Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience

Doors open an hour before showtime.

• ADVANCE PURCHASE: Total ticket price at checkout is $42.00 (inclusive of $7.00 service fee)
• AT THE DOOR: $45
• All surcharges and member discounts will be calculated at checkout.
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When it comes to Creole culture and Zydeco music, two-time GRAMMY Award-winning Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience embody the past, present, and future of American roots music. This six-piece, multigenerational, and multicultural band is a powerhouse of formally trained and deeply seasoned musicians. Their hypnotic blend of zydeco roots – reggae – soul, and New Orleans jazz brass band – is expertly crafted to move your spirit and lift your soul.

For more than four decades, Simien & company have toured across more than 40 countries and performed over 9,000 concerts worldwide. Their groundbreaking educational program, Creole for Kidz and the History of Zydeco, was developed 25 years ago to introduce K–12 and college students to Creole culture and zydeco’s rich history. This dynamic live performance and companion study guide have raised the cultural IQ of more than 250,000 students, teachers, and families around the globe.

Simien’s music has been featured in multiple major films, and the band has made numerous on-screen appearances. A career highlight came when zydeco music was featured in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog—the first Disney film to feature a Black princess. Simien collaborated with the legendary Randy Newman on the film’s zydeco song and was thrilled to hear the word zydeco spoken on screen for the very first time in a Disney production. In 2024, the band recorded music for the new Disney theme park ride based on the film, now open in both U.S. parks. Disney’s massive global footprint has been a game-changer for amplifying zydeco music, a vibrant Louisiana-rooted genre blending Creole and R&B influences, to audiences far beyond the bayou. 

DEEPER DIVE INTO DISNEY + ZYDECO: Disney parks drew 157.5 million visitors in 2023 alone (per the Themed Entertainment Association), with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure projected to add millions more annually. That’s direct exposure to zydeco for families, tourists, and superfans—many encountering the genre for the first time amid the ride’s immersive New Orleans vibe. Disney+ streams the film and related content to 150+ million subscribers, compounding the effect.

Their music has also appeared in national television ads, and they’ve been featured in major media outlets including Rolling Stone, Billboard, and The New York Times. Over the years, Simien has recorded and performed with Paul Simon, Art Neville, Dr. John, Marcia Ball, Dennis Quaid, The Meters, and many more. The band has shared stages with Los Lobos, the late Robert Palmer, and the Dave Matthews Band. And in one unforgettable moment at a Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C., Stevie Wonder joined them on stage to play harmonica on one of their zydeco songs—a testament to their universal reach and joyful musical spirit.

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