THE fourth annual Yorkshire Cajun and Zydeco Festival is scheduled to be held over the weekend of Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15 at the Milton Rooms, Market Place, Malton.

“We are proud to say that we have eight bands from Europe and the UK, making this the largest Cajun and Zydeco Festival in the United Kingdom,” says Yorkshire Cajun’s John Adamson, from Helmsley.

“In addition to the Bluebell Cajun Dance Band, from Scotland, British band Rough Chowder, La Gang du Queteux, from France and our very own Wandering Aces, from Yorkshire, we are thrilled that one of the star bands of our first festival in 2012, ZydeGoNutz (CORRECT), from Holland, have agreed to return this year.

“And in keeping with our growing reputation for showcasing newer bands on the British scene, we welcome Miri-Kools, featuring a good friend of the festival, Miriam Hogan, on guitar and vocals, and Pierre Henri Pichot, a brilliant French fiddler, led by Phil Underwood, one of the giants of the UK Cajun scene.”

Gavin Lewery’s latest band, the British-Belgian collaboration Dwayne Ego & The Electricians, are scheduled to play the festival too.

The band formed in Yorkshire last year when Lewery made his Malton debut. The line-up will be completed by the up-and-coming British group with the alliterative name of Bosco Beret, who will be making their debut appearance at a festival anywhere.

“But you do not have to be in a band to play at the festival,” urges John.

“Musicians of all levels can play in the informal sessions throughout the weekend and there will also be more formal workshops where instruction will be given in fiddle, accordion and percussion by experts in their field.”

The music will be “just part of the story of a great festival”, he stresses.

“The dancing is an essential ingredient of a gumbo, in which the performance of the bands is lifted by the dancers and vice versa,” says John.

“Some of the best Cajun and Zydeco dancers in the country will be joined on the magnificent sprung dance floor of the mighty Milton Rooms by newcomers to the dancing.

Some of whom will have been learning at workshops during the festival or at the weekly Wednesday workshops at the Blue Ball Inn in Malton.

There is room for all on the huge floor and room for those who like to sit and enjoy the live music and watch the dancing.”

John reckons that the line-up befits what promises to be the biggest and best festival yet, a great weekend of music, dance and food.

“The Saturday in particular looks set to be a feast for all the senses, given our link-up this year with the monthly Malton Food Market, the Mardi Gras-style parade in the Market Place and Cajun cookery demonstration in the Pearson & Ward car park, adjoining the Milton Rooms,” he says.

“We would like to thank the food market for their cooperation and for agreeing to have their stalls outside for the March market.”

Complete information on the bands lined up to play at the festival can be found on the festival’s website at yorkshirecajun.com

Tickets are available to purchase from the same website.

The booking form is available to be downloaded from the Contact Us page.