THE fourth annual Yorkshire Cajun and Zydeco Festival in Malton – one of the biggest in Europe – takes place this weekend.

Held at the Milton Rooms, the event has become recognised throughout the UK and Europe as one of the leading festivals outside the US to feature the music, dance and food of South West Louisiana.

Glyn Roberts, one of the organisers, said that after the success of last year’s Mardi Gras Sunday, the 2015 festival would keep the theme all weekend.

“The Milton Rooms will be decorated for the whole weekend and include a parade of costumes and masks in the Market Place on Saturday,” he said.

“The festival will include dance and instrument workshops, as well as music sessions at various venues in the town, while centre stage, of course, will be the live bands from all over the UK and from Europe.

Glyn said eight live bands would cover the whole spectrum of Cajun and Zydeco music in a varied line-up. We have old favourites like The Wandering Aces from here in North Yorkshire who will open the festival on Friday night and ZydeGoNutz, from Holland, who played our very first festival in 2012,” he said.

“We have two bands, so good last year, we had to ask them back – Rough Chowder, who are to lead our Mardi Gras parade around the Market Place on Saturday, and Bluebell Cajun Dance Band, who were completely unknown when they burst on to the scene last year at Malton.

“The creative soil must be extremely fertile here in Malton as we are proud to present two bands actually conceived during previous Yorkshire festivals – Dwayne Ego and the Electricians and MiriKools. Finally on Sunday night, two bands virtually unknown to UK fans – Bosco Beret, making their Festival debut and to close the weekend, a real scoop for us – La Gang Du Queteux from France.”

Glyn said the festival was also teaming up with the monthly Malton Food Market to add a new dimension for both events.

The festival takes place from Friday to Sunday. For details, visit yorkshirecajun.com