Another reason why I love this town: The Richmond Folk Festival. When my wife and I arrived in downtown Richmond last night, an infectiously fun Dominican merengue band was playing, and I wondered how the final act could possibly top it. I need not have worried — the final act was Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers, a New Orleans legend. Accordionist Dwayne Dopsie is one of the great live musical performers in the United States. For Dopsie, playing the accordion is a physical workout. By the end of the show, he was drenched, literally wringing sweat from his shirt. He and washboard player Paul LaFleur descended from the state into the audience to play the final song and engage in some foot-stomping fun. The Folk Festival is a fantastic event and every Richmonder should support it.
