How to go
What: Swamp Romp 2015 featuring Buckwheat Zydeco, Robin Lacy & DeZydeco and Creole Stomp
Where: Fraze Pavilion, 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Cost: Free
More info: 937-296-3300 or www.fraze.com
Artist info: www.buckwheatzydeco.com
Upcoming at the Fraze
What: Breakfast With the Beatles
When: 9 a.m Sunday, July 19
Cost: Free
Who: R5 with Jacob Whitesides and Ryland
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 21
Cost: $30-$40; VIP packages: $99-$199
What: Rock the Yacht Tour with Little River Band, Ambrosia, Player, Steven Bishop and Robbie Dupree
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23
Cost: $29-$42
As the frontman of Buckwheat Zydeco, Stanley “Buck” Dural Jr. has been one of the leading purveyors of indigenous Cajun music since the late 1970s. However, at the age of 67, he isn’t against adopting new promotional approaches such as his YouTube channel, Buckwheat’s World.
Dural, headlining the Swamp Romp at Fraze Pavilion in Kettering on Saturday, July 18, was home in Louisiana recently when he hopped on the telephone to discuss his lengthy career as the perpetually smiling, accordion-playing singer for Buckwheat Zydeco.
Q. What’s happening with you this morning?
A. “I’m just getting my day running. When I’m home, I’m (a regular person). I’ve got to feed the dogs and throw out the cats. I’ve been laying low a little, bit but I’ve been working on some things, too. I have Buckwheat’s World going, but pretty soon I’ll be (sings) on the road again.”
Q: How is “Buckwheat’s World” going?
A. “People have been responding pretty good to it. We’re trying different things like that to keep people coming to the engagements, so we can keep the roots and the culture going. You always have to have something for people. You can’t do the same old routine. You have to switch it up, because you have a new generation coming up every day.”
Q. It’s been five years since your album, “Lay Your Burden Down,” was released. How will you follow that up?
A. “The way the music industry is going, you really have to watch yourself. You spend a whole wad of money putting albums out there and they don’t sell as well. It’s not like the old days when you’d put records out and people would buy them. Nowadays, my record might come out tomorrow, but they’ve already got it for free.”
Q. Zydeco music was regional when you formed your group 35 years ago, and now it’s international. How does feel?
A. “It’s a real blessing. This is Louisiana music, and the best way to share it with people is to play for them. You can’t just sit here in Louisiana and expect people in other cities to hear it. You have to go to the people. That’s what I do and I love it. It’s rewarding when you see the reaction of the audience. It lets me know somebody is listening.”
Gates open at 4 p.m. Saturday. Buckwheat Zydeco closes Swamp Romp with a set beginning at 9 p.m. Robin Lacy & DeZydeco and Creole Stomp will also perform.
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