By Ellie Fellers,Special to the Sun Journal

NEW GLOUCESTER – “Acadians Helping Cajuns” was Sunday’s theme at Thompson’s Orchard where 11 bands played throughout the day to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Under cloudy skies, the public flocked to the orchard’s outdoor field theater with its commanding view to the east, toting chairs to listen to musicians on two stages as part of the Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Music Festival.

Approximately $3,000 was raised for the Red Cross’ Gulf Coast disaster relief effort for victims of the deadly hurricane.

Maine musician Dave Rowe said 12 days earlier he’d rounded up his friends asking for help. “We’re going to do a concert,” he told them.

Rowe also called L/A Arts based in Lewiston, Fiddlehead Center for the Arts based in New Gloucester, Thompson’s Orchards and the Red Cross to ask for volunteers. “Let’s work together,” he told the groups.

The musicians volunteered their time freely.

Heeding the call were: the Denny Breau Trio, Kruger, Boreal Tordu, the Union River Band, Half Moon, Pam Baker, Mountain Avenue, Mom’s Home Cookin’, Jim Gallant, The Douce, Maine Songwriters Association Members and, naturally, the Dave Rowe Trio.

Mike Thompson of Thompson’s Orchards offered the field and gazebo, which are used for his annual bluegrass festival in June.

Roland Roy of Chelsea, who grew up in Lewiston, has Acadian roots and he dabbles in playing the Cajun accordion.

“My mother grew up in New Brunswick, Canada, and spoke French before English. I came because I should help my cousins,” Roy said, noting his love for Louisiana’s Cajun music.

He said, “Cajun is French country music. If you play it backwards, you never lose. You keep your wife, car and job, unlike American country music,” says Roy.

“The music is so lively, you’d wake someone out of a coma.”

Theresa and John Hodgson of Rumford said that after they read about the daylong event – from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – in the Sun Journal’s Encore section, they made the 50-mile trek to hear some of their favorite music and support this cause.

Jacinda Cotton-Castro, business manager of Fiddlehead Center for the Arts, said, “Everyone came. Portable toilets were donated, people donated their time. There is a sense of outreach and people working together.”

Local musicians with Louisiana roots included Rebecca and Matthew Doucet, son of fiddler Michael Doucet of the award-winning Cajun musical group BeauSoleil. At the beginning of 2005, the band released a DVD called “BeauSoleil – Live from the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.”

On Sunday, Rebecca Doucet said, “Our heart was breaking seeing the city go under water. Our parents married there. There have been lots of tears shed from this crisis. Now the hard work and rebuilding starts. Our efforts begin now. Continue to open your hearts and pocketbooks.”

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