Event

Cajun Fais do-do with Le Travaillant

Le Travaillant
Le Travaillant plays Cajun music, the dance music of French-speaking Louisiana perfect for Mardi Gras, crawfish boils, or any other occasion that needs authentic Louisiana atmosphere.

The phrase "Le Travaillant" is Cajun French for "the working man," and its members have a great time living up to that name, playing long sets of upbeat two-steps and waltzes that keep feet energetically moving on the dance floor.

The hard-working men behind the sound are Sean Colledge (accordions, vocals), Ethan Sellers (guitar, vocals), Randy Mollner (fiddles), Jake Samson (bass), and Tim Bennett (drums).

Three of the members Randy, Ethan, and Jake had performed Cajun music together in another band, but Le Travaillant truly coalesced around Sean's authentic Cajun accordion playing. Sean comes from a large French Creole family from New Orleans and was inspired to pick up the accordion by Nathan Abshire, Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin, and the Balfa Brothers.

Within months of Sean's arrival, Le Travaillant had worked up several hours of classic Cajun music and played a stream of Mardi Gras 2012 gigs at Chicago-area venues like Ron's Cajun Connection and Heaven on Seven. Since then, the group has played a variety of private gigs for discerning audiences who know and love great Cajun music.