Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots

Join us for a free show featuring Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots!

Led by Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes, Sunpie and the Louisiana Sunspots deliver a powerful blend of zydeco, blues, gospel, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms rooted deeply in Louisiana tradition. Anchored by Barnes' commanding vocals and multi-instrumental versatility, the band's sound reflects a lifetime of musical and cultural exchange — what he describes as a true "musical gumbo."

A longtime fixture of the New Orleans cultural landscape, Barnes is not only a musician but also a National Park Service ranger and cultural educator, bringing deep knowledge of Afro-Louisiana history and tradition into his performances. A master of accordion and harmonica, he studied with zydeco pioneers including John Delafose, grounding his sound in the living lineage of Louisiana roots music.

His career spans decades of appearances at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and international touring across more than 50 countries, including a run as a member of the Paul Simon band on the 58-city arena tour Paul Simon and Sting: On Stage Together.