Steve Riley and his band have quickly risen to the top of the Cajun music heap and are well-known on the festival and club circuit.
Hailing from Mamou, Louisiana, Steve Riley is a widely acknowledged master of the Cajun accordion and its singularly powerful sound. His playing is a standard by which timing, phrasing and ingenuity are measured on the royal instrument of South Louisiana. That, combined with his searing, emotional vocals, songwriting, soulful fiddling and onstage front man charisma have propelled him into the world music limelight.
ABOUT STEVE RILEY CAJUN TRIO
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Steve Riley, of Mamou Louisiana, is a widely acknowledged master of the Cajun accordion and its singularly powerful sound. His playing is a standard by which timing, phrasing and ingenuity are measured on the royal instrument of South Louisiana. That, combined with his searing, emotional vocals, songwriting, soulful fiddling and onstage front man charisma have propelled he and the Mamou Playboys into the world music limelight since the band’s inception.
By their third release, Trace of Time, they had earned a Grammy nomination in the worldwide field of traditional folk music, another in 2004 for Bon Reve, in 2009 for Live at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and again in 2011 for their release, Grand Isle. They have released 16 records total and 2026 year marks the 38th Anniversary for Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys!
Steve Riley is also a founding member of the Lil Band o’ Gold, High Performance, the Racines, and the Band Courtbouillon with whom he, Wayne Toups and Wilson Savoy won a Grammy award in 2013!
Steve has recorded and performed with the likes of The Rolling Stones (this collaboration won a Grammy award in 2026 for the Tribute to the King of Zydeco album honoring Clifton Chenier), Eric Clapton, Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, Willie Nelson and Paul Simon!
In addition to his busy performing schedule, in 2016 Steve formed the Steve Riley After School Music Program, a Cajun/Creole music instructional program for grade school and high school kids that takes place in several schools in the Acadiana area. Teaching kids, including his own children, and nurturing their love for music has been one of his greatest passions!
In 2017, Steve started Steve Riley Productions which has led to several shows highlighting Cajun and Creole music including, Cajun Accordion Kings, Cajun/Creole Fiddle Masters, Creole Accordion Kings, Cajun Christmas & South Louisiana Guitar Greats. In 2024 he produced the Bayou Boogie Festival in Connecticut, the only festival in the northeast featuring solely Cajun & Zydeco music. In 2026 he produced Bayou Boogie West in Berkeley CA.
For this tour, Steve will be joined by his son, Burke Riley on guitar and accordion. Although only 16 years old, Burke is a multi-instrumentalist like his dad and the current drummer in the Mamou Playboys for the past 4 years. He also has his own band C-4 (Cajun 4) which includes Luke Huval, who is the fiddler and vocalist in this power Cajun trio.
Luke fronts his own band, The Luke Huval Band, and has been actively involved in the Cajun music scene since he was a young child as well. Known for his excellent vocals, fiddling, and songwriting, he and Burke are 2 leaders of the new generation of Cajun musicians from south LA!