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Cajun Spirit are Phil Underwood (Cajun accordion) and Jim Beard (Cajun fiddle). Together they play in the old timey style, evoking the creaking chair on the back porch, the hot steamy bayous, the smell of real gumbo, the life, emotions - and the spirit - of the Cajun people. They cut no corners in ensuring that the music and atmosphere they set up is true to the Cajun traditions, while bringing their own vibrancy and excitement to the numbers. Driving accordion, soulful fiddle, soaring vocals, from musicians who respect and love both the music that they play and the culture that produced it, ensure that what shines out from their show is true Cajun Spirit.

Biographies

Phil Underwood (Accordeon, Vocals)
Phil is the duo's founder - accordion player and vocalist who cut his Cajun teeth as the founder of the great British band Ti-Fer. He has performed on stage and TV in England, Holland, France, Louisiana, Virginia, Ireland and the Middle East. In 1998 he appeared with Cajun fiddler Mitchell Reed at the Liberty Theater in Eunice and in the same year was personally invited to appear with world famous Cajun accordionist Eddie LeJeune at the Morse Festival in Louisiana. His original waltz "Rainbow in the Night" is regularly played on Louisiana radio. He has many friends and mentors among the great Cajun musicians in Louisiana.
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Jim Beard (Fiddle)
Jim, in fact, has no beard. But he does have a long experience of American and Roots fiddle styles, his Cajun debut came as a founder member of the great Ti-Fer Cajun Band. He plays Cajun fiddle with a quiet passion and respect for the music that shines out either playing solo or duetting with Phil. Close your eyes and sometimes you'd be forgiven for thinking the legendary Cajun fiddler Dennis McGee was alive and living in England.

Phil and Jim have had the honour of playing several times at the Mardi Gras celebrations in Louisiana and they appear on the CD, "Desperately Seeking Boudin" which was nominated for the 2000 "Le Cajun" Awards in Louisiana - the Cajun Grammy. Reviews

"Phil and Jim are almost like Dennis McGee and Iry Lejeune reborn"
Michael Bentele, Cajun and Zydeco Festival, Germany

"Skillful and emotional accordion playing"
Creole Arts, Virginia, USA

"Not bad for an Englishman"
Marc Savoy, Eunice, Louisiana

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