Cajun Spotlight 

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

SPECIAL EVENT NOTES 

  1. Note that there will not be dances at the Half Time Rec on every Sunday in August and September. Check the schedule carefully before you make the trip to Front Street. 
  2. C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band are at First Avenue on Wednesday, August 15. 
  3. Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band appear at Famous Dave's in Uptown on Saturday, August 25. The next day he will be in Fargo, North Dakota for the Fargo Blues Festival.

AUGUST CAJUN JAM & POTLUCK 

In what has become a summer tradition, Nancy Tennessen hosts a Cajun Jam & Potluck at her backyard in Minneapolis on Sunday, August 19. Nancy lives in northeast Minneapolis at 626 4th Street NE. This is one block east of University Avenue; turn at Emily's Lebanese Deli on University at 7th Avenue NE. It's just a few minutes from downtown Minneapolis. The party starts at 2:00 pm. Bring a dish to share with the group. Plates and silverware (and ice cream!) will be provided. Bring your guitar, accordion, fiddle, triangle, harmonica, frottoir or...(?) Stop by and play a few tunes, dance or just visit with friends.
 

FOLKLORE VILLAGE ZYDECO WEEKEND 

A Zydeco Music & Dance Weekend is planned at Folklore Village September 21-23. Teaching zydeco dance will be Mona Wilson. Andre Thierry and Zydeco Magic, a hot young band from the San Francisco area, will be on staff. There will be music and culture workshops planned in addition to great dance lessons. For more information contact Folklore Village at 608-924-4000.
 

FROM THE KREWE DE WALLEYE 

On Saturday, August 11 there will be a Second Saturday Krewe Dance with music by JJ's Zydeco Paydirt. A dance lesson will start at 8 pm; the dance goes until 11:30 pm. The location is the Oddfellows Hall at Raymond and Hampden in Saint Paul. 
The Krewe will offer a free basic dance lesson on Sunday, August 12 at the Half Time Rec. Following the lesson there will be a dance with the hot sounds of The Cajun Hot Soles. The lesson is from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm; the dance is at 8 pm. 
The Krewe welcomes back Donna Angelle & The Zydeco Posse on Saturday, September 29. The dance is at the Everett McClay VFW in Bloomington. There will be a dance lesson at 8 pm; the dance is from 8:30 to midnight. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $12 at Homestead Pickin' Parlor in Richfield, Cadenza Music in Saint Paul and at the Podium in Dinkytown. Tickets at the door are $12 for Krewe members and $15 for others. 
The Krewe has a bus going to the Beausoleil show at the T. B. Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing on Saturday, October 6 (there will be room to dance!). Tickets for the bus and the show are $30 and available at the outlets listed above. 
The Krewe needs volunteers to help out at upcoming events. You don't have to be a member to volunteer, and you earn credits towards free admission to future dances. Contact a board member. 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.

WALKER CAJUN FEST CANCELED 
The Walker Cajunfest, held the last few years at Moondance Ranch a few miles from Walker, Minnesota, will not take place this year. The Grand Portage Cajunfest over Labor Day weekend will go on as scheduled. Appearing there will be Rodney Thibodeaux & Tout Les Soir, T-Mamou, Amanda Shaw, Washboard Charlie and the Treater Band.
 

BAYFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL 

The Bayfront Blues Festival is August 10-12 in Duluth-Superior. Playing Friday evening will be Terrance Simien & the Mallet Playboys. Other national acts include Saffire-The Uppity Blues Women, Taj Mahal, John Hammond, the Tarbox Ramblers, John Mooney and Marcia Ball. Their Web site is bayfrontblues.com.
 

2001: A DANCE ODYSSEY 

The 6th Annual Dance Vortex is set for October 5-7 at Camp Riverview in Mentone, Alabama. This is less than a three hour drive from Atlanta or Birmingham. The focus is on Cajun, zydeco, swing and waltz. The musicians include Thomas "Big Hat" Fields, Atlanta Swamp Opera, Zydeco T, Ryan Reardon & the Levee Breakers and the Atomic City Rhythm Rascals. Dance instructors include Chris Trahan & Janine Dugas, Joel Domoe & Melanie Myers and Mandy Lavigne & Quinten Henry. For more information check out their Web site at http://dance_vortex.home.mindspring.com or call CAJUN SPOTLIGHT for a copy of their brochure. Reliable sources have indicated that this is a great weekend of music and dance
 

MBOTMA FESTIVAL 

The Minnesota Bluegrass & Old Time Music Association presents its 22nd Annual Music Festival August 3-5 at Camp in the Woods Resort in Zimmerman, Minnesota. The list of performers is long and impressive: The Bluegrass Cardinals Reunion, Eddie Adcock, The Dry Branch Fire Squad, The Bluegrass Patriots, Robin & Linda Williams, The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers, Bill Hinkley & July Larson, The Volo Bogtrotters, Monroe Crossing and many more. The Bone Tones play for a Cajun dance on Friday evening. Tickets are available at many locations, including Homestead Pickin' Parlor, Ginkgo Coffeehouse, The Podium and Cadenza Music. For information or to order tickets call 612-885-9133 or 1-800-635-3037.
 

MINNESOTA FOLK FESTIVAL 2001

The 2001 Minnesota Folk Festival will be September 15 and 16 at Mounds Park in Saint Paul. This free event will feature national and local performers, including James Keelaghan, Vance Gilbert, Pat Donahue, Monroe Crossing, The Deadly Nightshade Family Singers, Peter Ostroushko and Lojo Russo & Funks Grove. There will also be the 3rd Annual New Folk Songwriting Contest. For information on volunteering, the songwriting contest or being a vendor call 651-292-4900.
 

HOT CLUB OF COWTOWN 

Appearing in Cambridge, Minnesota in the Performing Arts Center at Cambridge-Isanti High School on Saturday, August 18 will be The Hot Club of Cowtown. This exciting trio is worth the drive north - they perform jazz, Western swing, old time and original tunes with great energy and fine musicianship. They appeared last year at Winnipeg and were very well-received. Tickets in advance are $12 and at the door are $14. To order tickets call Cambridge-Isanti Community Education at 763-689-2796. Two other concerts of note later this year: on October 13 The Delta Blues Cartel ("Homesick" James Williamson, Henry "Mule" Townsend, Robert Jr. Lockwood and David "Honeyboy" Edwards) appear, and on October 26 Leon Redbone will be in concert. 
 

AUGUST FESTIVAL ROUNDUP 

1) The 22nd Annual Sioux River Folk Festival is August 3-5 at Newton Hills State Park near Canton, South Dakota. Headliners include April Verch, Art Stevenson & Highwater, Dave Moore and Tim O'Brien & Darrell Scott with Dirk Powell. For more information call 605-987-2582 or visit the Web site at www.fotm.org. 
2) The Shawano Old-Time Music & Crafts Festival is August 10-12 in Shawano, Wisconsin. Look for workshops, demos and concerts with Claudia Schmidt, Weavermania, Peter & Lou Berryman, Whitewater and more. Call 715-799-3688. 
3) The Northland Bluegrass Festival in Rosholt, Wisconsin is August 24 and 25. Appearing are Art Stevenson & High Water, Mary Henderson & Geoff Shannon, Becky Schlegel, Sloppy Joe and more. More information is available on the Web at highwatermusic.com/northlandBGFest.htm 
4) The Great River Folk Festival is August 24-26 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. This event features John Gorka, Vance Gilbert, Steve Young, Mustard's Retreat and more. For more information email grrf@juno.com
5) The 3rd Annual New London Music Festival is Saturday, August 25 in New London, Minnesota. On hand will be Raymond Yates, The Sugar Kings, Calliope House, The Dust Bowl Blues Band and more. Call 320-354-5753. 
6) The Fargo Blues Festival is August 25 and 26. On the bill are The Jeff Healey Band, The Sam Lay Blues Band, R. J. Mischo, Roomful of Blues, Chubby Carrier and others. 
7) The Madison (Wisconsin) Blues Festival in August 31 and September 1. There's plenty of big names on hand for this event: Taj Mahal, Bo Diddley, Marcia Ball, George Thorogood, Little Richard, Otis Rush, Jonny Lang and more. For more information check out www.madisonblues.com. 
8) The Lake Superior Music Festival is August 31 to September 2 at Isle Vista Casino near Bayfield, Wisconsin. Headliners include The Buffalo Gals, Dick Kimmel & Co, Frogwater, Vern & Sandy and more. For more information call Carl Solander at 715-682-0246.
 

SQUARE DANCE WEEKEND 

The 20th Annual Square Dance Weekend will be August 24-26. Once more it will be held at the Head of the Rapids group camp site in St. Croix State Park. Special guest this year is Will Mentor, a caller from Iowa City who specializes in squares and Kentucky running sets. Music and dance workshops will be offered by some outstanding dancers, callers and musicians. Enrollment is limited so act quickly to secure your spot. To get a brochure call Lee Guthrie at 715-386-7790 or email him at guthriel@spacestar.com. Brochures are also available at the "First Monday" Monday Night Square Dance.
 

SEPTEMBER FESTIVAL ROUNDUP 

  1. The Rock Bend Folk Festival is September 8 and 9 in Saint Peter, Minnesota. The lineup for this free festival includes Fred Eaglesmith, Paul Cebar & the Milwaukeeans, Lisa Otey and the Sugar Kings. Their Web site is: www.rockbend.org. 
  2. The Central Iowa Traditional Dance & Music Festival is September 14-16 at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. For more information check out www.bigfoot.com/~DanceDanceDance or call (515) 292-8590. 

OLD TIME/SQUARE DANCES

  1. On Monday, August 6 there will be another great square dance at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul. The dance starts at 7:30 pm. 
  2. The next Third Tuesday Old Time Dance is August 21 starting at 7:30 pm. If you're interested in playing or calling contact Teresa at 651-644-9549 or tanby@aol.com. It's held at the Oddfellows Lodge at Raymond and Hampden in Saint Paul.

MINNESOTA STATE FAIR 

The Minnesota State Fair is August 23 to September 3 (Labor Day). Some of the musicians at the free stages include Café Accordion Orchestra, Tsatskelehs All-Grrrl Klezmer Band, The Buffalo Gals, Pop Wagner, Becky Schlegel Band, Dick Kimmel & Co, The Sugar Kings, Monroe Crossing, Timbre Junction and Sounds of Blackness. Check the listings in the daily paper to find the date, time and location of these and other performers.
 

BLUES JAM AT HOMESTEAD 

Regular acoustic blues jams have been added to the calendar at Homestead Pickin Parlor. The jams are scheduled for the 1st and 3rd Monday each month from 7 to 9 pm; in August that's the 6th and 20th. Homestead is located at 6625 Penn Avenue South.
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • August 03 - The Bone Tones: MBOTMA FESTIVAL, ZIMMERMAN, MN
  • August 05 - NO DANCE: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 05 - The Midway Ramblers: TRAIN STATION CONCERT, ROUND LAKE, IL (6:30-8 PM)
  • August 08 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • August 08 - Brian Terry & the Zydeco Travellers: ZOO BAR, LINCOLN, NE
  • August 09 - The New Riverside Ramblers: COON RAPIDS DAM PARK, COON RAPIDS, MN (7-9 PM)
  • August 10 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie: SUMMERDANCE, CHICAGO, IL
  • August 10 - Terrance Simien & the Mallet Playboys: BAYFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL. DULUTH
  • August 11 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: ODDFELLOWS HALL, ST. PAUL
  • August 12 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 14 - The New Riverside Ramblers: MINNESOTA HISTORY CENTER, ST, PAUL (6:30-8 PM)
  • August 15 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: FIRST AVENUE, MINNEAPOLIS 
  • August 17 - Beausoleil: BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA, BAYFIELD, WI
  • August 18 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • August 19 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 21 - The Cajun Hot Soles: ST. PAUL SAINTS PREGAME, MIDWAY STADIUM (5:30 PM)
  • August 23 - The Magnolia Sisters: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • August 23-25 - Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse: CRAWDADDY BAYOU, CHICAGO, IL
  • August 25 - Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band: FAMOUS DAVE'S BBQ, MINNEAPOLIS
  • August 26 - Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band: FARGO (ND) BLUES FESTIVAL
  • August 26 - NO DANCE: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 02 - NO DANCE: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 07 - The Buffalo Gals: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • September 08 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HOUSE CONCERT/DANCE, MPLS (CALL 952-927-8968)
  • September 09 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 12 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • September 16 - NO DANCE: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 21-23 - Zydeco Music/Dance Weekend: FOLKLORE VILLAGE, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • September 22 - Beausoleil: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • September 23 - The New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 28 - Beausoleil: COLLEGE OF DUPAGE, IL
  • September 29 - Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse: EVERETT MCCLAY VFW (A KREWE EVENT) 
  • September 30 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • October 06 - Beausoleil: SHELDON THEATRE, RED WING, MN
  • October 10 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • October 13 - The New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • November 24 - The Buffalo Gals: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar. 
 

LAST

This year the Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Festival will be held for the last time at Camp in the Woods Resort near Zimmerman, Minnesota. The good folks who own the place are getting out of the business of helping other people relax and doing some themselves. The quiz this month features songs with "last" in the title. Can you match the performer with the song?
 
01) LAST STEAM ENGINE TRAIN a) J. Frank Wilson
02) LAST NIGHT b) K. D. Lang
03) LAST THING ON MY MIND c) John Fahey
04) LAST DATE d) Edward Bear
05) LAST YEAR'S MAN e) The Traveling Wilburys
06) LAST MANGO IN PARIS f) Gentle Giant
07) LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE g) Floyd Kramer
08) LAST KISS h) Leonard Cohen
09) LAST SONG i) Jimmy Buffett
10) LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN j) The Monkees
*11) HIS LAST VOYAGE k) Robert Johnson
*12) MY LAST CIGARETTE l) Tom Paxton

  * - Special internet bonus questions.

Back to Cajun Spotlight Page
Back to Newsletter Page
Back to Main Page

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