Doors at 7:00pm ~ Dance Lesson at 7:30pm ~ Show at 8:00pm

Along with singer and fiddler Catherine Matovich (whose day job is playing with symphony orchestras), the Bon Vivants are Lake Charles, Louisiana, native and East Bay great Andrew Carriere on accordion, bassist Elaine Herrick, drummer Timothy Orr and guitarist Jim Scott.

Over the last few years they've appeared frequently on the festival and outdoor event circuit – from downtown Oakland to the Solano Stroll, the Kaiser Rooftop concert series to Bay cruises – and at many a Bay Area dance hall.

The group was born when Matovich got home after playing in Neil Diamond's touring band and stumbled onto a concert featuring a high energy cajun/zydeco fiddler.

“I loved working big shows, but feeling that energy made me want to be in a group like that - that had so much fun playing together.”

The Bon Vivants came together to play a benefit concert in 2004, “and we've been busy ever since,” Matovich says.

Nobody could agree on a group name, so eventually they were dubbed the Cajun Babes (after the Dixie Chicks), and through democratic process came up with the current group moniker, although there is no CZ. Just high-energy Cajun and zydeco music!