March 15, 2005

Zydeco Dance Party April 15

(North Adams, Mass.)-- MASS MoCA will present a Zydeco Dance Party on Friday, April 15, at 8 P.M. featuring Terrance Simien blending soul, funk, reggae, country and zydeco and singing in both a rugged rustic baritone and a gorgeous soulful tenor. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Simien "probably has the best voice in his genre. Give him a piece of soul food he can sink his teeth into and he sounds a little like Sam Cooke with hot sauce in his veins!"

In fact his vocals are often compared to Sam Cooke, Aaron Neville, or Al Green. Billboard Magazine voted one of Simien's live performances as one of the Top Ten Live Performance Acts of the Year. This eclectic artist headlines festivals of all types worldwide. He's been known to shower his ecstatic audiences with handfuls of authentic Mardi Gras beads and invite them on stage for a percussion jam.

In a genre that is rarely recognized by mainstream media, Simien is one of a select few who has been featured by Rolling Stone and Time magazine, VH-1 and CNN Worldbeat just to name a few. He has been featured on House of Blues Radio Hour with Dan Aykroyd sponsored by the Louisiana Office of Tourism. Zydeco is the sound that put the Creole culture of Louisiana on the map and Simien is one of the most innovative artists in the genre.

He has toured with Los Lobos, Robert Palmer, and the Dave Matthews Band. He has performed and recorded with Paul Simon. His film credits include The Big Easy for which he co-wrote a song with Dennis Quaid. At Bill Clinton's second inaugural celebration Stevie Wonder joined Simien on stage to play harmonica as the band performed for the President and Mrs. Clinton at The Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

Dance instruction at the dance party is arranged by Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Lickety Split will offer Cajun food for sale before and during the party. Doors open at 7 for food and drink.

The Dance Party is presented in association with Williamstown Jazz Fest. As part of Jazz Fest, on Thursday, April 14, MASS MoCA will screen Robert Altman's Jazz 34 at 8 PM and hold a Zydeco dance class at MASS MoCA from 6 - 7:30 PM. For other jazz festival events visit www.williamstownjazz.com.

Tickets for the Zydeco Dance Party are $13 in advance or $16 the day of show. MASS MoCA members receive a 10% discount. Tickets are available through the MASS MoCA Box Office located off Marshall Street in North Adams from 11 A.M. until 5 P.M. (closed Tuesdays). Tickets can also be charged by phone by calling 413.662.2111 during Box Office hours or purchased anytime at www.massmoca.org.

MASS MoCA, the largest center for contemporary visual and performing arts in the United States, is located off Marshall Street in North Adams on a 13-acre campus of renovated 19th-century factory buildings.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Katherine Myers
(413) 664-4481 x8113
katherine@massmoca.org