Feufollet

Feufollet is a Louisiana folk group that plays a modern form of Cajun music. The band forms in the late 1990s and is built around young musicians performing traditional Cajun songs and original material, much of it in French. Several members speak French fluently through French immersion education, and the group performs both in the United States and abroad.

Origins and name

The group takes its name from two Cajun French terms. “La bande” refers to a brotherhood or unit that comes together, rather than a music “band,” while “Feufollet” describes mysterious balls of light or fire sometimes seen in swamp areas and associated with gases.

Early activity and recordings

When the group forms, it has six members aged between 11 and 17. Its first recording appears in 1999. That self-titled album is produced by Steve Riley and issued on Swallow Records. The release is nominated by the Cajun French Music Association for Best First Album.

Performance and repertoire

Feufollet’s repertoire includes traditional Cajun songs, original numbers, and twin-fiddle pieces passed down through generations, some dating back to the 19th century. In 1999, the group performs in Canada for an audience that includes the president of France.

Members and musicianship

The group’s membership includes Anna Laura Edmiston, Philippe Billeaudeaux, Kelli Jones, Jim Kolacek, Andrew Toups, Joshua Caffery, Taylor Guarisco, Chris Segura, Chris Stafford, and Michael Stafford.

Christopher Stafford is a songwriter and plays fiddle, guitar, accordion, bass, trumpet, and piano. He also teaches fiddle. He takes up the accordion in 1995 while playing with Les Petits Amis, a group that develops into les Acadiens Cajun and later Feufollet. He wins top honours in accordion competitions at the Frog Festival and Buggy Festival in 1997, and again at the Buggy Festival the following year.

Chris Segura starts fiddle at the age of four and wins the fiddle championship at the Eunice Folklife Festival in 1997, the Rayne Frog Festival the following year, the Crowley Rice Festival in 1998, and again two years later. He also takes top honours in his age group in the Louisiana State Fiddling Championship. He is related to the Segura Brothers, pioneers of Cajun recording.

Ashley Hayes begins performing music at the age of ten, initially focusing on country music before joining la Bande Feufollet in early 1998. Brittany Polaski joins later that year. She sings the National Anthem at Festival International in 1998 and again the following year. Michael Stafford plays drums and was previously a member of les Acadiens; he is Christopher Stafford’s brother.