Cajun Spotlight 

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

ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS CONTINUE

Maurine McCort continues her zydeco lessons in November and December. 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:
INTERMEDIATE ZYDECO (Workin' with the Feeling)
Nov 03, 10, 17
ADVANCED ZYDECO (Rockin' with the Rhythm)
Dec 01, 08, 15

MIDWAY RAMBLERS PLAY NOVEMBER 2

The Midway Ramblers, a fine Cajun band from the Chicago area, will perform in Chicago at the Irish-American Center on Friday, November 2. 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.
 

HELP US NAME THIS BAND

From Karl Smelker: We're putting together a band and we need help with a name. We've got Gary Powell (of the Bone Tones) on accordion, Ted Klotz and Karl Smelker (of the Swamp Sextet) on drums and bass, and Greg Fleming-Wolfe (WEDG and the Sextet Auxiliary) on guitar. Other players to be named at a future date. We thought about "The Scintillating Sex Tones" and "Bone Tet" but we didn't really like those. Now Gary suggested "Ponce" which he describes as a Cajun dish, kind of like haggis. I have vivid memories of Beau Jocque playing "Cornbread" at the Plaisance Zydeco Festival and being pelted with cornbread by his fans so I am a little reluctant to go the food name route. Send your suggestions to lanker@mindspring.com.
 

FOLKLORE VILLAGE NEWS

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!
 

CREOLE ZYDECO VIDEO RELEASED

An instructional video on Creole Zydeco is now available. Zydeco-robics® Mona-robics® Style features dance instruction by Mona "Zydeco Queen" Wilson and great live music by Andre Thierry. Dance instruction levels on the video are Basics, Beyond Basics and Beyond Basics LIVE. Cost of the video by mail is just $29.95 plus $3 shipping and handling. You can order the video from Zydeco Dancing Etc!!, P. O. Box 61171, Houston, TX 77208-1171
 

FROM THE KREWE DE WALLEYE

The Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association (The Krewe de Walleye) is taking a short breather after a busy few month and some great dances. Their next event is a New Year's Dance on Saturday, December 29. Playing for your listening and dancing pleasure will be The Bone Tones and a Reunion Appearance by The Swamp Sextet! Look for more information about this event in the next newsletter. The Krewe is also planning an event for Mardi Gras and looking past the winter to the next cruise on the Saint Croix. Stay tuned!

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
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • November 02 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO, IL
  • November 03 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • November 04 - NO DANCE: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • November 11 - Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • November 14 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • November 18 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • November 24 - The Buffalo Gals: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • November 25 - Help Us Name This Band: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 02 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 07 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO, IL
  • 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 - Help Us Name This Band: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 21 - The Buffalo Gals: OAK CENTER STORE, OAK CENTER, MN
  • December 23 - No Dance: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 29 - New Years' Dance w/ Bones Tones, Swamp Sextet(A Krewe Event): DETAILS TBA
  • December 30 - Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • January 09 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • February 13 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • March 13 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • March 22-24 - Cajun Music, Dance and Culture Weekend: FOLKLORE VILLAGE, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • March 26 - Beausoleil: VITERBO FINE ARTS CENTER, LACROSSE, WI
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.
 

HELLO, HELLO

It has escaped the attention of our staff until now that November 21, 2001 is the 29th Annual World Hello Day. To participate in this day you simply greet ten people. Celebrated in 180 countries, the day is a global expression of peace. Interestingly enough, Thomas Edison is said to have been the first person to use "hello" when speaking on the telephone. The more standard salutation at the time was, "Are you there?" Alexander Graham Bell, American inventor of the telephone, preferred the nautical "Ahoy, ahoy" when greeting someone on the phone. In any case, hello is standard in much of the English speaking world. Can you match the performer with the song?
 
 
01) HELLO GOODBYE a) Faron Young
02) HELLO I LOVE YOU  b) The Beatles
03) HELLO IN THERE c) Conway Twitty
04) HELLO STRANGER d) Trisha Yearwood
05) HELLO WALLS e) Eric Clapton
06) HELLO DARLING f) The Doors
07) HELLO OLD FRIEND g) The Carter Family
08) HELLO h) Lionel Ritchie
09) HELLO IT'S ME i) John Prine
10) HELLO, I'M GONE j) Todd Rundgren

 

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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