Cajun Spotlight 

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

ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS START

Maurine McCort starts another great season of zydeco dance lessons in October. Whether you're just beginning or want to polish up your moves there's a class for you. Classes are given on Saturday afternoon from 4 to 5:30 pm at the Oddfellows Hall at 2382 Raymond in Saint Paul (at Raymond and Hampden). For more information and to confirm these dates call Maurine at (651) 488-6269. Each series cost $30. Here's the schedule: 
BEGINNING ZYDECO (Gettin' the Groove)
Oct 13, 20, 27
INTERMEDIATE ZYDECO (Workin' with the Feeling)
Nov 03, 10, 17
ADVANCED ZYDECO (Rockin' with the Rhythm)
Dec 01, 08, 15

CAJUN HOT SOLES HALLOWEEN DANCE

The Cajun Hot Soles present their 2nd Annual Halloween Dance on Saturday, October 27. It will be at Tapestry Folkdance Center at 3748 Minnehaha Avenue South in Minneapolis; it starts at 8 pm. Costumes are not required, but are encouraged. Rumor has it that the King will make a special appearance from Graceland show that while he was born in Mississippi and came to fame in Memphis, he also has some Louisiana roots.
 

DALBO TOWN HALL SOCIAL DANCE

There will be another great evening of music and dance at the Town Hall in Dalbo, Minnesota on Saturday, October 6. Three bands will be featured: The Cajun Hot Soles (with special guest Iowa John), The Mad Cow Band and Skandilous. This is the first appearance at Dalbo by Skandilous, a Twin Cities-based group whose members are Mary Seim, Brian Haskell, Myron Price, Judy Kjenstad, Janet Sha and Carol Sersland. They will perform traditional Scandinavian dance music. Other music this evening includes Cajun, Creole, Irish, old-time and a few surprises. Dalbo is located north of Princeton about an hour from the Twin Cities. Admission is $5 and free for children. For more call Amy at 763-444-8390 or email asabrina@ecenet.com. From Dalbo, take Highway 47 north about 3.3 miles to County 16. Go west (left) 1.8 miles to Jaspar St. Go left .2 miles to 399th Ave. Go right .2 miles to Nacre St. Go left to Town Hall. You can also find a link to a map at the Cajun Hot Soles Web page: http://www.cajunhotsoles.com.
 

MIDWAY RAMBLERS PLAY OCTOBER 5

The Midway Ramblers, a fine Cajun band from the Chicago area, will perform in Chicago at the Irish-American Center on Friday, October 5th. The center is located at 4626 North Knox. Music starts at 8 pm and lasts until 11 pm. Be sure to ask about the new CD by The Midway Ramblers while you're there. For more information call 773-282-7035 or 630-833-3515. 
 

STREET DANCE WITH C. J. CHENIER

Each fall Garrison Keillor kicks off the new season of A Prairie Home Companion by hosting a street dance by the Fitzgerald Theatre in Saint Paul. This year the event is Saturday, October 6. Performers on that date include Mollie O'Brien, Jack Knife & the Sharps and C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster or at the Fitzgerald Theater. 
 

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
 

RECORD CORNER

Sean Ardoin & Zydecool have released their first album on the Tomorrow Recordings, Buckwheat Zydeco's own label. The album is called Pullin', and Sean wrote, arranged and produced every tune on the album - and also played accordions and drums. You can order the recording at buckwheatzydeco.com.

Ann Savoy and Tony Daigle are working on an album of Cajun tunes for Vanguard Records. What is unusual here is that the songs are performed in Cajun French by such non-Cajun singers as John Fogerty, Linda Ronstadt, Richard Thompson, Rodney Crowell and others. The music, however, will be by folks like Christine Balfa, David Greeley, Dirk Powell, Steve Riley, Michael Doucet, Mitch Reed, Jimmy Breaux and Marc Savoy. The sessions have been recorded in Los Angeles, Tucson, New York, London and in Louisiana. The project doesn't have a title yet, but is scheduled to be released early next year. Should be interesting...
 

FROM THE KREWE DE WALLEYE

The Krewe welcomes back Donna Angelle and 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 at the show!). Tickets for the bus and the show are $30 and may be available at the outlets above; check before you go. You can also get tickets at the Donna Angelle dance on September 29. 

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) check out the web site at www.krewedewalleye.com or call CAJUN SPOTLIGHT
 

FOLKLORE VILLAGE NEWS

Because of the current uncertainties in air travel (and in the lives of many of us) Folklore Village has canceled the Zydeco Music & Dance Weekend. It plans to try again next year. We will let you know when a weekend has been chosen. 

Speaking of choosing weekends, Folklore Village has announced that the Cajun Music, Dance and Culture Weekend next spring will be March 22-24. As soon as the guests for this popular event are announce we will let you now. Be sure to mark your calendar now!
 

THE BLUES CARTEL

Appearing in Cambridge, Minnesota in the Performing Arts Center at Cambridge-Isanti High School on Saturday, October 13 is The Delta Blues Cartel ("Homesick" James Williamson, Henry "Mule" Townsend, Robert Jr. Lockwood and David "Honeyboy" Edwards). This is a rare appearance by four of the last bluesmen of their generation. They will apparently not be stopping closer to the Twin Cities on this tour. There will be two shows, one at 7 pm and another at 9:15 pm. Seats are $29, $24 and $19. To get information or to order tickets with a VISA or Mastercard you can call Cambridge-Isanti Community Education at 763-689-2796. On Friday, October 26 Leon Redbone will be in concert at the same location.
 

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION

The fall season of A Prairie Home Companion begins Saturday, October 6 with a street dance near the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster or at the Fitzgerald Theater. Here are the scheduled performers announced thus far:
  • October 06: Mollie O'Brien, Jack Knife & the Sharps, C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band
  • October 13: soprano Maria Jette, Norman Blake and Peter Ostroushko
  • October 20: Stephanie Davis, Delbert McClinton
  • October 27: poet Louis Jenkins, Butch Thompson, Geoff Muldaur & Amos Garrett
  • November 03: Rhonda Vincent & the Rage, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
  • November 10: Nashville Bluegrass Band, Andy Stewart & Gerry O'Beirne
  • November 17: live from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Guests TBA

 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

September 29 - Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse: EVERETT MCCLAY VFW (A KREWE EVENT)
September 29 - Cajun, Squares, Swing, more w/The Buffalo Gals: TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER 
September 30 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
October 04 - Beausoleil: REIF OPERA HOUSE, GRAND RAPIDS, MN
October 05 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH-AMERICAN CENTER, CHICAGO, IL (8 PM)
October 06 - Beausoleil: OPERA HOUSE, FAIRMOUNT, MN
October 06 - The Cajun Hot Soles, others: DALBO TOWN HALL, DALBO, MN
October 06 - Beausoleil: SHELDON THEATRE, RED WING, MN (KREWE BUS TRIP AVAILABLE)
October 06 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION, ST. PAUL
October 07 - JJ'S Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
October 10 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
October 13 - The New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS 
October 14 - No Dance Scheduled: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
October 21 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
October 27 - The Cajun Hot Soles Halloween Dance: TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER 
October 28 - The New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
November 04 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
November 10 - Krewe de Walleye Member Appreciation Dance: DETAILS LATER 
November 11 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
November 14 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM) 
November 18 - The New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
November 24 - The Buffalo Gals: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS 
November 25 - To Be Announced: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
December 02 - The New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
December 09 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
December 12 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM) 
December 16 - No Dance Scheduled: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
December 21 - The Buffalo Gals: OAK CENTER STORE, OAK CENTER, MN
December 23 - No Dance Scheduled: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
December 29 - New Years' Dance (A Krewe Event): DETAILS LATER
December 30 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL

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

SEPTEMBER SONGS

The events of September 11 cast a long shadow over all activities in homes and workplaces across America. This was also true at the offices of NOTES & STEPS. We found, though, that our belief in the power of music and dance to heal the spirit and bring people together made working on this issue a worthwhile task. When it came to the music quiz, though, we found that the usual frivolity was not something anyone felt comfortable with. Several themes from the aftermath of that day suggested themselves, but nothing seemed exactly right. Instead, we have asked our staff to come up with songs that carry, for them at least, additional significance in this new and unsettling time in America. Can you match the song with the performer?
 
01) TURNING TOWARD THE MORNING a) Bob Dylan
02) A DAY IN THE LIFE b) Buffy Sainte Marie
03) FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH c) Gordon Bok
04) GET TOGETHER d) Van Morrison
05) NOT DARK YET  e) Merle Haggard
06) IMAGINE f) The Beatles
07) MERCY MERCY ME g) Buffalo Springfield
08) LIFE DURING WARTIME h) The Youngbloods
09) FIGHTING SIDE OF ME i) Talking Heads
10) UNIVERSAL SOLDIER j) John Lennon
*11) CRAZY LOVE k) Marvin Gaye

  * - Special internet bonus questions.

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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