Terrance Simien and his Grammy-winning Zydeco Experience band are at the top of the class of younger-generation Creole musicians who embraced indigenous zydeco music and at the same time blasted the form into the future.

I've probably seen the act five times over the years at various festivals. One incredibly memorable night was at the Hygienic Art Park several years ago when the group faced a full house of eager-but-not-sure-what-they-were-in-for faces — Simien and the ZE blew the place apart.

Expect a similar performance tonight when Simien and the Zydeco Experience hit New London's Waterfront Park for the latest in the Downtown Live! free concert series.

Worth knowing: Simien is a kind, wonderful ambassador for the music and culture (his Creole for Kidz program, for example), but one of the greatest things he's done is successfully lead the charge for the state of Louisiana to adapt the late Allen Toussaint's "Southern Nights" as the state song.

Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, 6-10 tonight, State Pier, New London Waterfront Park; with the Balkan Brothers and Gadzjo; free; Facebook.com/NewLondonMusicFestivals.