Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys for Downtown at Sundown

The second installment of the Downtown at Sundown concert series will feature Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys with Barbe Show Choir to open the show on Friday, May 20 beginning at 5:30pm.

The Mamou Playboys began 28 years ago with a reputation for excellence. The group has 13 recordings and four Grammy Nominations. Steve Riley is a widely acknowledged master of the Cajun accordion and its singularly powerful sound. His playing is a standard by which timing, phrasing and ingenuity are measured. He exudes searing, emotional vocals, songwriting, soulful fiddling and onstage front man charisma.

Sam Broussard plays acoustic, electric and electric slide along with his songwriting, arranging and singing. Co-founder and fiddler, David Greely, retired from the band in 2011 after his audiologist informed him he needs to steer clear of dancehall sound levels. The band welcomed Kevin Wimmer, who began his musical training at age four with his mother, a respected violinist who is on the Juilliard School of Music faculty. Kevin Dugas on drums, and Brazos Huval on bass round out the rhythm section.  www.mamouplayboys.com

It is through the support of corporate sponsors that this popular, family-friendly event is sustained. This year’s sponsors are American Press, Capital One Bank, CITGO, Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino, Entergy and Empire of the Seed Historic Properties.

The season will continue with Jazz in the Arts opening for Cold Sweat on May 27, and will wrap up with City Heat on June 3. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be held inside the Lake Charles Civic Center. Beverage sales will benefit the Literacy Council of Southwest Louisiana; therefore no outside beverages will be permitted on site. www.literacyswla.org.  Bring your lawn chairs but leave your pets at home.

From 1:00 to 10:00 p.m. Ryan Street—from Iris to the parking lot entrance of the Phoenix Building—will be closed to vehicle traffic in accordance with a special event ordinance. For event information, call 337-491-9159 or go to www.CityOfLakeCharles.com, or check out Downtown at Sundown on Facebook.