Innovators, rebels, and survivors. Despite the turbulent times in Louisiana's recent history, the Zydepunks have grown from their New Orleans home to be a regional and international phenomenon. Yiddish riddles, Irish ballads, Cajun punk, and vocals in six languages are a small demonstration of why they astound new audiences. Wild folk dances fronted by accordion and fiddle and backed by relentless drums and bass are a testament to the high-energy folk-punk dance craze that is a Zydepunks show.
A Zydepunks performance sounds like a music junkie's ipod on shuffle, as Zydeco lyrics collide with Balkan beats and collapse into speed-core punk on dueling accordions. This heady clash cultures comes from the minds of the five members, each of whom can claim a diverse mix of influences and years of dedication to the New Orleans music scene. Frontman Juan Christian Küffner could speak four languages by the time he was 12 and quit the church organ for a career as a punk rocker in Glasgow that informed his later discovery of fiddle and accordion music. His worldly influences blend well with the band's other accordionist, Eve, who spent years busking in Europe and earning her living playing accordion music from around the globe.
Experience the post-ethnic, pre-apocalypse songs of Louisiana's favorite folk-punk band, the Zydepunks, at the 2009 International Accordion Festival.
