The University of Iowa’s Hancher will present Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience on Friday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall, next to the Sheraton Hotel. The concert will kick off the 2013 edition of the Summer of the Arts Friday Night Concert Series. The performance is free and appropriate for all ages.

Terrance Simien is an eighth generation Creole from the “Capital of Zydeco Music,” Mallet, La. His work is deeply influenced by the great masters of the Zydeco tradition; he was mentored by several of these pioneering artists and is known as the link between the next generation of zydeco players.

Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience is a unique blend of New Orleans and Afro-Caribbean funk-reggae rhythms, incorporating a range of diverse musical styles. Simien has performed all over the world during his career, including several U.S. Department of State sponsored trips for cultural exchange with Creole nations.

The acclaimed artist added his musical contribution to Disney's The Princess and the Frog, building on an already lengthy list of professional achievements, including winning a Grammy Award for Best Zydeco or Cajun Album, and sharing the stage with musical elite, including Stevie Wonder, Taj Mahal, and Paul Simon. He has found a way to express himself as a relevant and evolving artist who remains rooted to his musical and cultural legacy.

Simien is also passionate about music education and advocacy. He has created a program called Creole for Kidz, a multicultural arts-in-education performance that teaches the history of the indigenous Zydeco music of the French-speaking Creoles of south Louisiana. Since its creation in 2001, the program has provided informational performances to nearly 500,000 students in the United States, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Paraguay, and Australia.

The concert is the culmination of a two week tour of Iowa communities including Spencer, Okoboji, Algona, Fairfield, Muscatine, and Iowa City. The tour was organized by Hancher to share Simien's music across the state.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, contact Hancher in advance at 319-335-1158.