COUNTRY ROUNDUP : Acadiana Brings Bayou Sounds to Harbor Setting in Oxnard : The group, which blends Cajun, zydeco and country elements, provides its own dance instructors at gigs.

Ever since Hank Williams Sr. reworked the traditional melody of “Grand Texas” and gave us “Jambalaya,” country fans have embraced Cajun-style music.

But fans of this infectious Louisiana dance music don’t have to travel to the bayou for those accordion and fiddle licks. Just check out Acadiana, Oxnard’s Cajun/zydeco/country band. The group plays on the last Thursday of each month at the Lobster Trap in Channel Islands Harbor, and will perform April 22 at the harbor’s Food and Wine Festival.

In the 18 months since accordionist Terry Tintorri recruited fellow realtors to start the band, he’s expanded the repertoire to include zydeco and country tunes. And the band now includes hot fiddler Phil Salazar, driving force of the Acousticats.

The term Cajun derives from the French-speaking Acadians of Nova Scotia, who came down the Mississippi River to Louisiana more than 200 years ago seeking safe haven from the British. They brought their fiddles and repetitive dance music.

“The second musical import to Louisiana was the call-and-response tradition of Africa and the Caribbean that mixes various beats and rhythms like the blues,” Tintorri said. “Creoles would pick up a fiddle and combine a French tune into a music form now called zydeco.”

The fiddle and accordion make it Cajun. Tintorri said the presence in his band of rub-board player Pat (Knuckles) Patterson is an indulgence--they like the way the board looks. Acadiana’s other players include Michael Irwin (bass), Denise York (guitar) and John Koutzoukis (drums).

What makes Acadiana different is the mix of Cajun, zydeco and country elements in each set. “This Cajun music form is not traditionally known for its melodic singing--it’s more of folk yelling,” Tintorri said.

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Koutzoukis produces those Cajun yells while blues singer Irwin and country vocalist York reinterpret the traditional Cajun melodies. The band performs about five of York’s original country songs.

Important components of Acadiana are dance instructors Jimmy Harvey and Carrie Eller. They teach the Cajun waltz, which is faster than the country version, and the Cajun two-step, an-easy-to-learn swing with lots of up-and-down arm movements instead of difficult footwork.

“Danceability is the key,” Tintorri said. “The Cajun’s have always prided themselves on the dance music. And if there’s no dancers, they say they don’t want to play.”

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Congratulations to East Whittier resident Gari Ann Wylde, who won last week’s Borderline Amateur Country Singer’s Talent Contest finals with a smoky interpretation of Patsy Cline’s, “Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray.”

Vince Gill-look-alike Jerry Carr took second place with “Be My Baby Tonight.” Third place went to former Borderline dance instructor Mark Sellers, who had all the rock-a-billy moves.

Seven finalists were backed by the hot “Thunder Road” band, a solid group of studio musicians led by singer-keyboardist Larry David. The band also performed some hot country, jazz and R&B; tunes.

Fashion kudos go to tuxedo-clad emcee Bob Allen, a KTND radio DJ, whose two-tone boots matched his cummerbund.

* Robyn Loewenthal, an avid two-stepper, welcomes all news of country doin’s around the county. All submissions should arrive at least two weeks before the event. Write to her at 5200 Valentine Road, Suite 140, Ventura 93003, or send faxes to 658-5576.

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Details

* WHAT: Food and Wine Festival.

* WHO: Acadiana.

* WHEN: 8-11 p.m., April 22.

* WHERE: Harbor Landing, Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard.

* HOW MUCH: $6 per day; seniors and military with I.D., $4; children age 14 and under, free.

* CALL: 985-4852.