Sharon Fontenot, city grant writer and curator of the Louisiana Swamp Pop Museum, visited the January 15, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club to discuss the upcoming Swamp Pop Reunion VIII. The event will be held Monday evening, February 11, at the Northside Civic Center. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m. A cash bar will be available and Mardi Gras gumbo and Swamp Pop T-shirts will be sold. Tickets are $20 per person and there is a strict limit of 400 tickets to be sold. Fontenot stated the event has sold out very quickly the past couple of years and urged those interested to purchase their tickets as soon as possible. The event is sponsored by the City of Ville Platte and tickets are available at city hall, the Swamp Pop Museum and KVPI.

Fontenot stated many Swamp Pop artists will be in attendance and music will be provided by “Cypress” with Warren Storm and Willie T. The following acts are scheduled to perform a couple of songs at the event: Johnnie Allen, Lynn August, V.J. Boulet, Alvin Dugas, Guitar Gable, Jivin’ Gene, Charles Mann, Ken Marvel, Tommy McLain, Jerry Raines, Jay Randall, Skip Stewart, Warren Storm, Ernie Suarez, Earl Taylor, Willie T, Kenny Tibbs, Charles Veillon, Mike Vice and Clint West.

Fontenot thanked the following community partners for their support of the event each year: Cabot, Cameron, CenturyLink, Citizens Bank, Evangeline Bank, Evangeline Tourism, Guaranty Bank, KVPI, VVA Chapter #632, Whitney Bank and Woodmen of the World. She also thanked The Rendezvous Restaurant, which will be catering the food for the event and pre-event activities.

All proceeds, after the expenses are paid, will benefit the Louisiana Swamp Pop Museum. Fontenot reminded the community that the museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and upon request for special occasions and tours. For more information, contact Fontenot at city hall (363-2939).