Hunter Courville & Cajun Fever

Emily Simon was born, in Southwest Louisiana, with an old soul and Cajun Music in her heart. She grew up around Cajun music and was inspired to play the drums at the age of four by her grandfather Joe Simon Sr, who was not only a drummer but a recorded Cajun artist, who played with various artist and had his own band. By the time Emily was 7, she played drums full time for her pawpaw’s band, Joe Simon and The Louisiana Cajuns for several of years. A self taught musician, learning to play by ear, Emily picked up the Cajun Accordion by the age of 9.
When she hit her teens  she was sitting in with notable Cajun musicians in the area.
In 2008, Emily received the New Dawn Award at Vermillion Ville from the CFMA Lake Charles Chapter. In 2013, she started her own band “Emily Simon & Keepin’ It Cajun” while still playing drums for Joe Simon. Emily has played with various bands, for festivals and events throughout Louisiana including CFMA Festivals, Aucoins Cajun Restraunt, D.I.’s Cajun Restaurant, Eunice Liberty Theater, and numerous dance halls, functions, and benefits. In 2017, Emily was invited by Zachary Richard to share her love of Cajun heritage in the making of LPB documentaries; Against the Tide: The Story of the Acadian People and ATTAKAPAS: The Cajun Story. In 2019, while drumming with the band Cher Mom’, Emily toured the Northern and Southern part of Nova Scotia, Canada and had a finale at The Congrès’ Mondial 2019; thus making Emily Simon an International Cajun Artist.  In 2021, Emily had the opportunity to expand into her music career, playing a variety of authentic high energy Cajun, Country, Zydeco, Swamp-Pop, Blues, and Rock N Roll music.
Now keeping the beat with Hunter Courville & Cajun Fever.

Jeff Tyler comes from Louisiana and has lived here his entire life. Some of his earliest memories are of him falling asleep to the music his mom would play at bedtime on a little phonograph in the bedroom he shared with his older brother; albums of American folk music, patriotic music, classical pieces, show tunes, a wide variety of styles, so music was inspiring his imagination from very early on as he drifted off to sleep. His family relocated to Lafayette when he was 10 and he started playing guitar at age 12. The exploding new rock and folk music of the late 60's captured his imagination and guided his direction with primary influences being the key figures of the era from the rock, folk, soul, country rock and pop genres, and the varied genres of South Louisiana music. Jeff's musical interests continued to expand and he followed his music to USL School of Music where he performed in a collection of shows with the IJSL Jazz Singers, and in various stage performances, and graduated in Music Theory and Composition in 1983. Jeff has performed with the jazz collective Regency, zydeco legends Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural and Major Handy, zydecajun artist Sean Vidrine, fiddler Jonno Frishberg, soul legends Percy Sledge and Ernie K-Doe, the R&B group Krossflrre, swamp-pop legend PatStrazza, the soulful Greg Martinez, country singer Valerie Andrus, Debbie and Dennis Theriot, country rock group Rodeo, trio Les Trois Cannailles, the bands Niteline, The Shakers, 2Blue and others. Jeff has recorded on projects with Stanley Dural, Debbie and Dennis Theriot, Sean Vidrine, 2Blue, and performed with, recorded and produced the late Bobby Joe Kubelka, of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame band Blac Dog.

Born in Chalmette, Louisiana, and the oldest of five siblings, Haas Cormier moved with her family to Crowley at the age of five to begin school, and she continues to call Crowley home today. Music has been at the center of her life from the very beginning. At just four years old, her mother discovered her playing on the piano the same songs they had been singing together in church.

Raised in a deeply musical household, Haas was surrounded by instruments—guitars, bass guitars, pianos, organs, accordions, fiddles, dulcimers, and more. Her mother sang harmony, her father played guitar, and family music-making was a natural part of everyday life. Haas often helped her mother by writing chords above the lyrics of favorite songs so they could play together. Inspired by her maternal grandfather, who played accordion at house dances near Kaplan, and nurtured by the Cajun songs her mother sang to her as a child, Haas developed a lifelong love for Cajun music and culture.

By the age of 10, Haas was performing three-part harmony in church with her two sisters. Together, they sang at local churches and nursing homes, bringing joy to their community. In middle school, she joined the chorus and continued through high school, where her dedication to music earned her a scholarship to LSU in Baton Rouge. Her first experience playing in a band came in 1989 when she joined Horace Thibodeaux on bass guitar and recorded at Lanor Records in Church Point.

Over the years, Haas has built an impressive career performing with some of the most respected names in Cajun and regional music. Her collaborations include:

• Brett Denaïs and T Rouge

• Mark LeLeux, Curtis Breaux, Greg Mouton, and Seth Spell

• Leo Abshire & The Ole Timers Cajun Band

• Jay Cormier and Cajun Country

• Belton Richard and The Musical Aces

• Walter Mouton and The Scott Playboys

• Bubba Hebert and The New Morse Playboys

• Wallace Trahan and Rice and Gravy (currently on piano)

• Troy LeJeune and Cajun Revue (12 years)

• Kyle LeBlanc and Cajun Freeze

• Guest appearances with Don Fontenot and Bernie Allen

In May 2025, Haas joined Hunter Courville & Cajun Fever as their bass player, showcasing her versatility as both a bassist and harmonists.

Her career has taken her to some of the most celebrated festivals and venues in Louisiana and beyond, including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival, Tipitina’s, Mulate’s (New Orleans and Breaux Bridge), Boutin’s in Baton Rouge, Pont Breaux’s in Breaux Bridge, Liberty Theater in Eunice, Cajun Heartland State Fair, Fred’s Lounge in Mamou, La Poussière in Breaux Bridge, Vermilionville, multiple Cajun French Music Association events in Louisiana and Texas, and the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance in Trumansburg, New York with Walter Mouton. 

Though Haas has never sought awards, her greatest reward is preserving and sharing the traditions of Cajun music. Every performance is a celebration of her heritage, her family’s influence, and her passion for keeping Louisiana’s musical culture alive for generations to come.

Edwin (RED) Berard
FOH Sound Engineer | Owner, Red Sound Productions | 45 Years of Experience

My journey in the music industry began in high school in the 1970s, reminiscent of the times captured in the song “Summer of ’69.” It all started in the back room of a small local bar called The Place, where I first encountered the world of live music. A local band called Blac Dog was rehearsing there, and as I watched, I knew I wanted to be more involved. I began learning lighting from my friend Chris Prejean (aka Smyle), but soon found my true passion for sound engineering at the FOH (Front of House), where I learned the craft from Moe (Robert Macleod).

My first full-time gig as an engineer came with the formation of a new band called Current. We had minimal equipment, but we had drive, and it was during this time that I built my first PA system. Though the band eventually dissolved, this early experience introduced me to many local artists and deepened my understanding of the technical side of sound. I continued to educate myself through seminars and hands-on work, eventually landing more opportunities with local bands.

In the early 90s, after returning from a personal move to San Antonio, Texas, I founded Red Sound Productions and started taking on independent gigs. From local festivals to church fairs, my business grew, and so did my passion for working with diverse genres and artists. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work with many talented musicians, including Grammy winners and Louisiana Music Hall of Fame members.

Some of the artists and bands I’ve worked with include Al Berard and the Berard Family Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Chubby Carrier, Sweet Cecilia, Bonsoir Catin, Pine Leaf Boys, Dick Dale, Rowdy Romero and the Hubcity Allstars, Feufollet, Horace Trahan, and Kevin Naquin. I’ve also had the pleasure of working with many local rock bands like Blac Dog, Yakabo, JRJ Rock, The Pedestrians, Hyjinx, and Paragon.

Today, I am excited to be working with Hunter Courville and Cajun Fever. I first met Hunter years ago when his father introduced him to me at a gig, and now we are embarking on a new musical journey together.

After 45 years in the music business, I am grateful for the friendships, experiences, and opportunities that have shaped my career. Music has been my life, and I’m excited for what lies ahead.