Perhaps the French have more of a flair for drama. When our Founding Fathers declared independence they signed a piece of paper and made a few proclamations. The French ushered in the age of democracy by storming the Bastille and emptying Louis XVI's prison (July 14, 1789). At least that is what the French have officially embraced as their symbolic day of independence. The French Consulate in New Orleans is celebrating on Frenchmen Street this year by sponsoring a free concert with Bruce "Sunpie" Barnes playing zydeco, French-Creole and Caribbean music, plus jazz by Raphael Bas and Pierre Pichon of Vavavoom. Free Admission. -- Will Coviello

8 p.m. Fri., July 14

RayÕs Boom Boom Room, 508 Frenchmen St., 523-5394