Downtown Mobile’s Dauphin Street BeerFest draws a steady stream of beer enthusiasts each year, sampling their way through an extensive lineup of brews before calling it an early night. This year, though, vocalist Symone French and her backing band, the Trouille Troupe, are giving festival-goers a reason to keep the celebration going well past last call.
French and the Trouille Troupe will take the stage at Dauphin Street Blues Company, located at 568 Dauphin St. in downtown Mobile, on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 9 p.m. The show is being billed as the unofficial after-party for BeerFest attendees looking to extend their night out with live music in the heart of downtown. Those interested in more details can call the venue at 251-725-6429.
French has built a devoted local following over the years, and it showed when she was voted “Best Area Singer/Voice” by readers in this year’s local awards. Her reputation was cemented during her run as the voice of the now-defunct band Infant Richard & the Delta Stones, a group that helped establish her as one of the region’s premier vocal talents.
After that group disbanded, French didn’t slow down. She has continued performing as a solo artist while also sitting in with other established local acts, including Sergio & the Satin Dogs and Jamell Richardson, keeping her name and her voice active across Mobile’s live music scene.
For this show, French is joined by a lineup of seasoned local musicians: Christian Heiden on bass, Justin Skinner on drums, Frankie Crawford on lead guitar and Trey Norman on rhythm guitar. Together, the group has developed a sound that draws comparisons to soul and jazz icons Mary J. Blige and Nina Simone, blending soul, jazz and funk influences into a style that has left audiences hoping for a full studio album.
Saturday’s performance offers Mobile music fans a chance to catch one of the area’s top vocal talents backed by an experienced band, capping off a day of downtown festivities with a night of live soul, funk and jazz.