Downtown Lafayette has come a long way in the last quarter century to have the thriving nightlife and art scene it does today. The Friday night free concert series “Downtown Alive!” (DTA!) was instrumental in its revitalization, attracting all-age crowds back into the central business district after the 5 o’ clock exodus of the worker population. This 15-track disc commemorates DTA!’s 25th anniversary season by featuring Lafayette-area artists who’ve graced its stage since its 1983 inception. As the recording of live performances wasn’t within the means and time schedule of the non-profit Downtown Alive!, every selection comes from a previously released recording, many of which were recommended by the contributing artist.

While Lafayette’s most famous musical exports, Cajun and zydeco, are well represented here (Steve Riley, Les Freres Michot, Curley Taylor, Geno Delafose), the strength of this compilation lies in its diversity by presenting other genres. The Red Beans and Rice Revue kicks up a swampy jump blues boogie. C.C. Adcock practically conjures up the ghosts of Congo Square with his tribal rocker; Sonny Landreth starts “Broken Hearted Road” in a delta blues fashion before erupting into a full force gale. David Egan’s “Money’s Farm” sways to a rocked-up mambo and Lil’ Buck Sinegal shows that there are a few great classic bluesmen left. Even reggae and country rock appear in what might be Lafayette’s most comprehensive examination of its music scene yet.