Pine Leaf Boys in Saudi Arabia
The Pine Leaf Boys, a two-time Grammy Award-nominated Cajun and Creole band from South Louisiana, are currently touring the Middle East as part of a cultural exchange program. The group recently visited Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and led a workshop and jam session with local Saudi and expatriate musicians.
The Pine Leaf Boys were also hosted by the Touristic and Cultural Directorate of the Municipality of Jeddah at the King Abdul Aziz Cultural Center, Abraq Al-Regham. The group performed alongside a traditional Saudi music group, Sada Al Hijaz, and premier Saudi rapper, Qusai from Jeddah Legends. The performance was well received by members of the audience and provided a unique opportunity for musicians of diverse genres and cultures to learn about each other and collaborate through their shared medium.
The group, made up of Wilson Savoy, Courtney Granger, Drew Simon, Jon Bertrand, and Thomas David, welcomed the opportunity to perform at the Cultural Center, which is part of the Municipality’s tourism and culture programming plan. The Center is designed for communities to share their traditional culture and arts, thus a performance by a traditional Cajun and Creole music group was perfect suited for the location.
The Pine Leaf Boys have won numerous awards including a Grammy Award-nomination for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album for their second album Blues de Musicien. The Pine Leaf Boys are a new generation of Cajun musicians from Louisiana who not only grew up with the music but live and breathe it. The young PLBs play authentic, traditional Cajun, Creole and Zydeco music while adding some updates of their own.