rkdjones - Posted - 02/17/2026:  08:47:26

I met a Cajun fiddler last month and went to a Cajun jam session last night. I am a gradual student of the 5-string and will attend my first bluegrass jam tonight. I like Cajun music and used to dance the two-step with my wife. I would love to be able to join the Cajun jam session with my 5-string or tenor banjo. It does not appear to be a well-travelled path. So I am restarting a thread from years ago hoping that some of you ventured musically to South Louisiana and can give some insights into playing the music.

Texasbanjo - Posted - 02/17/2026:  11:18:20

Listen to Louisiana Grass CDs. They incorporate Cajun music into bluegrass or vice versa. That might give you some ideas. Any genre of music can be played on a banjo, you just have to get used to the sound, the different chords and voicings of the music. I don't do a whole lot of Cajun, but know it can be done.

RB-1 - Posted - 02/17/2026:  11:38:51

I remember a very cajun like Bluegrass song by Country Gazette: Prove my love to you (at 8:56)

Listen to how Alan Munde solves that banjo puzzle here (genius!)

reubenstump - Posted - 02/17/2026:  12:01:19

I can't help you with banjo in south central LA, but try to find KBON online. 101.1 FM, I believe. You can listen via their website or other internet means. They broadcast out of Lafayette. Lots of cajun/creole/zydeco and other local roots music, but also country, so it'll depend on when you tune in on any given day.  They have a schedule, but I don't know what it is.



Cajun music, as you probably know, is all about fiddle, accordion (large for zydeco, small for cajun and creole), guitar, triangle, etc. I've never seen a banjo in a cajun band.



I also recommend the Blackpot Festival in Lafayette on Halloween weekend each year. Hard financial times may be hitting this year, so the lineup might not be as good as in the past, but two years ago Allison deGroot and Tatiana Hargreaves played there.  It's a small festival, which appeals to me. It used to be over on the west side of town at the awesome Acadian Village, but moved to the east side at the slightly larger Vermillionville, practically across the street from the airport (but no issue with flight noise).



Blackpot naturally tends to cajun, creole, and zydeco, but there's also texmex, honky tonk, folk, country, and maybe gospel in any given year.

Edited by - reubenstump on 02/17/2026 12:03:57

Nopix - Posted - 02/17/2026:  13:43:53

Hey! Happy Mardi-gras!
Don't knowhow much I could help the banjer part. Alas, I'm mostly a fiddler.
Maybe. . . .. put you machine on Rumba, and see how a roll jibes with it. I must admit, I've never tried it. It's not like it's illegal or something.
I listened to Tuba Skinny all morning. They have a plectrum banjer. You're halfway there!

Tim Jumper - Posted - 02/17/2026:  16:54:50

One of my favorite Cajun songs is "O, Madeleine" as sung by Zachary Richard and featuring a mandolin. I could see a B.G. band doing it -- and many others from the bayou country -- but even though lacking a button-box, they would still have to lock into that great Cajun groove!