He’s been called the ‘Jimi Hendrix of the accordion.’ Hear him jam in Port Royal

Port Royal has announced its fall Street Music lineup and it begins with high-energy Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, a Louisiana-based zydeco band that quickly gets people moving.

“Port Royal, South Carolina get ready,” the band said on Facebook, “we coming this Saturday.”

The show starts at 6 p.m. on Paris Avenue between 9th and 10th streets. No charge — but bring your dancing shoes and a chair. Port Royal Historic Foundation supplies food and beverages, including beer.

Three additional performers will follow in August and September.

Rolling Stone magazine once referred to band leader Dwayne Rubin, who goes by the stage name Dwayne Dopsie, as the “Jimi Hendrix of the Accordion.”

The Louisiana-based zydeco group, which features accordion and washboard in its instrumental mix, gets people dancing and has become a favorite in Port Royal.

Dopsie, a singer/songwriter and accordionist, is the youngest of eight children of legendary accordionist Alton Jay Rubin Sr., known as Rockin’ Dopsie.

Growing up in Lafayette, Louisiana, Dwayne Dopsie taught himself how to play accordion watching videos of his father and Clifton Chenier, another well-known performer of zydeco, which arose from Cajun and Creole music and has rhythm and blues, jazz and blues influences.

Dopsie debuted the band, which was nominated for a Grammy for best regional roots music album for “Top of the Mountain” in 2018, when he was 19 and has played all over the world.

“The Town of Port Royal is excited to bring the fall street music shows again this year,” Port Royal Mayor Joe DeVito said, “and looks forward to seeing everyone out on the street enjoying themselves.”

Next up

Aug: 20: Katie Henry, a New Jersey songwriter, singer and multi-instrumentalist who performs blues, rock, country, funk, pop and soul.

Sept. 3: Blues legend Lurrie Bell of Chicago.

Sept. 17: Backline, a modern bluegrass band from Upsate South Carolina with enough traditional flare to not offend a fan of traditional bluegrass.