In July Le Clou released a new EP titled ‘Adieu’ and goodbye it really is this year for Bonn’s favourite Cajun Band when on 4 December Bonn Harmonie will see them playing their very last official gig. Last night with Yves Gueit, Johannes Epremian and Steve Crawford was then an evening to savor as they stopped off for a house concert in Bad Godesberg, and judging by the smiles of the three gentlemen, they are determined to enjoy every last moment of their time on stage together.

For the uninitiated, Cajun Music has its roots literally in the swamps of the American South. Situated around the Mississippi Delta, it’s no wonder that there is a strong cross-over to the Blues at times, but the Cajuns also brought their very own musical sound to the region when they arrived there from France, some two hundred years ago, and this is the basis of Le Clou’s music.

Main singer, fiddle player and guitarist Johannes Epremian isn’t a Cajun. In fact his early passport stated his nationality as ‘undefined’. Born in Germany of an Armenian Father with whom he spoke French, Johannes discovered the music of the swampland early on. Virtually overnight his classical violin became a Cajun fiddle and he’s been an integral part of Le Clou since 1982. Johannes makes a point of staying true to the music he loves by regular visits to Louisiana. We spoke after the show of our mutual admiration for the late Willy DeVille, and Johannes remembered seeing Willie playing on a front-porch in Louisiania. The music is clearly running though his veins.

First an admission: I’m not able to go into detail about the lyrics of what was played this evening. Most songs are in ‘Louisiana French’ dialect. Even though Johannes does decsribe the basis of what he will be singing before the songs, it doesn’t really matter too much – the melodies and enthusiasm carry listeners quickly into their magic. Titles like ‘Adieu’, ‘Criminel’ and ‘Chocolat’ are pretty self-explanatory in content anyway. ‘Griffon’ on the other hand made for interesting discussion: Johannes describes the lyrics as describing someone who steals from the rich to give back to the poor – but not like Robin Hood. I only find the term referring to a breed of dog online, so the controversy remains open. There were more pressing things to consider anyway, like the need to dance to these jaunty melodies whilst seated in tight rows of chairs in a small room.

Johannes himself was certainly the one most to blame for causing this dilemma – with his lively fiddle melodies. Yves Gueit on the other hand was there to calm us all down again. A founder-member of the Band, white haired Gueit looks like he’s seen it all since the group’s mid-’70’s formation. When things begin to get too frantic he merely plucks one of many flutes from a stand that’s almost as tall as he is and calms things down instantly. But don’t get the feeling he wants to stop those toes tapping for too long though, as there is also a Cajun-Accordian at his feet.

Scotsman Steve Crawford makes up the rhythm section in the absence of a drummer, with acoustic guitar and backing vocals – even getting to sing one of his own songs during the evening. He’s a man worth listening to in his own right as anyone who has caught his shows with Sabrina Palm will testify. Currently he is also to be heard with blues-harpist Spider McKenzie.

Johannes and his National Duolian Resonator guitar were my stars of the show though. I’m not usually an equipment nerd but this instrument screams history and authenticity. At their time of manufacture in the mid to late 1930’s these were National’s budget models at a mere 32 US Dollars. The sound and history make the guitar in 2025 deserving of a couple of 0’s after that price tag though. Ah yes, there was one song that I recognized – ‘Jambalaya’. Johannes introduced it as the most famous of Cajun songs even though it stems from Country & Western legend Hank Williams who ‘borrowed’ the tune and title from a Cajon release by Chuck Guillory before replacing the original lyrics concerning a lost love with those of a found love – for Cajun cooking.

If my review has given you an appetite for the music of Le Clou then you don’t have much time left to hear it live onstage. The Band’s very last show will be at Bonn Harmonie on 4 December. Together with Gero Gellert on bass and Ralph Schläger on drums they will be closing the fifty-year existence of Le Clou with style I’m sure. “There were no quarrels or ‘musical differences'” Johannes was keen to point out. “The time seems right to finish now”. His evident enthusiasm when he plays and sings gives me great hope though that there will be Cajun music in Bonn for a good while yet.

So people, December 4th, Bonn Harmonie. LeClou will be going out dancing for sure!