Cajun Spotlight 

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


Please note that we have a new address:

CAJUN SPOTLIGHT/NOTES AND STEPS
P. O. Box 582192
Minneapolis, MN 55458-2192
Thanks for your continued support and kind words. See you on the dance floor...
 

SAWDUST DAYS IN OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN

Sawdust Days is an annual event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin celebrating the logging heritage of that part of Wisconsin. A variety of music is featured each year. This year you can see the New Riverside Ramblers and the Swamp Sextet on July 1 and 2 and ZoloGo on July 3 and 4.
 

METRO AREA JULY EVENTS

  1. The Cajun Hot Soles appear outside Midway Stadium in Saint Paul on Thursday, July 6 as part of the Saint Paul Saints pregame festivities. Music starts at 5:30 pm; that night is Duct Tape Night at the stadium. The Hot Soles are also at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, July 23 and at the Rendezvous Ballroom on Saturday, July 29.
  2. In addition to their appearance at Sawdust days in Oshkosh, the Swamp Sextet are at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, July 30. They also play as part of the New French Café's Bastille Day Party in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday, July 9.
  3. JJ's Zydeco Paydirt play for your listening and dancing pleasure at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, July 9. They will also be at the amphitheater at Lake Phalen on Thursday, July 27 from 7 to 8:30 pm.


NATIONAL ACTS ON THE HORIZON

...Buckweat Zydeco at First Avenue in Minneapolis on Wednesday, July 5..... Beausoleil returns to the Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield, Wisconsin on Saturday, August 5. A temporary replacement tent has been found following a fire which destroyed much of the original "big top" tent.
 

SUMMER FESTIVALS

  1. The Two Harbors Folk Festival is July 15 and 16 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 the next night they play for a dance in Minneapolis at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul (it has been moved from Tapestry Folkdance Center in Minneapolis). Other musicians appearing at the Two Harbors event include Dave Hull & Kari Larson, Willowgreen and Claudia Schmidt.
  2. The Bayfront Blues Festival is August 11-13 in Duluth-Superior. Zydeco highlight of this event is an appearance by Boozoo Chavis & the Majic Sounds on Saturday afternoon; other major acts include Sue Foley, Hubert Sumlin and Taj Mahal & the Phantom Blues Band. For more information call (715) 394-6831 or check out http://www.bayfrontblues.com.

FITZGERALD'S AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

Fitzgerald's is a great club in the Chicago suburb of Berwyn. Each year around the Fourth of July they have a festival of American music both traditional and modern. This year's lineup include Joe Ely, Marcia Ball, Blue Rodeo, the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, David Alvin, Alejandro Escovedo, C. J. Chenier, the Hackberry Ramblers, the Magnolia Sisters and more. The dates are June 30-July 4; for information call Fitzgerald's at (708) 788-2118.
 

WALKER CAJUNFEST DATES

The dates of the CajunFest at Moondance Ranch near Walker, Minnesota are August 11-13. The lineup includes include Filé, Chubby Carrier, Rockin' Dopsie, the Treater Band, Curtis Coubello and T. Mamou. More information about the festival is available at www.walkercajunfest.com/
 

HALF TIME REC DANCES

Dances are held most Sundays at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul. There will be no dance on July 2 because of the holiday weekend. Other Sundays will feature the following bands:
  • July 09 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt
  • July 16 - from Louisiana: The Magnolia Sisters
  • July 23 - Cajun Hot Soles
  • July 30 - The Swamp Sextet

LAGNIAPPE

Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys traveled to Australia and the Netherlands in the first half of the year. They are finishing mixing their new album. Called Happytown, it is slated for release in September. Another project that Steve Riley has been busy with is the band Lil' Band of Gold. Besides Steve, the group includes Warren Storm, C. C. Adcock, Richard Comeaux, David Egan, Dave Ranson, Dickie Landry, David Greeley and Pat Breaux. Shanachie Records has released the debut record by this swamp rock supergroup.
 

FROM THE MINNESOTA CAJUN AND ZYDECO MUSIC AND DANCE ASSOCIATION

On Sunday, July 16 the Krewe is proud to present the Magnolia Sisters: Ann Savoy, Jane Vidrine, Tina Pilione and Lisa Trahan Reed. The Magnolia Sisters have their feet firmly planted in traditional Louisiana music but are still able to reach out in innovative directions. PLEASE NOTE: This dance was originally scheduled at Tapestry Folkdance Center, but Tapestry is installing a new dance floor. The dance will be at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul; it starts at 8:00 pm.

In August the Krewe presents the first Twin Cities appearance by Rosie Ledet, "The Zydeco Sweetheart". This dance is still scheduled at Tapestry Folkdance Center in Minneapolis. The Krewe is working on an August 27 dance at the Half Time Rec with T-Mamou; this is still tentative as we go to press. More information in the next issue of CAJUN SPOTLIGHT.
 

MINNESOTA FOLK FESTIVAL

Mark your calendars now for the Minnesota Folk Festival. It's set for Saturday, September 16 at Mears Park in the Lowertown District of downtown Saint Paul. Performers scheduled at this free festival include Linda Breitag, Kathy & Leo Lara, Christine Lavin, Tom Robinson, Scoil na d`Tri, Ross Sutter and, playing for an evening Cajun dance, The New Riverside Ramblers. There will also be a songwriting contest, arts and crafts vendors, a silent auction and workshops. Volunteers to help out are being sought; for information call Janice at (612) 781-0450 or email jjaeger@tcinternet.net Contact NOTES & STEPS for information on the song writing contest or being a vendor. Minnesota Folk Festival is planning two festivals for next year, including the St. Paul Celtic Connection featuring Boys of the Lough in March.
 

NINE NIGHTS OF FAMILY FUN

The Minnesota History Center in Saint Paul again hosts a series of Tuesday night concerts on their outdoor terrace. The concerts feature traditional music from different cultures; a common thread running through the series this year is that there is an accordion in each group. Concerts are from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The schedule is as follows:
  • July 04 - Mark Stillman and Sima Shumelovsky
  • July 11 - Minnesota Scandinavian Ensemble
  • July 18 - Peter and Paul Wendinger Band
  • July 25 - Les Harkonen Band
  • August 01 - Hank Thunander Band
  • August 08 - Paddy O'Brien and Ross Sutter
  • August 15 - Kip Peltoniemi and Mary Seim
  • August 22 - Los Amigos
  • August 29 - The Swamp Sextet

UPCOMIMG CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • July 01,02 - New Riverside Ramblers, Swamp Sextet: SAWDUST DAYS, OSHKOSH, WI
  • July 02 - Boozoo Chavis : MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BLUES FESTIVAL, DAVENPORT, IA
  • July 02 - The Midway Ramblers : CONCERT IN THE PARK, SANDWICH, IL (7 PM)
  • July 03,04 - ZoloGo : SAWDUST DAYS, OSHKOSH, WI
  • July 04 - The Midway Ramblers : JULY 4TH FESTIVAL, RIVERSIDE, IL (10:15 AM)
  • July 05 - Buckwheat Zydeco : FIRST AVENUE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • July 06 - Cajun Hot Soles : ST. PAUL SAINTS PREGAME SHOW, ST. PAUL (5:30 PM)
  • July 06,07 - Lil' Brian & the Zydeco Travelers : CRAWDADDY BAYOU, BERWYN, IL
  • July 07-09 - The Midway Ramblers : BROOKFIELD ZOO, BROOKFIELD, IL (NOON-4 PM EACH DAY)
  • July 09 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • July 14 - Buckwheat Zydeco : NAVY PIER, CHICAGO, IL
  • July 14 - The Magnolia Sisters : NORTH SHORE MUSIC ASSOCIATION, GRAND MARAIS, MN
  • July 15 - The Magnolia Sisters : TWO HARBORS FOLK FESTIVAL, TWO HARBORS, MN
  • July 16 - The Magnolia Sisters : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • July 21 - The Midway Ramblers : BORDERS BOOKS, WHEATON, IL (8 PM)
  • July 22,23 - The Buffalo Gals : HIAWATHA FOLK FESTIVAL, MARQUETTE, MI
  • July 23 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys : SHEFFIELD GARDEN WALK, CHICAGO, IL
  • July 23 - The Cajun Hot Soles : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • July 25 - The Midway Ramblers : WILDER PARK, ELMHURST, IL (7 PM)
  • July 27 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : PHALEN LAKE AMPHITHEATER, ST. PAUL (7 PM)
  • July 29 - The Cajun Hot Soles : RENDEZVOUS BALLROOM, MINNEAPOLIS
  • July 29 - The Midway Ramblers : DUPAGE COUNTY FAIR, WHEATON. IL (6 PM)
  • July 30 - The Swamp Sextet : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 05 - BeauSoleil : BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA, BAYFIELD, WI
  • August 06 - The Cajun Hot Soles : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 10 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys : WATERFEST 2000, OSHKOSH, WI
  • August 11 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys : BELOIT COLLEGE, BELOIT, WI
  • August 11-13 - CajunFest : MOONDANCE RANCH (NEAR WALKER, MN)
  • August 12 - Chicago Cajun Aces : FOLKLORE VILLAGE FARM, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • August 12 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : NAVARRE, MN (VENUE UNKNOWN)
  • August 12 - Boozoo Chavis : BAYFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL, DULUTH, MN (AFTERNOON)
  • August 12 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys : ILLINOIS STATE FAIR, SPRINGFIELD, IL
  • August 12 - New Riverside Ramblers : MUSIC ON THE POND, NEW LONDON, MN
  • August 13 - Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys : TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • August 27 - T-Mamou : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (TENTATIVE)
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.
 

LOST

Our office has made the move to its new location and the staff is putting in some extra hours to get this issue out in a timely manner. Needless to say we have had a difficult time locating all of the schedules, press releases and supplies needed to finish the job. We know that nothing is really lost, but digging out the box that one particular item is in has been a challenge. We focus on "lost" in this month's quiz. Can you match the performer with the song?
 
 
01) LOST IN THE FIFTIES TONIGHT  a) Lucinda Williams
02) LOST HIGHWAY  b) The Kinks
03) LOST IN LOVE c) Ronnie Milsap
04) YOU'VE LOST THAT LOVING FEELING  d) Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen
05) LOST AND FOUND  e) Alice Cooper
06) MONA LISA LOST HER SMILE  f) The Doors
07) I LOST IT  g) Air Supply
08) LOST IN AMERICA  h) The Righteous Brothers
09) YOU'RE LOST, LITTLE GIRL  i) Sarah McLachlan
10) LOST   j) David Alan Coe
11) LOST IN THE OZONE* k) Hank Williams

* Bonus Question - Internet Version Only

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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 $10.00. E-mail: Notessteps@aol.com or NOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT, John Tallaksen, P. O. Box 582192, Minneapolis, MN 55458-2192