(MENAFNEditorial) LAFAYETTE, La., September 19, 2018 (Newswire.com) - When the Music Cities Convention arrives in Lafayette next month, it will land in a music city steeped in history (Zydeco and Cajun) and bubbling over with new ideas and artists (Givers, New Natives, The Shrugs). The attendees – who'll be traveling to Louisiana from six continents – will get an inside look at this emerging hub of new music during the convening, which will focus on Diversity, Music and Improving Our Cities and Communities Oct. 11-12.
To kick off the convention on Wednesday, Oct. 10, attendees will be invited to a 5:30 p.m. reception at Blue Moon Saloon featuring live music with Horace Trahan and the Ossun Express, food and beverage, plus a Cajun Jam beginning at 8 p.m.
The weekly Cajun jam at the Blue Moon attracts some of the area's best musicians as well as folks from around the globe. Open to all, the jam allows players of all skill levels to sit in and play Cajun tunes the way they used to be played (comme dans l'vieux temps), all acoustic on the back porch.
On Thursday, Oct. 11, after the first day of convention programming, attendees will enjoy a reception at The Warehouse 535, featuring singer-songwriters showcasing their new music created at the 2018 SOLO (South Louisiana) Songwriters Festival , followed by An Evening of Lafayette Music Highlighting the Caesar Vincent Project with nearly 30 local musicians and the unofficial kickoff of Festivals Acadiens et Créoles.
On Friday, Oct. 12, the Boudin Cutting festivities in Girard Park kick off Festivals Acadiens et Créoles. Music Cities Convention – though it moves to a new city each year – is always scheduled adjacent to a local festival to encourage attendees to stay in the host city for a weekend of live music and culture.
The conference programming will take place during the day on Oct. 11-12 at Acadiana Center for the Arts. The event is hosted by the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission and the CREATE Initiative of Lafayette Consolidated Government, with generous support from The Recording Academy and American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation.
Speakers include:
· Clara Barbara, Director for Student Affairs, Diversity and Inclusion at the Valencia campus, Berklee (Spain)
· Austin Barrow, President, MAD/Murphy Arts District, (Arkansas, USA)
· Al Bell, Former Chairman and Owner, Stax Records, Former President, Motown Records Group, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Al Bell Presents (Arkansas, USA)
· Ben Berthelot, President and CEO, Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission (Louisiana, USA)
· Anya Burgess, Owner, SOLA Violins and Band Member of 'Magnolia Sisters' and 'Bonsoir, Catin' (Louisiana, USA)
· Sung Cho, Founder and CEO, Chartmetric.io (California, USA)
· Cary Clarke, CEO, Young Audiences (Oregon, USA)
· Sari Delmar, Program Director, The Participation Agency (New York, USA)
· Greg Deshields, Executive Director, PHL Diversity Philadelphia Visitors & Convention Bureau (Philadelphia, USA)
· David Dudley, Executive Editor, CityLab (New York, USA)
· Kate Durio, Assistant to Mayor-President Joel Robideaux, Lafayette Consolidated Government (Louisiana, USA)
· Abed Hathot, Co-Founder, Palestine Music Expo (California, Palestine)
· Mike Henry, CEO, Paragon Media Strategies (Colorado, USA)
· Tara Hernandez, President, JCH Properties+ (Louisiana, USA)
· Alyssa Kelley, Project Manager, Property Development, Artspace (Minnesota, USA)
· Carmen Gloria Larenas, Artistic Director, Teatro del Lago (Chile)
· Jordan Lee, Program Director, Radio Milwaukee (Wisconsin, USA)
· Margaret Lioi, CEO, Chamber Music America (New York)
· Matt McArthur, Executive Director, The Record Co Boston (Massachusetts, USA)
· Joel Robideaux, Mayor-President, Lafayette (Louisiana, USA)
· Warwick Sabin, Senior Director for U.S. Programs, Winrock International, Arkansas House of Representatives, 2018 Little Rock mayoral candidate (Arkansas, USA)
· Pena Schmidt, Music Producer (Brazil)
· Tim Scott, Artist in Residence, Charlotte Center City Partners (North Carolina, USA)
· Laura Simpson, Co-Founder and CEO, Side Door (Canada)
· John Sommerlad, Director Business and Community, Tamworth Regional Council (Australia)
· Joey Stuckey, Official Music Ambassador, Macon, Georgia (Georgia, USA)
· Dr. Liana Valente, National Federation Of Music Clubs Representative To The United Nations Department Of Public Information & Classical Voice Area Coordinator, Howard University (Washington, D.C.)
· Kelly Wells, Executive Director, KDHX (Missouri, USA)
· Johnathan Peter Williams, Founder/CEO, Quality Of Life Services and Founder/President, Love Of People (Louisiana, USA)
· Nolfris 'Slim KuttaR' Williams, Musician, Music Executive and Former Pro Basketball Player (Louisiana, USA)
· Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director, Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation (California, USA)
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