Swampmusic was founded by Chris Hall, a leading authority on the Cajun & Zydeco music of the Louisiana Bayous. Since he started playing the music in the late 1970’s with R Cajun & the Zydeco Brothers, he has become involved in a whole range of activities which have led to him being widely regarded as a major catalyst and driving force behind the development of this music in the UK. He also plays with, Out of the Swamp, The Bearcats, Bluejuleps, Breaux (which also features Randy Vidrine and Mitchell Reed from Louisiana), and The Cajun Roosters.
He started out on the Cajun accordion 30 years ago and has since been known to mess with other instruments in various Cajun and Zydeco bands including bass, drums, guitar, triangle, scrubboard, and harmonica. He is currently wrestling with the mysteries of Cajun Fiddle
He ran the successful Gloucester Cajun and Zydeco Festival for many years and is called upon as a session player having recorded on albums with people as varied and scary as Mike Harding, Bill Wyman, Sir Paul McCartney, Kate Bush and Seth Lakeman.
Representing the finest Cajun and Zydeco bands from the UK and abroad, Swampmusic have arranged gigs for just about every UK band, and organised tours for leading US acts including Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Sean Ardoin N Zydekool, The Michot Brothers, John and Geno Delafose, Mouton Noir, Sean Vidrine and Charivari.
Swampmusic also applied their organisational skills to the founding of the Derby Swamp Club – booking such Louisiana legends as Beau Jocque, Steve Riley And The Mamou Playboys, John Delafose, Eddie Le Jeune, Balfa Toujours, Canray Fontenot, Roy Carriere, Filé, The Michot Brothers, D L Menard and many many more. Though the club is no more it is still talked about and fondly remembered as an iconic night out for the many punks, rockabilly rebels, hedonists, hippies, jazzters, bluesos and musos who passed through its doors.
Over the years we have also been involved in the programming or organisation of many festivals including Bury Cajun Festival, Bude Cajun festival, Newark Jazz Festival, and Derby Cajun Festival.
Swampmusic is also the title of the agency which is regularly consulted by clubs, festivals, companies and private individuals who want the best bands and the best advice for a great show. With 30 years experience Swampmusic have established a reputation as the premier agency for booking Cajun and Zydeco Bands. We know about the music from the inside track! We have supplied bands for many international companies including MPL, Danone, Sky, BBC and have brought cajun music to the weddings of the rich and poor including Lucinda Lampton and Mary McCartney.
Chris Hall is also actively involved in the media from time to time…..for a while he ran his own popular weekly show on BBC Radio 2, was involved with Ace Records choosing tracks for Cajun releases and writing sleevenotes and has written many articles for the press on Cajun and Zydeco music
In his spare time he likes to hang out on the bayou working as a highball and daquiri taster and feeding mosquitos
Why not stay a while and check out all our pages for details of bands, tours, gigs, merchandise, and much more! Welcome to our website and happy browsing.