Creole Fiddle Concert Supports Friends of the Mount Carroll Public Library

By LYNNETTE FORTH | For The Prairie Advocate News

MOUNT CARROLL – A free concert was held on Wednesday, February 6th at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mount Carroll, featuring French Creole Fiddle artist Dennis Stroughmatt. The event was made possible in part by the Illinois Humanities Council’s Road Scholars Speakers Bureau, a program that provides organizations state-wide with affordable, entertaining, and educational events for their communities, as well as Friends of the Library.

Stroughmatt is an acclaimed artist noted for preserving traditional music, and presented a unique program which included great information on the history of the French people. Stroughmatt is also a teacher of French classes at a Community College.

A large crowd showed up to support the Friends of the Mount Carroll Public Library, and were treated to refreshments and door prizes. Emily Bressler won the grand prize of a two day Mississippi River cruise on the Twilight Riverboat. Donations received will be used to help restore the library.

Originally from Illinois, Stroughmatt fell in love with the French music as a youngster, and has traveled all over the United States and Canada sharing his unique talents. He also has a band “Creole Stomp” that also travels the country with him much of the time (although not to Mount Carroll). The band is legendary on the Blues and Roots circuit for its marathon performances featuring a mix of swamp pop and traditional dance tunes.

Dennis and Creole Stomp have performed on many stages including the Illinois State Fair, the “Big Spring Jam” in Huntsville, Tennessee, and have been seen and heard on radio and television across the United States. The new CD “Enfin at Last” was nominated best album by a Cajun/Creole band based outside Louisiana by the Cajun French Music Association for 2003.

More information about Dennis Stroughmatt and his band can be found at www.creolestomp.com, or by calling the Mount Carroll Township Public Library at 815-244-9594. Sponsors for the event include: Illinois Humanities Council, Friends of the Mount Carroll Public Library, the Mount Carroll Banking Center, the Savanna-Thomson State Bank and THE National Bank.