Cajun Spotlight 

Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest 
 March 2001 

DANCE LESSONS

Maurine McCort's popular Cajun and zydeco dance lessons continue with a zydeco series scheduled for the spring. 
  • •Zydeco A: Gettin' the Groove will be March 3 and 10. 
  • •Zydeco B: Workin' with the Feeling is April 14, 21 and 28. 
  • •Zydeco C: Rockin' with the Rhythm will be May 5, 12 and 19. 
All lessons are on Saturdays from 4:30 to 6 pm and take place at the Oddfellows Hall at Raymond and Hampden in Saint Paul. Cost of each series is just $30. Call her at (651) 488-6269 for information and to confirm dates and times. The Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music & Dance Association (The Krewe de Walleye) will be bringing in a dance instructor on April 7 and 8. Check the article on Krewe events later this issue for more information.
 

FOLKLORE VILLAGE CAJUN WEEKEND

The Cajun Music, Dance and Culture Weekend at Folklore Village is March 16-18. The staff this year will include fiddler Edward Poullard, accordion player and vocalist Danny Poullard, dance instructors Christine Voigt and Claire Hedlund, cultural specialists Kirby Jambon and Jolene Adams and members of the Chicago Cajun Aces John Terr, Charlie Terr and Will Whedbee. 

Workshops will focus on dance, language and culture, Cajun vocals and fiddle, accordion and guitar on several levels. For more information call Folklore Village at (608) 924-4000 or contact CAJUN SPOTLIGHT for a brochure.
 

TASTE LOUISIANA CAJUN FEST

The Fourth Annual Taste Louisiana Cajun Fest will be May 26-28 at the Amana Colonies Visitors and Convention Center in Amana, Iowa. On the schedule are Balfa Toujours, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Lee Benoit and his band and 12-year old accordion player Matthew Courville. For more information call 1(888) 594-3903 or contact swidmer@netins.net. You'll find it on the Web at http://showcase.netins.net/web/cajunfest/index.html
 

CAJUN HOT SOLES AT BLUEGRASS WEEKEND

The Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association presents their Winter Bluegrass Weekend March 2-4 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Plymouth. On Friday night the Cajun Hot Soles will play for a dance from 8 to 11 pm, and on Saturday there will be a Cajun Dance Hour from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Saturday night there will also be a square dance with Dick Kimmel & Co, Pig's Eye Landing and The Barncats. The weekend is packed with great bands, jamming, workshops and exhibitors. For more information call (612) 285-9133 or 1(800) 635-3037. The Cajun Hot Soles will also be at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, March 11 and play for a dance at the Lake Harriet Community Church on Saturday, March 31. The church is located at 4401 Upton Avenue South in Minneapolis.
 

LAST DANCE WITH THE SWAMP SEXTET

The Swamp Sextet's last gig before guitarist Lee Tedrow and his wife Millie Ortego move to Lafayette, Louisiana will be on Sunday, March 18 at the Half Time Rec. We wish Millie and Lee the best of luck in their new home; their contributions to the Twin Cities music and dance scene have changed the local cultural landscape permanently. Thank you for all you've done!
 

EDDIE LEJEUNE MEMORIAL FUND REPORT

The benefit for the Eddie LeJeune Memorial Fund in February sponsored by the Cajun Hot Soles and the Krewe de Walleye raised about $700 dollars. 

Thanks to both those groups and to all the individuals who made additional contributions. The money has been sent to the fund which was set up to help Eddie's family. If you still want to contribute to the fund contact CAJUN SPOTLIGHT and we'll give you the information you need. Eddie LeJeune, Cajun accordion player and vocalist, passed away from a heart attack in early January. He was a son of the legendary Iry LeJeune. 
 

CARIBBEAN CAJUN CRUISE UPDATE 

The Cajun Cruise featuring Rodney Thibodeaux & Tout Les Sour Cajun Band slated to depart March 17 has been canceled due to the bankruptcy of the cruise ship line. It may be rescheduled to later in the year. We will let you know if we hear anything,
 

CAJUN/CREOLE WEEK AT AUGUSTA

Cajun/Creole Week at Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia will be August 5 to 12 this summer. Teaching Cajun and zydeco dance this year are Christine Balfa, Don Brasseaux, Mona Wilson, Joely Bias and Chester Gremilion. On staff for the instrumental and vocal classes are Dirk Powell, Danny Poullard, John Vidrine, Jane Vidrine, Paul Daigle, D'Jalma Garnier III and Kevin Wimmer. Other folks on staff include Kirby Jambon, Jolene Adams, Jackie Miller, Andre Thierry & Zydeco Magic, Edward Poullard, Tracy Schwarz, Charlie Terr, Courtney Granger and John Terr. Returning as guest master artist is Bois Sec Ardoin. Coordinator Lynne Terr has done a fine job of assembling another top-notch lineup. For more information on these or other theme weeks at Augusta contact CAJUN SPOTLIGHT or check out their Web site at http://www.augusta hermitage.com.
 

FROM THE KREWE DE WALLEYE

The Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music & Dance Association (The Krewe de Walleye) has some very exciting events planned for the months ahead. 
  1. There will be a CD Dance Party on Saturday, March 10 at the Oddfellows' Hall in Saint Paul. Music starts about 8 pm.
  2. On Monday, March 12 the Krewe presents Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys at the Everett McClay VFW in Bloomington, Minnesota. The dance starts at 7 pm. The group is sure to play songs from their new album, Happytown. 
  3. The Krewe welcomes dance instructor Debra Seeck April 7 and 8 for both a zydeco and a Cajun jitterbug series. See the article below for details.
  4. After the zydeco lessons on Saturday, April 7 the Krewe welcomes Rosie Ledet back to the Twin Cities! This dance will also be at the Everett McClay VFW. It starts at 8 pm with a short dance lesson. 
  5. The last weekend of April there will be two dances with T Mamou - a Saturday night dance (probably at the Polish American Hall in St. Paul) and a Sunday night dance at the Half Time Rec.
Tickets are going quickly for the Bone Tones Dinner & Dance Cruise in June. For information on membership in the Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association (The Krewe de Walleye) and all these special events check out the web site at www.krewedewalleye.com or call CAJUN SPOTLIGHT
 

DANCE LESSONS WITH DEBRA SEECK

Debra Seeck has taught Cajun and zydeco dance at many locales in the Northwest as well as on the Zydeco Cruise in 1998 and 2000. Her lessons in the Twin Cites will be as follows:

1) A zydeco series at the Everett McClay VFW on Saturday, April 7. 
 

Beginning Zydeco Noon to 1:30 pm
Intermediate Zydeco 2 pm to 3:30 pm
Advanced Zydeco 5 to 5:30 pm

2) A Cajun 6-count jitterbug series is offered on Sunday, April 8. Location will probably be the Polish-American Hall on Arcade in Saint Paul. A CD Dance party with opportunities to practice what you've learned will follow.
 

Beginning 2 to 3:30 pm
Intermediate 4 to 5:30 pm

Cost for each class in a series is $15; the number of students in each is limited to 32. To sign up contact Chris Gellerman at cjgellerman@juno.com or 763-574-0178 or see a Krewe board member at one of the upcoming events. 
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • March 02,03 - The Cajun Hot Soles : WINTER BLUEGRASS WEEKEND, RADISSON HOTEL, PLYMOUTH
  • March 04 - The New Riverside Ramblers : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • March 09 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys : FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • March 10 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys : HARMONY BAR, MADISON, WI
  • March 11 - The Cajun Hot Soles : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • March 12 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys : MCCCLAY VFW, BLOOMINGTON, MN (KREWE EVENT)
  • March 13 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys : ONEIDA CASINO, GREEN BAY, WI
  • March 14 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • March 15 - Danny & Edward Poullard, Charlie & John Terr : JOE'S BEBOP CAFE, CHICAGO, IL
  • March 16-18 - Danny & Edward Poullard, Charlie & John Terr : FOLKLORE VILLAGE, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • March 18 - The Swamp Sextet : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • March 24 - CANCELLED!!! The New Riverside Ramblers : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • March 25 - NO DANCE : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • March 27 - Boozoo Chavis & the Majic Sounds : ONEIDA BINGO AND CASINO, GREEN BAY, WI
  • March 30 - Beausoleil : IOWA STATE CENTER, AMES, IA
  • March 31 - The Cajun Hot Soles : LAKE HARRIET COMMUNITY CHURCH, MINNEAPOLIS
  • April 01 - The Cajun Hot Soles : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • April 03 - Beausoleil : CIVIC CENTER, MADISON, WI
  • April 05 - Beausoleil : MILLIKEN UNIVERSITY, DECATUR, IL
  • April 05 - Beausoleil : BALL STATE UNIVERSITY, MUNCIE, IN
  • April 07 - Krewe de Walleye Presents Zydeco Dance Classes : VFW HALL, BLOOMINGTON, MN
  • April 07 - Krewe de Walleye Presents Rosie Ledet : VFW HALL, BLOOMINGTON, MN
  • April 08 - Krewe de Walleye Presents Cajun Jitterbug Classes : LOCATION TBA
  • April 08 - NO DANCE! : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • April 11 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • April 22 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • April 22 - The New Riverside Ramblers : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • April 28 - T Mamou : POLISH AMERICAN HALL, ST. PAUL (KREWE EVENT)
  • April 29 - T Mamou : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (KREWE EVENT)
  • May 06 - The New Riverside Ramblers : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • May 09 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • May 13 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • May 19 - The Midway Ramblers : FOLKLORE VILLAGE FARM, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • May 20 - The Bone Tones : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • May 25-27 - The Bone Tones : WHEATLAND TRADITIONAL ARTS WEEKEND, REMUS, MI
  • May 26-28 - Taste Louisiana Cajun Fest : AMANA, IAMay 27 - NO DANCE! : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • June 03 - The New Riverside Ramblers : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • June 10 - The Bone Tones : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • June 16 - Cajun Dinner & Dance Cruise w/ The Bone Tones : ON THE ST. CROIX, CALL FOR DETAILS
  • June 17 - The Cajun Hot Soles : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • June 24 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL

MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY...

Generally speaking the workplace environment here at the offices of CAJUN SPOTLIGHT/NOTES & STEPS is akin to the famous Peaceable Kingdom painting wherein ferocious carnivores are placidly nestled among the prey they normally would devour. Occasionally, though, there are disagreements among the staff. Our Music Research Staff was unable to agree upon a theme for the quiz in March, and the Editor was asked to pick from the two ideas that the researchers were split on. The Editor knew that choosing sides in such a battle would not be wise, so he decided to instead have a quiz about songs with a choice in the title. As it turned out, both sides in the dispute were upset and he had to do the quiz himself. Can you match the song with the performer?
 
01) DEVIL OR ANGEL  a) Dion & the Belmonts
02) SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO b) Ernest Tubb
03) 25 OR 6 TO 4 c) Boz Scaggs
04) VICTIM OR A FOOL d) Bobby Vee
05) IT'S NOW OR NEVER e) Boozoo Chavis
06) LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT f) Sammy Davis, Jr.
07) WHERE OR WHEN g) Chicago
08) RIGHT OR WRONG h) Rodney Crowell
09) LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME i) Wanda Jackson
10) CAN I MAKE IT LAST (OR WILL IT JUST BE OVER) j) The Clash
*11) WHO STOLE MY MONKEY k) Elvis Presley

* Special internet bonus question 

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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