Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series

Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. – The Big Easy in Buffalo NOLA Series
Sportsmen’s Tavern
Thursday August 13, 5pm doors, 7pm show
$15 advance; $20 day-of
https://events.leapevents.com/event/buckwheat-zydeco-jr-26

Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.’s story is one of musical inheritance, hard work, and dedication to preserving the spirit of zydeco music. From a young boy learning the craft of music by ear, to becoming a Grammy-winning artist, he continues to make his mark on the world stage. With his band and his son by his side, he is ensuring that zydeco music will continue to inspire and uplift audiences for generations to come. Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. was born into a musical family in Lafayette, Louisiana, a city deeply rooted in the sounds of zydeco and Creole culture. His father, Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural, Sr., was a legendary figure in zydeco music, and Buckwheat, Jr. was immersed in music from a young age.
Following the death of his father in 2016, Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. assumed the mantle of his father’s musical legacy, continuing to lead the Ils Sont Partis Band. This band, which was originally formed by Stanley Dural, Sr., is a tribute to the vibrant tradition of zydeco and remains a vital force in spreading the genre’s infectious rhythms worldwide. Buckwheat, Jr. now performs with his father’s iconic custom monogrammed accordion and shares the stage with his son, Kyle Anthony Dural, who plays the rubboard. This family connection is deeply meaningful to Buckwheat, Jr., who reflects, “Everywhere I go, my son is on my right. It really is a blessing.”

Buckwheat Zydeco Jr.’s career has been marked by significant milestones, both alongside his father and as a solo artist. He shared the stage with some of the most renowned figures in music, including Eric Clapton, Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, Mavis Staples, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Dwight Yoakam, and Los Lobos, to name a few. Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. and The Ils Sont Partis Band won the 2024 Best Regional Roots Music Album – New Beginnings award at the 66th Annual GRAMMY Awards, and also in 2024 got inducted at the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Since 2007 The Big Easy in Buffalo has brought New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture to the Western New York region several times a year for free and low-cost live performance, as well as music education and mentoring for local musicians, students, and the community. Through The Big Easy in Buffalo thousands of students, dozens of local bands, and countless audience members in Western New York have been exposed to this unique American culture. The Big Easy in Buffalo is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Hochul and the NYS Legislature, Erie County, Goldfarb Financial, Erie County Legislator Michael Kooshoian, Buffalo.fm, National Fuel Gas Co., Dick & Jenny’s, and Sportsmen’s Tavern.