VOWing to play for a purpose

It’s been seven years since Houma bluesman Tab Benoit held his inaugural Voice of the Wetlands Festival.

In 2003, the singer/guitarist saw the three-day free music concert as a way he could help create a platform for an independent voice for coastal wetland restoration.

Seven years later, little has changed.

“We’re still losing about an acre every hour,” Benoit says. “Obviously, I’m in this trying to get something done so that we can have a celebratory festival … celebrating finally repairing coastal erosion and protecting our wetlands.

“I’m just trying to get in the game and do the right thing.”

It’s a challenge Benoit is extending to the Tri-parishes and beyond. For three days, he’s converting Southdown Plantation’s grounds in Houma into a music-filled forum to create awareness and, hopefully, spark action.

Given the recent events in the Gulf of Mexico with the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent natural disaster along the coast, Benoit says the world is watching. And with enough locals raising their voices – in the media, the voting booth and local, state and D.C. government halls – change is possible.

“I don’t have a formula or message I’m trying to push,” the singer says. “I’m just encouraging people to be their own voice. See what’s going on and jump in there with the power you have.

“Be politically active, whether you use our organization, another group or act on your own,” he adds.

Benoit has been a persistent, passionate voice for south Louisiana.

One of the hardest working bluesmen in the business, he’s on the road most nights of the year. And every venue, every show includes a public plea to fans: Look at what’s happening to our coast, listen to the people hardest hit, visit the area and experience it firsthand and act.

Well, honestly, Benoit admits it’s sometimes hard to fit in the call to action.

“There’s so much to educate people about,” he says.

And just when the nation began to understand the argument about coastal erosion, the BP’s Macondo well exploded, spilling countless barrels of oil into the Gulf.

“This doesn’t change what we’re fighting … it speaks to the problem,” Benoit explains. “We know drilling is necessary. And we’ve all lost friends and family on the oil rigs. It’s a dangerous business, but that’s what we do here.

“But [the spill] opens up more of a window so people can see what I’m talking about,” he adds. “If it wasn’t for oil and big business, we wouldn’t even be talking about the coast right now.”

And although the industry is a big contributor to America’s way of life, likewise, we’ve learned from past transgressions that oil and gas played a role in carving up our wetlands and forcing the mighty Mississippi River to bend in ways she never imagined.

“We know the role oil companies have played in carving up the wetlands,” Benoit says. “But these are the same guys who could help us fix it.”

Like most south Louisianans, Benoit says the time for study is past. “It’s everyone throwing in their opinions that has been screwing this up,” he contends.

“The delta built itself and with the slightest effort, it will heal itself,” Benoit says. “We’ve seen proof of that in the Atchafalaya Basin.”

From the passenger seat of his Cessna, Benoit has shown many a lawmaker a bird’s eye view of the damage and the possibilities. “I’ve had them sit there and ask about the green, lush farmland,” he recalls. “I tell them that’s not farmland. It’s healthy marsh. Even scientists, they don’t know what they’re looking at.”

By diverting sediment over the levees into the marshes, Benoit believes the land can be revived.

“Why not look at the coast the way it was before we messed with it,” he suggests. “It’s politics that is complicated. Mother Nature is not.

“This should have been taken care of before we even got on our watch,” he adds. “Let’s tell the world the truth. The coast can be fixed. Our seafood is OK. People are paying attention. Now’s the time for us to tell our story and take action.”

For the moment, Louisiana’s Conservationist of the Year recipient is on the road, singing and playing the blues and touting the need for coastal repair in south Louisiana.

Over the last seven years, it’s become a way of life. The Houma native regularly juggles music and activism. But, he adds, “Jugglers are entertaining.”

“When people are letting in the door, you’ve got to walk through it and make it count,” he says.

It’s that “Lead By Example” attitude that drives Benoit to stay active.

“Really, this is more rewarding than money,” he says. “You can’t be depressed if you’re active. We’ve got to get in the game, even though it’s not an easy game, but that’s what makes it worthwhile.”

Rain or shine, Benoit says the VOW Fest will rock. He’s hoping for another record-setting attendance crowd, plenty of volunteers and locals ready to be inspired.

“This is our party, our festival, our rally,” he says. “It’s a chance to raise our voice and save our wetlands.

“And its three free days of fun,” Benoit adds. “You can’t beat that deal.”

Friday, Oct. 8, from 5 to 10 p.m.

Steve Juno Zydecosis

Blue-Eyed Soul Revue

John Lisi’s Friday Night Guitar Fights featuring Ernie Vincent, Bill Iuso, Danny Alexander, Josh Garrett and Tab Benoit

Saturday, Oct. 9, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Baton Rouge Music Studio’s Young Band

Jena Nicole Guidry

Chicken on the Bone

Christian Serpas and Ghost Town

Ben Labat and Happy Devil

Ernie Vincent

Waylon Thibodeaux

Louisiana LeRoux

Zebra

Sunday, Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

St. Lucy’s Choir

Joe & David Stark’s Kidz Rock Jam Camp

Southern Cross

Danny Alexander Blues Band

Susan Cowsill

BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet

Galactic

VOW All-Stars with Tab Benoit, Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Johnny Sansone, Waylon Thibodeaux, Corey D., Johnny Vidacovich