Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas

Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas | Live at Groove | Saturday, January 31st | 8:30PM Doors, 9:30PM Show

Blessed with a 65th Grammy Awards nomination for his recording Lucky Man, Nathan Williams is a zydeco legend that has over three and a half decades under his hat as one of Southwest Louisiana’s most beloved Creole music pioneers and cultural ambassadors. Whether he is performing at the likes of NYC’s Lincoln Center or Carnegie Hall’s CityWide Concert Series, DC’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, Europe’s top blues festivals or down home at his brother’s famous El Sido’s Zydeco & Blues Club in Lafayette, Louisiana, Nathan and his top-shelf Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas band never fail to get audiences up and shakin’ a leg to their un-rivaled stomp-down zydeco party!

Williams started his professional music career at 21, recording 45rpm singles for his brother’s El Sid-O’s lable. Sid later opened up his historic El Sid-O’s Zydeco and Blues Club in Lafayette and the Cha Chas soon became the Friday night residence artist for the venue.

Nathan’s big break came when Buckwheat Zydeco recommended him to Rounder Records. Nathan auditioned for the label and secured a contract and which led to him founding Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas in 1985. In 1988 Nathan first performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – where he has returned each and every year since that date.

It wasn’t long that Williams was noticed by The New York Times who stated that, at age 25, he was “poised to become important” in revitalizing zydeco music. Nathan’s music blends zydeco, jazz, blues and R&B, with most of his original songs composed by Williams.

For over 35 years, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas have toured extensively – performing everywhere from local Louisiana festival and dance halls to the most important stages throughout the Globe.

“If you don’t get up and shake a leg, you better call an undertaker - because you’re dead.”

- Nathan Williams quoted in Living Blues April 2019

“Nathan Williams and his band are simply sensational. Beyond being great musical ambassadors for Louisiana and zydeco traditions, they are artists and entertainers of the first magnitude and true gentlemen. Their energy is non-stop, and their talent is un-paralleled. Their on-stage charm is as captivating as it gets and, in a word, they were brilliant. In Syracuse this past Saturday night they closed out our 2022 festival in fabulous fashion. Everyone at the main stage was dancing, smiling and were overjoyed. And why not? They had just witnessed a 75-minute thrill ride from the pre-eminent zydeco ensemble on the planet. NO ONE touches these guys - wow, what a band! The best. Every festival in the nation that cares about preserving and presenting American Heritage Music should book these guys tomorrow - they literally define American culture and they're a national treasure.”

- Frank Malfitano June 2022 / founder of Syracuse Jazz Festival

“Nathan Williams never disappoints. On record and in person, you can always depend on Williams’ rockin’ zydeco to lift your spirits and move your feet… the BEST zydeco in the business.”

- No Depression magazine

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