A Bit of the Bayou in LA

Ultra-thin, ultra-rich, and ultra-liberal. That’s how those of us outside Southern California — Los Angeles in particular — imagine the denizens of La La Land.

Annoyingly liberal celebs like Susan Sarandon and Ben Affleck seem a world away, not just geographically — but culturally. Convinced there must be more “there there,” to paraphrase Gertrude Stein, we went off in search of some American spirit in the heart of SoCal.

We found it, in spades, at the Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Music Festival held recently (with plenty more like this in the year ahead).

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Now in its 27th year, the festival started out as a New England Clambake. With its live Cajun, Creole, Zydeco and Blues entertainment on multiple stages, it’s now drawing 20,000 people who are flocking not just for the music, but for the food — glorious Southern Cajun food like crawfish etouffee, gumbo, boudin, po-boys sandwiches, and hush puppies.

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In a part of the country often embarrassed by shows of patriotic pride, the flag was extravagantly on display in Simi Valley — on hats, shirts, shoes, and shorts.

This was also one of the more racially mixed crowds, reflective of its Southern roots, especially in Louisiana, where French, African and British cultures have mingled for centuries. As harmonicas harmonized, spoons clacked across washboards and picks strummed banjo strings, the sun set upon this All American Simi Valley scene.

Related: Sing Hallelujah for Health

Thousands of revelers, sated with Hurricane cocktails and jangling with Mardi Gras beads, side-stepped to the Zydeco beat, and accomplished what they came for — to “Laissez les bons temps roulez.” That’s French for “Let the good times roll.”

In 2016, there will be more festivals and opportunities to experience such richness. Check out some of the other locations in the future shown here on the map in this article.

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