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The Acadiana Center for the Arts is proud to bring Cuban-American roots music sensation Raul Malo to the James Devin Moncus Theater stage Saturday, February 4 at 8:00 p.m. Raul Malo brings his chart-topping new album Sinners & Saints to a one-night-only show at AcA on his way from Texas to the East Coast and Europe.

Malo is a musical chameleon, moving fluidly from Alt-Country to Blues, Jazz and Latin, connecting all through great vintage rock and roll. A master at infusing his songwriting with sonic ingenuity and emotional sincerity, Malo’s performances are abundant with surprising twists, from the twang of a country guitar to the melancholy of a trumpet and the punctuations of a Mexican accordion.

The founder of alt-Country band The Mavericks and of Latin All-Star group Los Super Seven, Malo has over the years collaborated with a who’s who in music, from Willie Nelson to Emmylou Harris, Los Lobos to Susanna Baca, Joe Ely to Rick Trevino.

Backed by a five-piece band and endowed with a phenomenal vocal range, Raul Malo is one of the great independent voices in music today. Hearing this extraordinary musician in the acoustically pure environment of AcA’s 300-seat James D. Moncus Theater will be a memorable experience.

Entertainment Weekly stated, “Malo is one of those rare singers who transcend the mundane with the sheer operatic sweep of his marvelous instrument. He’s among the last of a breed: a country stylist with finesse and brawn in equal measure, turning his laments into bittersweet valentines.”

Ticket prices are $20 for AcA members, $25 for non-members in advance, $25 for members and $30 for non-members at the door.

Tickets are available online at AcadianaCenterfortheArts.org, by phone at 337.233.7060 or visiting our Box Office at 101 W. Vermilion St., Lafayette. Box Office hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 – 5 p.m.

Magic 107.4 will be hosting the annual Zydeco Music Awards at the Heyman Performing Arts Center on Thursday January 20, 2011. Red Carpet will begin at 7:00 P.M and Awards Show will immediately be following at 8:00 P.M.

Beginning a tradition of honoring and showcasing the south’s hottest stars in zydeco music, ZMA’s is poised for a night of never-before-seen moments. This year ZMA’s is giving a Life Time Achievement Award to “Zydeco Force”, who timeless music has inspired an endless number of old and new artist yesterday and today in zydeco. The ZMA’s will have performances by J Paul Jr., Lil Nathan, Grammy Nominated Chubby Carrier, JJ Caillier, Guyland Leday, Lil Wayne and Same Ol’ Two Step, Leon Chavis and more will light the stage for a night of excitement.

ZMA’s will recognize the 2010 achievements of artists in 19 categories. Front-runner Chris Ardoin gets 9 individual nominations across multiple categories. Closely behind are J Paul Jr. and Lil Nathan with 8, while Keith Frank and Leon Chavis pull-in 6 nominations.

Brian Jack locks down 5 individual nominations of his own, while other multiple nominees include Lil Wayne and Same Ol’ Two Step, Jo Jo Reed and Geno Delafosse. New artist such as Lil Koray Broussard and Z Unit, Maurice, J.J. and The Zydeco Dog Pound, JJ Caillier and Keith and The Zydeco Hot Boy’s secures a nomination for Best New Artist.

The ZMA’s will team with Citadel Broadcasting, to make the inaugural Zydeco Music Award a most Memorable celebration in music. With top name nominations, attendance and one-of-a-kind performances, the ZMA’s will establish itself as the hottest ticket in Zydeco.

Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival and Acadiana Center for the Arts have teamed up to celebrate five days of movies with an opening night event on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at the Acadiana Center for the Arts.

Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival is also pleased to announce their Jan. 26-30, 2011 festival films and events at venues around Lafayette, including the AcA, Cite des Arts, LITE, Pack and Paddle and the Lafayette Parish South Regional Library. Filmmakers, who have long supported this boutique film festival because of the our unique culture, will be in attendance from New Orleans, Shreveport, Austin, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago and Toronto, Canada. A complete schedule of events is posted at www.cinemaonthebayou.com. Support is provided by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission.

Opening the festival on Wednesday, Jan. 26 will be the Louisiana premiere of “Disfarmer: A Portrait of America,” a documentary on the discovery of an artistic genius who created hauntingly beautiful portraits of the American heartland in Heber Springs, Arkansas in the 1940’s and 50’s. The film will screen at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by a reception for Toronto based filmmaker Dennis Mohr. Complimentary wine and appetizers will be served. Tickets for the opening night event are $10/$8 for AcA members and are available at www.acadianacenterforthearts.org or at the door.

Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival, in partnership with the Acadiana Center for the Arts, will also present its closing day events on Sunday, Jan. 30 beginning at 12:00 noon at the AcA. Events include the screening of “Tootie’s Last Suit,” about the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians, along with a short film on the rural southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras at Tee-Mamou and a panel discussion on urban and rural Mardi Gras traditions moderated by esteemed French Louisiana folklorist Barry Ancelet. The Festival will also present on Sunday afternoon the Louisiana premiere of the documentary “Coals to Newcastle – The New Mastersounds: from Leeds to New Orleans,” with filmmaker Marca Hagenstad in attendance. The Festival will close on Sunday afternoon at AcA with the screening of Harry Shearer’s documentary on the flooding of New Orleans after Katrina, “The Big Uneasy,” with Mr. Shearer in attendance. All events on Sunday at AcA are free.

“Cinema on the Bayou is proud to include the Acadiana Center for the Arts and its state-of-the-art James Devin Moncus Theater as the opening and closing venue for this year’s festival,” said Artistic Director Pat Mire. “We look forward to working with Gerd and his staff this year and in years to come to introduce a wide variety of wonderful films and filmmakers to the Acadiana area.”

In addition to an evening of films at Pack and Paddle on Thursday and LITE on Friday, there will be a full day of films screened on Saturday at Cite des Arts, as well as Saturday and Sunday at the Lafayette Parish Public Library South Regional Branch. Films include Win Riley’s “Walker Percy: A Documentary Film,” Shreveporter William Joyce’s “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore,” Aaron Walker’s “Bury the Hatchet,” Tim Watson’s “The Music’s Gonna Get You Through,” Elizabeth Coffman and Ted Hardin’s “Veins in the Gulf,” and distributor Carnivalesque Films’ “Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo,” “Citizen Architect,” and “Loot.” The Southern Culture Film Series includes the Louisiana premiere of “Fire In The Mountain” as well as “Me, My Father and the Hurricane.” The Narrative Shorts Series includes Louisiana premieres of French language films by Paris based filmmaker Josephine Mackerras and Texas based filmmaker Edward Tyndall. Belgian born filmmaker Jimmy Ferguson will present the Narrative Shorts Series of films and will introduce Ms. Mackerras’ films in both French and English.

The Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association will host the 18th annual “Le Festival de Mardi Gras a’ Lafayette” from Friday, March 4th through Mardi Gras day at U.L.- Lafayette’s Cajun Field. The Festival will include an exciting carnival mid-way, native Cajun foods, and an outstanding line-up of live music. To make the Festival a complete Mardi Gras experience, the route for all of Lafayette’s parades will pass directly through the Festival grounds. This popular festival enters it’s 18th year with a robust line-up of live music, a gigantic carnival midway, ample parking, and terrific viewing spots for all of Lafayette’s parades.

The LOUISIANA LOTTERY midway will offer a wide variety of rides, from an area specially designed for small children, to fast, exciting, and wilder rides. We have also developed several price promotions that make our carnival within everyone’s budget. The HOME BANK Soundstage has one of the most extensive and diverse arrays of local, regional, and national musicians ever assembled. BORDEN’S will be on hand with displays, Elsie and the popular Borden’s train. Plus, all of the parades pass right through the Festival grounds,” Mann said. “Cajun Field will be transformed for the 5-day event, with the huge carnival midway, the live music soundstage and over 70 recreational vehicles making up “STEVENS RV CITY”. It’s quite a sight to see and everyone wants to be at Cajun Field for Mardi Gras!” Mann said. “We are very excited to have local restaurants and caterers participating again this year. The quality and variety the food these local vendors provide is tremendous. We work hard to make the Festival site the easiest, safest, and most convenient spot to watch the parades,” Mann added.

What’s the best part about “Le Festival de Mardi Gras a Lafayette?” — IT’S FREE! Admission to the LOUISIANA LOTTERY Midway, the HOME BANK soundstage, the BORDEN’S train and display area , as well as the parade viewing areas are free. There is a $10 charge for parking at Cajun Field. All of the money generated from the Festival will be used by the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association to develop and promote Lafayette’s Mardi Gras parades and activities. For more a complete schedule and more details, visit www.gomardigras.com.

Riverside Inn announced today that Chefs Nolton Batiste and Cleve Sonnier won awards at the Soiree Royale in Opelousas.

Chef Cleve Sonnier won first place in the Yams Category for the newest dessert item on the menu at Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn, Sweet Potato Beignets with Orange Hazelnut Glaze. Chef Nolton Batiste won second place in the Gumbo Category for the famous Duck and Andouille Gumbo served daily at Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn.

Elaine Alderman, co-owner of Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn said, “We are so proud of our chefs and are very excited about their wins in the Soiree Royale competition.”

Riverside Inn is a locally owned and operated restaurant serving Acadiana for over 75 years. They are open seven days a week serving Gulf seafood, fine Cajun cuisine and steaks in a family-friendly atmosphere. The restaurant is located at 240 Tubing Rd. in Lafayette, La.

For additional information, contact Elaine Alderman of Riverside Inn at (337) 837-4011.

“Hotel Acadiana” of Lafayette, La., is becoming the “Crowne Plaza” of Lafayette, providing wonderful customer service with southern charm.

Hotel Acadiana is located in the Oil Center, which is ideally suited for any business need. The 290-room six-story hotel is located on 1801 W. Pinhook Rd., just two and a half miles from the entrance to the Lafayette Regional Airport. The property is undergoing a complete interior and exterior renovation before flying the Crowne Plaza flag, and renovation is already underway.

Also consistent with the Crowne Plaza brand, the hotel will offer a comprehensive meetings package to ensure a seamless planning process and exceptional meeting experience consisting of three key components: a Two-hour Response Guarantee, Crowne Plaza Meetings Director and a Meetings Daily Debrief. The hotel will offer approximately 12,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.

The hotel will feature the Crowne Plaza Sleep Advantage program, which is available at all Crowne Plaza hotels in the Americas. Sleep Advantage encompasses the entire sleep experience, from training staff on how to create and maintain a restful environment to providing innovative products and services. Program components include new bedding, guaranteed wake-up calls, designated quiet zones, night lights, drape clips, sleep CDs, sleep tips and amenities such as eye masks, ear plugs and lavender pillow spray.

The Crowne Plaza will include an outdoor swimming pool, a business center and a fitness center with cardio and strength equipment. Guests will have complimentary access to the hotel’s airport shuttle. Wireless Internet will be available throughout the property.

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts participates in IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club Rewards. This is the industry’s first and largest guest loyalty program.

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts has nearly 300 hotels in 52 countries, and are located in major urban centers, gateway cities and resort destinations.