The forth Summer Sounds concert will showcase an award winning band by the name of Zydeco Flames, which won the 2009 North Bay Music Award in the category of World/International music. Recognized as the West Coast’s premiere Zydeco band, the group regularly plays for packed houses.

Zydeco Flames also won an award for Best Zydeco Band from the West Coast Blues Society in 2006 and the West Coast Cajun & Zydeco Association awarded them Best Original Song for their hit “Don’t Worry” in 1997. The band has released six albums – the last, “Fire It Up,” in 2006 – and have performed all over the California.

What is Zydeco you ask? It originated in Louisiana and evolved from Creole music. The music usually has a fast tempo and relies heavily on the piano accordion. Its dance forms integrate several different styles including, waltzes, shuffles, two, blues and Rock & Roll.

Zydeco Flames is sure to heat up summer and Oakland’s City Center Plaza. The concert takes places from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday. So if you’re a Zydeco fan or want to find out what this genre of music is all about, then make sure your there.

For more information on the band check, out www.zydecoflames.com. For more information on the Summer Sounds Concert Series and a full schedule of performers and dates, visit www.oaklandcitycenter.com/happenings.cfm.

About Stephen Allen

Stephen Allen is an East Oakland resident and an OL student intern who loves to write and hopes to become a professional journalist one day. He's performed with Youth Speaks and writes poetry as well as blogs and news articles. Currently attending Laney College and majoring in Journalism, Stephen has decided to stay in Oakland after finishing his A.A. degree in the Spring. He's also the mastermind behind Oakculture.com which is a website dedicated to showcasing the unique cultures that make Oakland the city it is.