The Daily Advertiser, (Excerpt from Article About Festival Housing) >>
"Making Room for Performers
Days Inn Hotel Offers Haven for Festival International Artists"
They come from their homes in Africa, Canada, Europe and the corners of the United States to play for strangers.
But when they leave the stage, the performers of Festival International de Louisiane have a home to go to.
.....
The hotel is the "hub" of Festival, said Bobby Schexnayder, a 10-year volunteer. From about 7:30 a.m. Thursday to after midnight Friday, Schexnayder and other volunteers waited to check in the scheduled arrivals.
....
Hotel employees quickly learn that with a house full of musicians, the music isn't only played on stage.
Even without his guitar, Frenchman Bertrand Laurence tapped out a beat on his thighs as he sang a song about the horrors of commercialization to Intidao Irk of Mali and with the band, Tinariwen, on Friday afternoon.
The two struck up a deal to practice the tune to play sometime during Festival weekend.
04/29/06 >> go there
