The Revelers (Louisiana)

Not to be confused with the 1920's vocal group The Revelers.

The Revelers are a Louisiana Supergroup composed of founding members of the Red Stick Ramblers and the Pine Leaf Boys. They are unique in that they play all styles of Cajun, zydeco, Swamp Pop, and Americana equally well. As a Supergroup, there is no leader and everyone sings and writes music. Blake Miller (accordion, fiddle, voice) is currently one of the most prolific composers of original French Cajun music.

Origin Story

The Revelers were begun in 2010 when the ghost of Dewey Balfa came to Blake Miller in a dream and told him he had been chosen to carry the torch. The very same night, the ghost of C.C. Adcock came to drummer Glenn Fields in a middle of a yoga meditation and told him there was room for another Swamp Pop band on the scene. Prior to that day, Fields had never sung a note, but hence found himself with the voice of a golden crooner. Longtime collaborator The Chris Miller joined the band full-time in January 2013.^[1]

Career

The Revelers have toured the United States extensively, the UK, Ireland, and Denmark. They are a festival mainstay having played at the Blackpot Festival, Tønder, Shakori Hills, both Rhythm and Roots, Wheatland, Sugar Maple Fest, Festival International de Louisiane, Grey Fox, Clearwater’s Hudson River Revival, the Red Wing Roots Music Festival and countless others. They are also in-demand in the music education scene, having been on staff at Ashokan Fiddle & Dance, Balfa Week, Miles of Music Camp, FiddleTunes, and Blackpot Camp.

Awards

The Revelers have been named “The Best Thing to come out of Louisiana in Recent History” by the Cajun Creole Culture Preservation International™^[2]

Eric Frey won a Grammy for Best Regional Roots Album in 2013 for his work on another band’s CD on which he was recognized as “Bass Player”.

Eric Frey also won 2nd place in the Alternate Banjo Competition at the 2012 Appalachian String Band Music Festival (Affectionately referred to by locals as “Clifftop”)

Blake Miller has only ever competed in one accordion competition, against his will. He threw the competition in protest.^[3]

Daniel Coolik earned the title “Kid Grass” by thwarting all other mandolin players in Asheville, NC. He has since renounced his faith in Bluegrass Music. He’s more into Stax now.

Discography

The Revelers (2012) Independent.

The Revelers Play the Swamp Pop Classics Vol. 1 (2014) Independent.^[4]

References

1. ↑ Caffery, Joshua (November 2013). Traditional Music in Coastal Louisiana. Baton Rouge, LA: LSU Press. pp. 220–221. ISBN 9780807152010. 
2. ↑ "CCCP International". Retrieved May 2014. 
3. ↑ "Black Pot Festival". Retrieved May 2014. 
4. ↑ "The Revelers". Retrieved May 2014.