Laura Selikson's Let's Zydeco still strong in New York after 17 years

It's another Louisiana Saturday night--except it's at Connolly's Irish pub/restaurant just off Times Square, where it's packed tighter than crawfish in a trap at another Laura Selikson-hosted Let's Zydeco dance party.

She's been bringing top South Louisiana dance bands--including BeauSoleil, The Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band, C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, The Pine Leaf Boys, Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, along with newer groups like L'Angelus, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble--once or twice monthly ever since January, 1993.

"We started with Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas and followed with John Delafose & The Eunice Playboys and then Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys," says Selikson, who previously held Cajun and zydeco dances at Tramps, Louisiana Community Bar & Grill, La Belle Époque, the Hungarian House and Satalla--all venues now defunct--before settling in at Connolly's, which has also been the home of Celtic rock band Black 47.

"I never had a clue, but I've managed against all odds to keep it going when almost every music venue in New York closed," says Selikson. "I grew up with the 1960s folk scene and never heard this type of music. Then I saw Beausoleil and started talking to people, and went to a Cajun music festival in Rhode Island. It was a lot of fun and joyful, and I decided to organize something that would bring it more into the public eye."

Selikson has since compiled an email list of 2,000 names, and draws 75-300 Cajun/zydeco enthusiasts to her events--where she also offers dance workshops prior to the live music.

"The emphasis is on welcoming everyone who loves great Louisiana music and connecting with each other--not just sitting in an auditorium listening to music, but interacting with others and hobnobbing with top bands," she says, adding that the musicians are always accessible. "It's become quite a social scene! I can't tell you how many people have made friends, got connected and even got married."

But Let's Zydeco is also generating recognition for itself.

"We've been getting huge write-ups the last few shows," says Selikson, pointing to recent exposure in Time Out New York, The New Yorker, The New York Post, Newsday and The New York Times.

"What I've actually done is disseminate music throughout the whole area," she notes--though her efforts on behalf of South Louisiana music, which include intensive publicity outreach on local radio stations as well as print media, extends beyond the New York metro.

"I was hiking in the High Sierra mountain wilderness and met a man hiking by himself," she recalls. "He asked what I did and I said I did Let's Zydeco--and he knew about it from reading The New Yorker! But I get emails from England and Australia, from people who are familiar with the scene. People come and discover a very upbeat, vibrant energy when they walk into the room and go, 'Wow! This is in New York?' Yeah, it is. Someone said it's the best little secret around."

Let's Zydeco hosts Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco Roadrunners this Friday at Connolly's, and T Broussard & The Zydeco Stepper there on May 8. Selikson notes that she's "branching out" with a few upcoming rockabilly bands, including Girl Howdy, at Connolly's on April 10.

"I've been asked what I do, and have had difficulty really explaining the vibe and the draw," she concludes. "But one person I invited to come and check it out said after the show, 'Now I see what you do--you make people happy.' I think that about sums it up: It's great music and a great vibe, but these shows enable people to connect, have a good time, and leave with a smile on their faces."

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