Cajun Spotlight 

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

ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS CONTINUE

Maurine McCort continues her zydeco lessons in 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. There will probably be a series of Cajun dance lessons to start the New Year. Here's the schedule for December:
ADVANCED ZYDECO (Rockin' with the Rhythm)
Dec 01, 08, 15

SWAMP SEXTET REUNION

JUST ANNOUNCED: The Swamp Sextet will be playing for a dance at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul on Sunday, December 23rd! Come on down to hear Karl, Dan, Ted and Lee and dance away some of that holiday stress the zydeco way.
 

CREOLE AND ZYDECO AWARDS GIVEN

Congratulations to the winners at the 2nd Annual Zydeco Music and Creole Heritage Awards. Recognized this year were:
Entertainer of the Year:
Keith Frank and Geno Delafose (tie)
Male Vocalist of the Year:
Keith Frank
Female Vocalist of the Year:
Rosie Ledet
Album of the Year:
Ready Or Not by Keith Frank
Song of the Year:
"Let's Go" by Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas
Ambassador of Zydeco:
Buckwheat Zydeco
Accordionist of the Year:
Chris Ardoin and Boozoo Chavis (tie)
Drummer of the Year:
Dexter Ardoin of Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas
Guitarist of the Year:
Paul "Lil Buck" Sinegal
Scrubboard Player of the Year:
Mark "Chunky" Williams
Newcomer of the Year:
Sean Ardoin
Most Traditional Band:
Boozoo Chavis
Clifton Chenier Heritage Award:
Buckwheat Zydeco
Canray Fontenot Heritage Award:
Carlton Frank
Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin Heritage Award:
Fernest Arceneaux
Creole Heritage Hall of Fame Inductee:
Alton "Rockin' Dopsie" Rubin Sr.

MIDWAY RAMBLERS PLAY DECEMBER 7

The Midway Ramblers, a fine Cajun band from the Chicago area, will perform in Chicago at the Irish-American Center on Friday, December 7. 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.
 

LAGNIAPPE

…word has it that accordionist Paul Daigle will be on staff at the Cajun Music, Dance & Heritage Weekend at Folklore Village in March…Garrison Keillor takes A Prairie Home Companion on the road in December. On Saturday the 8th he'll be at the Chester Fritz Auditorium in Grand Forks, North Dakota with Mollie O'Brien, Robin & Linda Williams and BeauSoleil…Ledel "Blackie" Forestier died on November 19 of an apparent heart attack. He was 73 years old. Blackie and his band, The Cajun Aces, had been part of the Louisiana dance hall and scene for over forty years. They seldom traveled far from home, but if you went to clubs around Lafayette with any regularity you would be sure to catch a great set by Blackie and his band…
 

CLOGGERS CHRISTMAS SHOW

Mark your calendars now for the annual holiday show by the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers. It's on Sunday, December 2nd at the Anne Simley Theatre at Hamline University in Saint Paul. Special guests include The Buffalo Gals, Banjo Dancers and Girl Germs (all these groups include former members of the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers!) Shows are scheduled for 2 and 7 pm. Tickets are available at irish on Grand in Saint Paul and at Homestead Pickin' Parlor in Richfield.
 

A CAPITAL NEW YEAR

There are many ways to welcome in the New Year, but the one offering the greatest variety of music is A Capital New Year. In a handful of venues around downtown Saint Paul you can listen or dance to such performers as Pop Wagner, Paddy O'Brien, Leo & Kathy Lara, Paul Metsa, Dave Ray & John Beach, The Buffalo Gals, The Peterson Family, The Moonlight Serenaders, Vibro Champs, Latin Sounds Orchestra, Café Accordion, Vic Volare and lots more. Check the paper on New Year's Eve day for time and locations.
 

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 possibly another surprise band. It will be at the Polish American Club on Arcade Street in Saint Paul. The hall features a great dance floor and a bar. There will be an hour long dance lesson at 7:30 pm followed by dancing until 12:30 am. Cost is $10 for members and $15 for nonmembers. 

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 and you earn credits towards free admission to future dances. 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.
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • December 02 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 07 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO, IL
  • December 08 - Beausoleil: A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION, FRITZ AUDITORIUM, GRAND FORKS, ND
  • 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 - Swamp Sextet Reunion: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 29 - New Years' Dance w/ Bones Tones: POLISH AMERICAN HALL, ST. PAUL
  • December 30 - Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 31 - The Midway Ramblers: LAKE STREET CHURCH, EVANSTON. IL (8 -9:30 PM)
  • December 31 - Terrance Simien & the Mallet Playboys: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • December 31 - The Buffalo Gals: A CAPITAL NEW YEAR, ST. PAUL
  • January 04 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO, IL
  • January 06 - Dance (Band TBA) : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • January 09 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • January 11,12 - C. J. Chenier: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • January 12 - The Cajun Hot Soles: LAKE HARRIET CHURCH, MINNEAPOLIS
  • January 13 - Dance (Band TBA) : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • January 19 - The Cajun Hot Soles, others: DALBO TOWN HALL, DALBO, MN
  • January 20 - The New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • January 27 - Dance (Band TBA) : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 02 - The New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • February 03 - Dance (Band TBA) : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 10 - Dance (Band TBA) : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 13 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
  • February 17 - Dance (Band TBA) : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 24 - The New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • 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.
 

BEWARE OF DARKNESS

As I write this the first snowfall of the season is coating the grass and roofs, while the streets and sidewalks are still bare. Tonight the dark will bring colder temperatures and if the snow continues tomorrow all will be white. There is a little more darkness each day now, and it's not just the setting and setting of the sun that I'm talking about. There are forces at work that would do us great harm, and there are forces at work that would save us. It is important to be watchful lest the latter inadvertently become the former. The message of the holiday season of peace and goodwill will be looked at in a new context this year, but it remains a message for all times and all people.
 
01) DARKNESS AT THE EDGE OF TOWN a) Blind Willie Johnson
02) DARK END OF THE STREET  b) Bob Dylan
03) DARK AS A DUNGEON  c) The Grateful Dead
04) DARK WAS THE NIGHT, COLD WAS THE GROUND d) Bruce Springsteen
05) BEWARE OF DARKNESS e) Percy Sledge
06) DARKNESS, DARKNESS f) The Wallflowers
07) LITTLE DARK EYES ('TIT YEUX NOIRS) g) George Harrison
08) NOT DARK YET  h) The Youngbloods
09) ANOTHER ONE IN THE DARK  i) Lawrence Walker
10) DARK STAR j) Tennessee Ernie Ford

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