The forty-second Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival has introduced the addition of an interactive workshop entitled “Beginning Cajun Guitar,” by way of Breaux Bridge-based guitarist and songwriter Yvette Landry with a boost from fiddler Beau Thomas. The workshop will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 within the N-Club Room of Prather Coliseum at the campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. Guitarists of all levels are encouraged to bring their instruments. Admission to the workshop is integrated with paid admission to the competition. The forty-second Annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival will be held, 9 a.m.-10 p.m., on Saturday, July 23 in Prather Coliseum at 220 South Jefferson Street at the NSU campus. Admission is $10 for the day, $6 after 5 p.m., and free for kids ages 12 and below.

The workshop “Beginning Cajun Guitar” will focus on enjoying rhythm guitar in conventional Cajun songs with the usage of both open and closed guitar chords. Several conventional Cajun songs will be used as examples. The workshop will also include methods to incorporate “bass runs” when converting from chord to chord changes as a way to incorporate bass and rhythm when playing as a part of a conventional Cajun ensemble.

“Sharing music is like sharing sunshine,” Landry stated. “Even on the darkest days, it can bring joy. So come help spread a little Cajun sunshine!”