CJ RETURNING TO THE 2018 HOT TIMES
C.J. Chenier!
Almost immediately after launching into their first song, C.J. Chenier and The Red Hot Louisiana Band will have young and old up on their feet and cheering in unison. With a solo career dating back to 1987 and six albums under his belt, C.J. Chenier is widely regarded as one of Zydeco’s best singers, musicians and live performers. According to The Boston Globe, “C.J. Chenier attacks the accordion with the tension and drive of James Brown...creating contemporary, turbo-charged dance music.” Living Blues magazine named C.J. Chenier “the best living zydeco singer and accordionist,” and Billboard called him “the heir to the zydeco throne.” C.J.’s music has always embraced the traditions of his famous father, zydeco legend Clifton Chenier, but he continues to push the music to new levels. One week before C.J.’s 21st birthday in 1978, Clifton asked him to join The Red Hot Louisiana Band. In 1985, as the effects of diabetes began to take their toll on his father, C.J. (at Clifton’s request) picked up the accordion and started opening the shows. After Clifton’s death in 1987, C.J. inherited his dad’s accordion as well as The Red Hot Louisiana Band. When asked about his accordion playing, C.J. is quick to defer to his father, whom “nobody could ever touch,” as C.J. says. But others have formed their own opinions. According to Blues Revue, “Whether he and his band of red hots burn on rocking contemporarysongs or simmer on traditional country waltzes, C.J. Chenier is Zydeco’s torch bearer.”
HONORED ARTISTS
HONORING COMMUNITY ARTISTS FOR DECADES!
THE NEAR EAST AND GREATER COLUMBUS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HOME TO ARTISTS FOR DECADES. THIS AWARD HONORS TWO COMMUNITY ARTISTS EACH YEAR. THE LIST BELOW IS INCLUSIVE OF THIS REMARKABLE GROUP.
Smoky Brown
Walt Neil
Anna Bishop
Tony & Aziza West
Gene Walker
Leon Page
Kojo Kamau
Is Said
Aaraaman
Daniel Work
Queen Brooks
Jim Arter
George Miller
Denny Griffith
Eric Marlow
Dougie Simpson
Becky Ogden
Barbara “Wahru” Cleveland
Jeannette Williams-Brewer
Jackie Calderone
Don Bullard
Roman Johnson
Chief Shongo
Bill Agnew
Ann DeWald
Ron Hope
The Four Mints
Bobby Shaw
Gail Larned
Bettye Stull
Lee Savory
Shaun Booker
Arnett Howard
BHB
Jack Marchbanks
Aminiah Robinson
Deighton Charlemagne
Richard Duarte Brown
Delton Boyd
Mary McClendon
Ralph & Roger Williams
Riccardo Davenport
Danel Colvin
Pepper Johnson
Mary Daniels
Voszi Douglas
Suzanne Gallagher
Suzan Bradford Kounta
Michael VanderDoes
Barbara Fant
HOT TIMES ART CARS!
For as long as anyone can remember there have been been Art Cars at Hot Times. Big ones, small ones, painted ones, ones with pieces and parts glued on them, cars with wings, Nationally famous cars and cars in process. Hot Times has hosted artists from all over the world. In 2017 internationally famous jingle truck painter Haider Ali created the Heal Mobile for the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center and will return to the Festival in 2019. Several of the vehicles he has created will be on display at the 2018 Festival.
Applications
Hot times perfomer application
Hot times food vendor application
Hot times street fair application
VENDOR Info Guide
Comfest appreciation party
The Hot Times Festival has long been the site of the ComFest Volunteer Appreciation Party - If you volunteered at ComFest 2018, wear your official 2018 volunteer T-shirt and come to the Party on Friday of Hot Times and check in at the ComFest table in the Hot Times Volunteer Check in tent (right behind Sweet & Speedy.) The group photo is at 7pm SHARP! COME LINE UP in front of the Porch Swing stage!
