Sounds Good

Mardi Gras a 20-year keeper

I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since Mardi Gras ignited Port Arthur’s holiday spirit. I’ve met so many people who have joined church groups, staged amazing balls and developed businesses through Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas.

My own fondest memories include years of practice tossing beads and riding the Port Arthur News float with Martha “Toodlums” Ferguson, who arrived to the sea wall in a police car and had a chair bolted to the float floor for stability. She was a queen. Or, as she would say, a grand dame.

This year I had the occasion to chat with Wayne Toups himself over the phone, who said he “just can’t get enough” of Mardi Gras. He will again close down our festival with a Sunday concert.

Longneck Road, a local band, will offer the first concert of the season on Thursday. Bassist Ron Arceneaux said they’ve played before and are kicking it up a notch this time around.

“We’re thrilled to be on the main stage this year and are grateful to Norman Land and Laura Childress for making that happen,” Arceneaux said.

Drummer Adam King says events such as Mardi Gras have spread their name across Texas. This past year they opened for national touring artists Chuck Berry, John Anderson, Ronnie Milsap and the Paul Thorn Band, Bart Crow Band and Aaron Watson.

Here’s the schedule:

Thursday, Feb. 16

· 4:45 p.m. - Curir du Mardi Gras, to begin at Rose Hill and Lakeshore Drive, ending at festival grounds.

· 6 p.m. - Longneck Road

· 8 p.m. - Joel Martin Project

Friday, Feb. 17

· 6 p.m. - Longneck Road

· 8 p.m. - Joel Martin Project

· 7 p.m. ­- Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie

· 7 p.m. - Valero Krewe of Krewes Parade from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.

· 7 p.m. - Golf card and ATV Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.

· 10 p.m. - Kevin Fowler

Saturday, Feb. 18

· 1 p.m. - Krewes Royalty March, inside festival grounds

· 3 p.m., - Jivin’ Gene Bourgeois and the Ken Marvel Band

· 5:30 p.m. - Leroy Thomas & The Zydeco Roadrunners

· 5:30 p.m. - Motorcycle Showcase Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue

· 6 p.m. - Total Krewe of Aurora Grand Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.

· 8:30 p.m. ­- Champagne Room

· 10 p.m. ­- Stoney Larue

Sunday, Feb. 19

· 2 p.m. – Munchkin Parade, costumed children, inside grounds

· 3 p.m. – Ryan Foret and Foret Tradition

· 4 p.m. Richard Industrial group Motor Parade, from Rose Hill to Procter Street to Houston Avenue.

· 6:30 p.m. – Wayne Toups & ZydeCajun

Tickets range from $5 to $15 and are available at the gates and at The Mardi Gras Store, 3830 FM 365, (409)721-8717.

A peek into March: Be certain of Carter

Lower Pecos Rock Art makes the cover of the March issue of Texas Highways, but a more modern and local artist is discussed within the pages. “From Uncertain to Blue” is called photographer Keith Carter’s seminal work, published about 25 years ago. The Beaumont photographer spoke at my Lamar University photography class, back when we used dark rooms. The class loved his oversized, squared-off, black and white photos. In this book he captured images of down-home people in Texas towns with names like Poetry, Blue, Comfort and Rosebud. Leathery-faced ranch hands, a vintage theatre, a lone dog on the road or a boy with his chicken tell stories that begin before a camera snap and never end. Carter has published several amazing books. This Texas tale is my favorite.

ddoiron@panews.com