Charles Thibodeaux & the Austin Cajun Aces

Charles Thibodeaux & the Austin Cajun Aces play Evangeline Cafe on Monday, September 28, starting at 7 PM. It's a night of Cajun music in a room that fits it, and it's free.

Thibodeaux grew up in a traditional Cajun household in Beaumont, Texas, with parents from Church Point, Louisiana. As a teenager, he spent his time at the Rodair Club in Port Acres, run by his late cousin Joe Thibodeaux. There, watching Andrew Cormier and The Rambling Aces—which included Rodney LeJeune and Dallas Roy—is what inspired him to take up the Cajun accordion. He formed the Austin Cajun Aces in the spring of 2004 for a group of Mardi Gras enthusiasts, and the band has played across Texas since then, keeping that sound going right here in Austin. He's also released an album, Hommage à Andrew Cormier, which is available to hear.

The venue is just as much a part of the night as the band. Evangeline Cafe is a casual lunch and dinner spot specializing in traditional Southern Louisiana dishes, with live music most nights. It's won Best of Austin awards for its Cajun cuisine in 2023 and 2024, so it's the kind of place where you can order a meal and listen to the music at the same time. The band will be the main feature of the evening, and the music starts at 7 PM on Monday, September 28, at 8106 Brodie Ln. Admission is free.