BRISTOW, Okla. — The Freeland Center for the Performing Arts in Bristow, Oklahoma, is set to welcome GRAMMY-Award-winning zydeco musician Terrance Simien and his touring group, Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience, in a live performance on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
The booking brings an internationally recognised act to a regional venue, reflecting a wider push by performing arts organisations to strengthen their cultural programmes and broaden audience reach through distinctive live entertainment.
Simien is widely regarded as one of the leading contemporary ambassadors of zydeco, a genre rooted in Louisiana’s Creole communities and known for its lively rhythms and dance-driven sound. His music blends traditional Creole influences with blues, rhythm and blues, roots, and modern elements, helping to introduce the style to audiences far beyond its origins.
Over his career, Simien and his band have performed more than 8,500 concerts across more than 45 countries, building a global reputation for high-energy live shows and consistent touring output. That international track record has positioned Simien as one of the most visible figures in the genre, supporting its continued commercial relevance and cultural visibility.
His work has also featured prominently across film and television, demonstrating zydeco’s crossover appeal within mainstream entertainment. Simien appears on the soundtrack of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog, which showcases authentic Louisiana music scored by composer Randy Newman. He has also contributed to films including The Big Easy, Exit to Eden, and A Murder of Crows.
Beyond his own catalogue, Simien’s credibility has been reinforced through collaborations and shared performances with major artists across American popular music. Throughout his career, he has shared the stage and studio with Paul Simon, Dr. John, The Meters, Marcia Ball, Dave Matthews, Stevie Wonder, Robert Palmer, and Los Lobos, highlighting the genre’s connections to wider traditions in blues and roots music.
Organisers are also drawing attention to Simien’s work beyond touring, particularly his long-standing commitment to music education and cultural preservation. Alongside his wife and business partner, Cynthia, he has developed education-focused initiatives that combine live performance with storytelling and history.
Together, they created Creole for Kidz & The History of Zydeco, an educational performing arts programme that has reached nearly 500,000 students, teachers, and families across more than 20 states and internationally since 2001. The scale of the initiative underlines the role that touring musicians and independent cultural organisations can play in supplementing formal arts education, particularly in regions where funding pressures have reduced access to specialist programmes.
The couple are also founders of MusicMatters, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring young artists and advocating for music education, positioning their work at the intersection of community engagement, talent development, and cultural heritage.
The event will include a tribute to George Krumme, a Bristow High School graduate and philanthropist who was elected into the Tulsa Historical Society in 2014. Krumme was a longtime president of All Souls Unitarian Church and served as Democratic National Committeeman from Oklahoma for 20 years. He died at the age of 101 in July 2024.
Freeland Center president Chip Cooper said Krumme played a defining role in supporting the organisation and its long-term sustainability.
“Not only was George instrumental in the initial fundraising and endowment of the Freeland Center, he was an inspiration to all of Bristow,” said Chip Cooper, Freeland Center president.
For the Freeland Center, the concert represents a blend of commercial entertainment and community recognition, using a major touring act to drive ticket demand while highlighting the individuals who helped establish the venue’s foundations. Such programming can support local economic activity through visitor spending and strengthen relationships with donors and community stakeholders, particularly in smaller markets where arts venues often rely on broad civic support.
Organisers are promoting the performance as an intimate evening of live music and dance, built around the upbeat energy of zydeco and the band’s signature showmanship. Tickets are available at etix.com or by contacting the box office at 918-637-3540, with further information available at thefreelandcenter.com.
