Cajun flavor comes to Finch for Night of Louisiana featuring Grammy-nominated Pine Leaf Boys

Are you ready for the flavor of Cajun?

The 19th annual Night of Louisiana will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday at Finch Fieldhouse.

Those attending can enjoy traditional Cajun food and drink, and relax with an array of Cajun and zydeco music and dance, beginning at 7 p.m.

“If you like to dance, this music is pretty danceable stuff,” said John Sheffler, director of CMU Public Radio. “Or, if you are just looking for a great time, you should come.”

The “Night of Louisiana” is a good way to “shake away the winter blues,” Sheffler said.

Three-time Grammy-nominated Cajun music band, Pine Leaf Boys, and Lil’ Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers will perform.

CMU Public Radio will record the event’s music.

Sheffler said last year’s attendance was between 700 to 1,000, and the ages ranged anywhere from 18 to 70, with crowds hailing from all over the state.

“There are some who drive from Detroit to ‘Night of Louisiana’ year after year,” Sheffler said.

Sheffler has been part of the event’s production since it first took place in 1991.

Rochester Hills sophomore Josh Lee attended last year’s “Night of Louisiana,” and said he had an enjoyable time.

“I thought it was a pretty accurate representation of the culture they were attempting to replicate,” Lee said. “I definitely think the food and music were authentic. Obviously, you’re not going to get a truly authentic Louisiana experience at CMU in the middle of winter, but the effort was nice.”

Dinner tickets are $9.95 each, only by reservation.

Tickets can be purchased through Friday for $20, or for $25 at the door. Tickets can be reserved online at cmich.edu/boxoffice, or through the Central Box Office at 1-888-268-0111.