Bringing the Spirit of Louisiana to Green Lake

RIPON, Wis (WRPN)-Thrasher Opera House is proud to present an evening of infectious, accordion-driven dance music with Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.

A Dedication to the Roots

Bandleader Nathan Williams’ journey began in St. Martinville, Louisiana. As a boy, he was so desperate to hear his idol, Clifton Chenier, that he stood by a club’s exhaust fan to listen—nearly losing his cap to the blades. After recovering from a serious illness, Nathan dedicated his life to the accordion. Today, his career spans seven albums and twenty years of bringing Louisiana’s soul to the world.

A Family Tradition

The Cha Chas are a remarkable family ensemble featuring Nathan’s brother, Dennis Paul Williams, a jazz-influenced guitarist and celebrated painter; his brother-in-law Clarence Calais on the rubboard; and the exceptional rhythm section of Junius J. Antoine (bass) and Djuan Ryan Francis (drums).

Zydeco is the “fast and furious” music of the Creole people of South Louisiana. Defined by its trademark rubboard percussion and electric guitars, it is a modern, R&B-influenced evolution of traditional sounds. While Zydeco gained national fame in the 1980s via mainstream commercials for Toyota and Burger King, the genre’s heart remains in the rural dance halls of the South.

EVENT INFORMATION

TICKETS: $30 | Purchase at www.thrasheroperahouse.com or call 920-294-4279.

WHAT: Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas

WHEN: Friday, February 6, 2026 | TIME: 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: Thrasher Opera House, 506 Mill St., Green Lake, WI