Pro-Art Presents Terrance Simien And The Zydeco Experience At UVA Wise
Two-time Grammy award winner Terrance Simien has been shattering the myths about Indigenous zydeco roots music for over 40 years, redefining the genre with historic albums and performances. This 8th-generation Louisiana Creole is the real deal, with a massively entertaining live show that incorporates all that is great about Louisiana’s diverse musical heritage. Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience create a hypnotic blend of genre, from New Orleans funk and reggae, to world, blues, roots, and zydeco that beckons listeners to their feet and into the groove.
Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience will play the Lawn by the Lake at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA Wise) on Thursday, October 29th at 7 p.m. in conjunction with Pro-Art’s 50th season and the W. Campbell Edmonds Concert Series. The performance is free and open to all. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will move indoors to Cantrell Hall at UVA Wise. For more information and to make reservations, please visit proartva.org.
Leading his Zydeco Experience band, Terrance Simien has become one of the most respected and accomplished artists in American roots music today. “Simien is a zydeco master,” proclaims Rolling Stone, “His voice yearning like Sam Cooke, he delivers soul worthy of Stax greats and shows crossover class.”
Terrance and his bandmates (Danny Williams on keyboards and vocals; Stan Chambers on bass and vocals; Ian Molinaro-Thompson on drums; Noah Boshra on saxophone; and Robbie Wallace on trombone) have shared studio and stage with Robert Palmer, Stevie Wonder, Los Lobos, Taj Mahal, Dr. John, The Meters, Alan Toussaint, Paul Simon and Dave Matthews Band, among others.
Simien's family is documented in history books as one of the first Creole families to settle St. Landry Parish. His musical roots are firmly planted alongside the great zydeco pioneers like Chenier, Delafose, Chavis, Ardoin and that other Simien, Rockin Sidney. He counts himself one of the fortunate few who hail from a generation with a direct link to these artists, some of whom mentored him as an emerging talent.
This performance is brought to you in conjunction with Pro-Art’s 50th season and The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. The program is made possible in part by a grant from Virginia Humanities at UVA Wise. The concert is additionally supported in part by the Town of Wise.
Pro-Art is celebrating a remarkable milestone: 50 years of bringing arts experiences to the communities of Southwest Virginia. To mark its golden anniversary, Pro-Art is making an unprecedented commitment to accessibility—every performance in its 50th season is free to all! From internationally recognized artists and acclaimed theater companies to Appalachian musicians and beloved regional traditions, Pro-Art’s 2026–2027 season brings together an extraordinary range of music, theater, dance, and cultural programming. Pro-Art’s 50th season runs through summer 2027, with performances taking place in community spaces and venues across Wise, Lee, and Dickenson Counties and the City of Norton. Explore the season and make reservations to attend by visiting proartva.org.
Pro-Art partners with a variety of venues, for accessibility inquiries or general questions, call (276) 376-4520 or email contact@proartva.org. For weather related updates, patrons are encouraged to check proartva.org for real-time information.
Pro-Art is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts, which receives support from the Virginia General Assembly. Pro-Art is additionally supported in part by the C. Bascom Slemp Foundation, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Smith Vicars Family Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.