A view from the Big Wheel of La Fete de Marquette, Saturday July 13, 2013.

La Fete de Marquette benefited from glorious weather this weekend with sunny skies and highs in the 80s. The sun splashed French music and culture festival to benefit Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center overcame the slightly uncomfortable temperatures at times to provide foot-stomping music both on the main stage and underneath the big tent.

One of the highlights so far has been the performances of Mama Digdown’s Brass Band which is celebrating 20 years as a Madison stalwart. The New Orleans style brass band raised the big tent Saturday afternoon with a raucous performance. 

A old-style carnival photo booth was operated by Marquette neighbors to raise money to fund repairs to the roof of Plan B Nightclub.

Christopher “Roc” Ohly (Saxaphone) and Erik Jacobsen (Susaphone) are both founding members of Mama Dig Down’s and the last of the originals.

Both Ohly and Jacobsen are co-leaders of the band which Ohly said started by crashing Art Fair on the Square (which is also underway this weekend) and has grown in stature ever since.

“The music is infectious, you play that…from young and old people dance,” Ohly said in an interview with Willy Street Blog following the performance.

La Fete wraps up today with World Music on tap which began with Acoustic Cafe Breakfast featuring Le Vent du Nord a popular progressive folk band from Quebec.

Mama Dig Down’s Brass Band

The Cajun Strangers

Flying Over La Fete