Rooted in Tradition
Hobby bands have never sounded like this.

It should have been a nerve-racking gig for The Racines. It was, after all, their first Festival International. They had only been together for a year-and-a-half, gigging just once a month. Standing in front of the crowd  — a crowd with few empty seats — if Festival got to their nerves, everyone was going to know it.

Instead, The Racines were as steady as the swaying of the clump of dancers that crowded the space between the stage and the first row of chairs. Although it was their first Festival spot together, and they are still young in their days as a band, members of the group are comfortable on Festival’s stages — or any stage for that matter. The four musicians make up for their lack of gigs with a roster of some of Cajun music’s best talent. The collaboration includes Kevin Wimmer of Balfa Toujours on fiddle and vocals, Mitch Reed of Charivari on fiddle, Chris Stafford of La Bande Feufollet on guitar and vocals, Glen Fields of Red Stick Ramblers on drums and Steve Riley of The Mamou Playboys singing and playing the accordion.

“I wasn’t worried at all. I was probably more relaxed than usual. There’s no pressure, man,” says Riley. “The guys in the band are great musicians, and we are going to go up there and whatever happens, happens. A lot of times, when you fell like that, it ends up being great.”

Although it has a profound mix of talent, the band started out and stays together in a similar casual manner. They keep a light schedule and seem more interested in a sideline to their normal gigs than tearing up the road or the studio.

“It’s a hobby band is what it is,” says Riley with a slight laugh. “We all have other things to keep us busy. We all have our other bands that are our primary thing.”

Riley had worked with Wimmer for years and loved the way he and Reed collaborated, plus he wanted to showcase Stafford’s guitar skills. Coupled with showcasing Stafford and uniting Riley, Reed and Wimmer, The Racines rub an itch their normal bands don’t scratch. Wimmer is a constant source of obscure Creole tunes, bringing the nearly lost songs to the band and appreciative audiences.

“From the beginning, we just wanted to do Creole, old obscure Creole and Cajun tunes. … So it was just a great idea, and it all came together. And I’m sure we will keep it going,” says Riley.

While the band may be five sidelines rolled into one, it hasn’t stopped them from catching on, landing the coveted spot at Festival International, plus a more recent Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival set. The Racines even plan to head to the studio and record an album, which likely will be released next spring.

“That kind of stuff (festival gigs) puts you out in front of more people, and more people will hear about you. And the word will spread. We’ll see what happens,” says Riley. “As far as it becoming something bigger — something that we do more — that may happen, especially after our record comes out. But The Mamou Playboys will always come first for me. Unless something incredible happens.”