(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Les Amis Creoles: Cedric Watson, Desiree Champagne & Ed Poullard will bring their rootsy take on Louisiana bayou music to Club Helsinki Hudson on Thursday, October 16, at 8pm. The trio’s frontman, Cedric Watson, is a four-time Grammy Award-nominated fiddler, singer, accordionist and songwriter with a great command of Cajun, Creole and zydeco music.

As always when the music harkens to his Louisiana homeland, Helsinki Hudson executive chef Hugh Horner will pull out all stops that evening with a special menu full of Creole specialties.

Originally from San Felipe, Texas (population 868), Cedric Watson made his first appearance at the age of 19 at the Zydeco Jam at The Big Easy in Houston. Just two years later, he moved to south Louisiana, quickly immersing himself in French music and language. Over the next several years, Watson performed French music in 17 countries and on seven full-length albums with various groups, including the Pine Leaf Boys, Corey Ledet, Les Amis Creole with Ed Poullard and J.B. Adams, and with his own group, Bijou Creole.

Fiddler Ed Poullard was born in Eunice, La., and raised in Southeast Texas. By the time he was in grade school, he was playing in his father’s band at house parties and parish dances. Poullard started out on drums and guitar, then moved on to accordion and fiddle, studying the latter with the late, legendary Canray Fontenot, with whom he performed nationwide until Fontenot’s death in 1995. Poullard often performed with his late brother Danny on accordion, showcasing older tunes learned from their father.

With Desiree Champagne rounding out the acoustic trio on washboard and vocals, Les Amis Creoles explores the authentic, back-porch roots of the swinging, dancing sounds of Cajun and zydeco music.

For reservations in The Restaurant or in the club call 518.828.4800.