Tab Benoit and Queen of Southern Sass among planned performers

CROWLEY — Louisiana-born blues guitarist Tab Benoit will kick off the 11th season at The Grand Opera House, 505 N. Parkerson Ave., on Sept. 21.

A guitar player since his teenage years, Benoit often appeared at the Blues Box, a music club and cultural center in Baton Rouge run by guitarist Tabby Thomas. Benoit played alongside Thomas, Raful Neal, Henry Gray and other high-profile regulars at the club, learning the blues first-hand from a faculty of living blues legends. Soon after, he formed his own trio and they began playing throughout clubs in south Louisiana.

Today Benoit plays around the world and was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2010. He also received the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year award.

Masters of Soul — which features music made famous by record labels including Motown and Stax — returns to Crowley for a second time on Oct. 22.

American jazz and pop singer and songwriter Mandy Harvey will perform Feb. 11, 2019.

Harvey, who is deaf and took part in “America’s Got Talent,” will share with the audience her journey of losing her hearing to launching a music career.

On March 9, “Swamp Pop” legends Warren Storm and Willie Tee will perform with their band, Cypress. They will be joined by T.K. Hulin, Charlene Howard and Bert Miller.

The season will come to a close April 5 when comedian Etta May takes the stage. Winner of the American Comedy Awards Comic of the Year, the Kentucky native is hailed as the Queen of Southern Sass because of her high-powered, take-no-prisoners performance.

The Grand is offering two extra performances this season: Louis Michot of the Lost Bayou Ramblers will be joined by his French fiddle band Michot’s Melody Makers, featuring Ashlee Michot of Soul Creole and Colby and Justin Leger of Plaquemine Brulee. And for a fourth time, Marc Broussard, an American singer-songwriter from Carencro who describes his music style as “Bayou Soul,” will perform.

Both performance dates will be announced mid-December.

Mark Nizer 4-D will kick off The Grand Opera House’s Family Series at 2 p.m. Oct. 14. The show features four Lasers being juggled at 1000 rpms, with the spinning laser beams dancing just above the audience’s heads.

Jason Hudy will perform his magic show at 2 p.m. Jan. 13.

The Birmingham Children’s Theatre will present The Three Little Kittens at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 11.


Individual and season tickets are on sale now. For information, contact Kim Gattle at 785-0440 orkim@thegrandoperahouse.org.

””

The Grand Opera House is located at 505 N. Parkerson Ave. in Crowley.

www.thegrandoperahouse.org

SportsPlus

Local News

Eagles deny Chiefs a three-peat

Business

Names in the News: People shaping the future of Lake Area business

Local News

Crime & punishment: Amendment would allow more juveniles to be tried as adults

McNeese Sports

Garcia, Parker lead Cowboys

McNeese Sports

Lady Demons drop McNeese

Local News

Lottery registration for Louisiana Fortify Homes Program grants open Feb. 12

Local News

10 honored for contributions to music during Black History Month Breakfast

life

SW La. school lunch menus Feb. 10-14

Local News

Moss Bluff bicyclist killed in late-night collision

Jim Beam

Jim Beam column:Landry tries to pull fast one

Informer

The Informer: Historic Arcade Theater destroyed in 1985 Thanksgiving Day fire

Crime

33-year-old LC man accused of indecent behavior

Jim Gazzolo

Jim Gazzolo column: Parity no cause for concern

Local News

US taxpayer funds went to foreign competition for domestic shrimpers

McNeese Sports

Cowboys look to regain touch

life

Hobo Hotel for Cats charity auction set for Saturday

Local News

Firefighter training to be offered to high school junior, seniors

Local News

LCPD complaints delay vote to reappoint police chief

Local News

Karlee Campbell curates a classroom for students where they feel welcomed

McNeese Sports

Cowgirls suffer double loss

life

SW La. nightlife calendar: There’s always something to do

Local News

Trump announces commission on religious liberty, White House Faith Office

McNeese Sports

Traveling man

Local News

Jennings High Key Club using grant to increase access to books