Ashes of Babylon is quickly becoming the worst kept secret in the music industry. Maybe word has spread about their live shows. The ones where band members improvise something new in the middle of a performance and the crowds dance until they’re soaked in sweat. Or maybe it’s because of how they look. Some of the most unique, refreshing, authentic-sounding reggae music in the country coming from, well, the least reggae-looking band imaginable.

Either way, Ashes of Babylon is on the lips of music-lovers across the country and Southwest Louisiana will once again get to party with their native sons. The group headlines an impressive list of performers during Live at the Lakefront.

The band’s roots can be traced straight back to the Lake Charles area. Getting a chance to come home and play for familiar faces is something they relish. Beau Guidry, guitarist and vocalist for Ashes of Babylon, talked a little bit about what it means to be back home.

“It’s always nice to get a chance to come back home and play, especially at an event like Live at the Lakefront,” Guidry said. “Family and friends can come out and experience everything with us. It’s almost hard to say one thing, specifically. It’s just really nice to be home.”

What has made the band unique is also what’s going to pull them away from the comforts of their new home in Austin, Texas. Austin is known for its diverse music scene, luring acts from around the country with the promise of open venues, festivals and ears anxious for the next cool sound. Ashes of Babylon took advantage of that new environment, even getting a chance to play at the 2014 South by Southwest music festival.

“That was actually my first time going to South by Southwest. It was a great experience for us,” Guidry said.

For anyone that listens to the band’s music, the soul, hip-hop, R&B, rock, and funk influences are hard to ignore in their self-described “Louisiana reggae” sound. Their music has a vibe and that vibe is forcing the band to prepare for success on a larger scale.

Over the next year, Guidry said they will focus on travelling as the demand for their live shows continues to grow.

“We’re now equipped to take our band of eight out on the road,” Guidry said. “We want to reach our fans on the west coast, the ones on the east coast and everywhere in between. It’s important for our growth. Live shows have given us a name and they’re what keep us connected with the fans.”

The emphasis the band puts on connecting with the audience is evident each time they step on stage. Their performance at the 2012 Live @ the Lakefront was widely considered the event’s biggest success. Still, Guidry said getting to that point where travelling is not only a possibility, but a necessity, took a lot of work.

“Going on the road allows you to network. It allows you to reach people and introduce them to music that they probably wouldn’t have ever thought to listen to,” Guidry said. “Seeing a band live can make fans out of people. Just the fact that they can see you in person or shake your hand makes a huge difference.”

Trying to accurately describe what Ashes of Babylon’s music is all about is like trying to identify all the different components in each song; it isn’t possible. The reviews of the band’s music show how everyone that listens to them, walks away with their own unique impression. When it comes to Ashes of Babylon’s live performances, Guidry said the crowd is guaranteed one thing.

“If you come out to see us play, you’re going to have a good time,” Guidry said. “We bring the party onto the stage. We make it so that everyone can just have a good time.”Ashes of Babylon