Crawfish Boil 2018: Mighty Pelicans

           For this year's DGA Family and Friends Crawfish Boil, we're thrilled to welcome back the Mighty Pelicans from Austin, Texas. The Pelicans have thrilled the crowds for the past two years, so we decided to bring them back for a third year in a row. 

The Mighty Pelicans! 

            The four members of The Mighty Pelicans have deep roots in Louisiana. Kerry “Kingfish” Blackmon (drums and vocals) and Chuck Doyle, Louisiana natives, first met in college in the 1970s at LSU. In the 1980s, after both men moved to Austin, Texas, they began playing together in various blues, R&B, and zydeco bands. Together  with Kerry’s son, Michael "Mudbug" Blackmon and guitarist Johnny Blue, they formed The Mighty Pelicans. While all of the men originally played in a variety of bands, including a zydeco band, in 2011 they committed themselves to The Mighty Pelicans and have been playing in the Austin area ever since.   
  

Last year, the Pelicans premiered a new song in honor of Doug titled, Call Doug. The song details the life of DGA's founder and leader Doug Green. We hope to have a version available to share with you all soon. The Pelicans also featured some fantastic second-lining as shown in the video below. For our out of town guests, second lining is a New Orleans style of dance in which participants follow behind a band walking, spinning, or dancing around. The tradition most likely originated from the musical traditions of West African slaves brought to Louisiana. Over time, these traditions merged with the marching band traditions of white Americans, creating something uniquely New Orleans. Now second lines are a common part of most parades in New Orleans and are neighborhood events with participants singing, dancing, and interacting with members of their communities. They are a time to celebrate and be with loved ones, friends, and neighbors.

Second lining! 

We hope you can join us for the second line at the 11th Annual DGA Family and Friends Crawfish Boil on March 10, 2018 at Maison Lafitte in Mandeville, Louisiana.