spaces.
Metered & lot parking is free all day on Sundays and every day after 5 p.m.
Parking in Appalachian State parking lots (e.g. the Peacock Lot accessed off of Howard Street) is available for free on week nights after 7 p.m. and on non-gameday/event weekends on Saturday and Sunday.
Accessible Parking:
Parking in metered parking areas is free, as long as the correct placard/license plate is displayed and up to date.
ATHC does not own or operate any parking lots or meters and cannot accept responsibility for any parking mishaps or fees.
Visit our HEALTH & SAFETY PROTOCOLS page for the latest in show attendance requirements, FAQs and other information.
