Cajun Spotlight 

Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest 
 May 2000 

MEMORIAL DAY

  1. The Wheatland Traditional Arts Weekend is May 26-28 at the Wheatland Festival Grounds in Remus, Michigan. We haven't seen the compete line-up yet,but do know that The Bone Tones and Café Accordion Orchestra will be there.For more information call (517) 967-8879.
  2. The Third Annual Taste Louisiana Festival is May 27-29 in Amana, Iowa.Guests include T. Mamou, The Treater Band, Curtis Coubello and Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas. In the silver-lining department: the band contest scheduled for the festival has been canceled; to fill up that time slot popularfiddler-vocalist Hadley Castille and his group perform all weekend. For more information call 1-888-594-3093.

CAJUN MUSICIANS IN MADISON AREA

Sybil and Tally Miller, Cajun musicians from Sulphur, Louisiana, will play traditional Cajun dance music in the Madison, Wisconsin area in May. On Wednesday, May 10 they lead a Cajun jam at Nora's Two Restaurant (10 miles east of Madison on Highway 12/18). It starts at 7:00 pm; musicians sign in at the door and there's room to dance. On Saturday, May 13 they play for a Cajun Dinner & Dance also at Nora's Two. The dinner is at 6:30 pm. the dance startsat 8 pm. For more information call (608) 764-5264 or email gilsmith@chorus.net
 

CAJUN HOT SOLES IN MANKATO, MINNESOTA

The Bothy Folk Club presents a Cajun dance featuring The Cajun Hot Soles in Mankato, Minnesota on Saturday, May 6. It will be at the Eagle's Club at 708 North Riverfront Drive. There will be a lesson at 7:30 pm; the dancestarts at 8 pm.
 

CAJUN/ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS

Maurine McCort's popular zydeco dance lessons conclude for the season in May. Classes are held Saturdays from 4:30 - 6 pm at the Oddfellows Lodge at2382 Hampden in Saint Paul. Cost of each series is $25 - $35. For more information and to confirm dates call Maurine at (651) 488-6269.

Zydeco III *
Rocking the Rhythm: April 29, May 13, 20

FESTIVAL PREVIEWS: THE LOUISIANA CONNECTION

It seems that more and more of the traditional, folk and blues festivals in the Upper Midwest are featuring Cajun and zydeco music by great bands from Louisiana. Here are examples from events you might like to check out this :
  1. The Fifth Annual Blues on the Range Festival is June 9-11 in Chisholm, Minnesota. Appearing will be C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band, Rose Ledet and Terrence Simien. For more information call (715) 394-6831 or check bayfrontblues.com.
  2. The 16th Annual Mississippi Valley Blues Festival is June 30-July 2 in Davenport, Iowa. Playing there on Sunday the 2nd will be Boozoo Chavis. More information about this great event is on the Web at http://www.mvbs.org/fest.htm
  3. The Two Harbors Folk Festival is July 15 and 16th in Two Harbors, Minnesota. The Magnolia Sisters with Ann Savoy and Ann Vidrine will be there on Saturday, the 15th. You don't have to travel up north to hear them, though next night they play for a dance in Minneapolis at Tapestry Folkdance Center. We haven't found a contact number for the Two Harbors festival yet.
  4. The Bayfront Blues Festival is August 11-13 in Duluth-Superior. Rosie, who appears in the Twin Cities on Sunday, August 13th, will probably be up there earlier in the weekend. For more information call (715) 394-6831 check out http://www.bayfrontblues.com.

WALKER CAJUNFEST DATES CHANGED

The dates of the CajunFest at Moondance Ranch Walker, Minnesota have been changed from those announced previously. It will be August 11-13. This is the same weekend as the Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth-Superior. Performers scheduled this year include Filé, Chubby Carrier, Rockin' Dopsie, the Treater Band, Curtis Coubello and T. Mamou.

More information about the festival is available at http://www.walkercajunfest.com/
 
 

HALF TIME REC DANCE SCHEDULE

Cajun and/or zydeco dances are held at the Half Time Rec at 1013 Front in Saint Paul almost every Sunday night. Here's the May schedule:
  • May 07 - The Swamp Sextet
  • May 14 - from Louisiana: Donna Angelle
  • May 21 - The Bone Tones
  • May 28 - The Buffalo Gals

DANCES AT THE CEDAR

Two dances featuring Louisiana music at the Cedar Cultural Centre in May. Saturday the 20th JJ's Zydeco Paydirt will get the crowd out on the dance floor, and on Thursday the 25th you can start the holiday weekend a little early with The Swamp Sextet.
 

FROM THE MINNESOTA CAJUN AND ZYDECO MUSIC AND DANCE ASSOCIATION

The Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association (the Krewe deWalleye) presents two dances by Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse the weekend of May 13 and 14. Donna started her professional musical career right out of high school, playing keyboards first and later bass (including playing bass for Barbara Lynne and Archie Bell). Her third album was released last year and features Donna on accordion doing both zydeco-flavored R & B and traditional zydeco tunes. She will appear at the Everett McClay VFW Post on Saturday, May 13. The hall is located at 2731 East 78th Street in Bloomington, Minnesota. Tickets are just $10. There will be a zydeco dance lesson at 7:30 pm; the dance begins at 8:30 pm. Donna will also be at the Half Time Rec at 1013 Front Avenue in St. Paul on Sunday, May 14. The dance begins at 8 pm.
The last Cajun/Zydeco Jam and Dance for the season is Wednesday, May 24 at Tapestry Folkdance Center. It will run from 7 to 10 pm; a $3 donation to cover the cost of the space is requested. Tapestry is located at 3748 Minnehaha Avenue South in Minneapolis. For information about the jam call John at (612) 339-3615.
Farther down the road: The Magnolia Sisters (featuring Ann Savoy and Jane ) on Sunday, July 16 and Rosie Ledet (The Zydeco Sweetheart) on Sunday, August 13. Details in upcoming issues, but mark your calendars now.
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • May 06 - The Cajun Hot Soles : BOTHY FOLK CLUB, MANKATO, MN (8:00 PM)
  • May 07 - The Swamp Sextet : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • May 10 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • May 10 - Cajun Jam w/ Sybil & Tally Miller (from Louisiana) : NORA'S TWO, MADISON, WI AREA
  • May 13 - Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse : EVERETT MCCLAY VFW, BLOOMINGTON,
  • May 13 - Cajun Dinner/Dance w/ Sybil & Tally Miller (from Louisiana) : NORA'S TWO, MADISON, WI
  • May 14 - Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • May 19 - The Buffalo Gals : DULONO'S PIZZA, MINNEAPOLIS
  • May 20 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • May 20 - CONGRATULATIONS BETTY & BOB! : EVERETT MCCLAY VFW, BLOOMINGTON, MN
  • May 21 - The Bone Tones : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • May 24 - Cajun/Zydeco Jam (with room to dance) : TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER
  • May 25 - The Swamp Sextet : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • May 26-28 - Bone Tones, Café Accordion Orchestra, more : WHEATLAND FESTIVAL, REMUS, MI
  • May 27-29 - Bob Reed, T. Mamou, others : TASTE LOUISIANA FESTIVAL. AMANA, IA
  • May 28 - The Buffalo Gals : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • June 03 - The Cajun Hot Soles : MBOTMA HOMEGROWN FESTIVAL, ZIMMERMAN, MN(4:30 PM, 8 PM)
  • June 04 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : MJM HAIR, GRAND OLE DAYS, ST. PAUL (1-4 PM)
  • June 04 - The Swamp Sextet : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • June 09,10 - Gumbo Ya Ya Festival w/ Cajun Hot Soles, Nathan Williams, others: ROCK ISLAND, IL
  • June 09 - C. J. Chenier : BLUES ON THE RANGE, CHISHOLM, MN
  • June 10 - TENTATIVE: Krewe de Walleye CD Dance Party/Potluck : ODDFELLOWS , ST. PAUL
  • June 10 - Rosie Ledet : CAJUN FEST 2000, WEST ALLIS, WI
  • June 11 - Rosie Ledet, Terrance Simien : BLUES ON THE RANGE, CHISHOLM, MN
  • June 11 - The Cajun Hot Soles : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • June 14 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • June 17 - The Cajun Hot Soles : RENDEZVOUS BALLROOM, MINNEAPOLIS
  • June 18 - New Riverside Ramblers : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • June 25 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • July 06 - Cajun Hot Soles : ST. PAUL SAINTS PREGAME SHOW, ST. PAUL (5:30 PM)
  • July 16 - The Magnolia Sisters : TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • August 13 - Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys : TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • August 24-27 - New Riverside Ramblers : BAZAAR STAGE, MINNESOTA STATE FAIR


NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.
 

MUSIC QUIZ

Awake! for Morning in the Bowl of Night
Has flung the Stone that puts the Stars to Flight:
And Lo! the Hunter of the East has caught
The Sultan's Turret in a Noose of Light
The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám

Can you match the song with the performer?
 

01) ANGEL OF THE MORNING  a) Gordon Lightfoot
02) ONE TOO MANY MORNINGS b) Charley Pride
03) MORNING HAS BROKEN c) Merilee Rush
04) KISS AN ANGEL GOOD MORNING d) Simon & Garfunkel
05) EARLY MORNING RAIN e) Cat Stevens
06) SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN f) Joni Mitchell
07) CHELSEA MORNING g) Bob Dylan
08) SUNDAY MORNING h) Grateful Dead
09) WEDNESDAY MORNING 3 AM  i) Velvet Underground
10) MORNING DEW j) Kris Kristofferson

 

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NOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT is an independent newsletter about Cajun, zydeco and other traditional music & dance events and news in the upper Midwest and beyond. A one year subscription is $8.00. Email Notessteps@aol.com or NOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT, John Tallaksen, 2425 East Franklin, #211 Minneapolis, MN 55406.