Cajun Spotlight 

Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest 
 Febuary 2002 

ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS CONTINUE

Maurine McCort offers Cajun and zydeco dance lessons. Classes are held on Saturday from 4:30 to 6 pm. The location is the Oddfellows Lodge at 2382 Hampden in Saint Paul. For information and to confirm the dates and time contact Maurine at 651-488-6269 or at maurine@spacestar.com. The schedule for the next few months is: 
Beginning Cajun: Two-step, Waltz, Jitterbug
January 12, 19, 26, February 2
Cajun Jitterbug 
February 16, 23, March 2
Zydeco 1
March 9, 16, 30

THE BLUERUNNERS

 The Bluerunners have been playing music in Louisiana for many years now. Their sound is a heady mixture of Cajun, zydeco, swamp pop, blues and rock. It is most definitely danceable! They will be making a special appearance at the Sunday Night Social Dance at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, February 10. They also appear in Chicago on the 8th and Madison on the 12th (check the Cajun/Zydeco Calendar below for venue information)
 

CAJUN WEEKEND AT FOLKLORE VILLAGE

The Cajun Music, Dance and Culture Weekend at Folklore Village near Dodgeville, Wisconsin will be March 22-24. On staff will be The Chicago Cajun Aces and accordion player Paul Daigle and fiddler Dennis Boudreaux (both are members of the group Savoir Faire). Also on staff will be Eric Mohring (fiddle) and Gene Losey (accordion). Dance instruction will be by Christine Voigt and Claire Hedlund. Favorites Jolene Adams and Kirby Jambon return to present Cajun cultural background. This year they will include both a Cajun Cooking Workshop and a Ballad Singing Workshop. You can get more information at the Folklore Village web site (folklorevillage.org) or call 608-924-4000. CAJUN SPOTLIGHT also has brochures. 
 

MARDI GRAS AT DIXIE'S

Dixie's restaurant has two locations in the Twin Cities; their specialty is southern-style cooking. On February 12 (Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras) both locations feature Cajun/zydeco music from 6 to 10 pm. At Dixie's on Grand (in Saint Paul) JJ's Zydeco Paydirt play. In Minneapolis at Dixie's on Calhoun (at the Calhoun Beach Club) the Bayou Betcha Boys appear. The Betcha Boys are Dan Newton, Eric Mohring and Karl Smelker. Unfortunately, at both location there is little room to dance.
 

MARDI GRAS AT LAC DU FLAMBEAU

As part of a special Mardi Gras celebration on Saturday, February 16 at Lake of the Torches Casino in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, there will be an appearance by Wayne Toups and Zydecajun. As the name Zydecajun suggests, this high energy group led by accordionist Wayne Toups covers a variety of Louisiana music styles. Also performing will be a group of Twin Cities-based musicians doing Cajun and Creole tunes. Lac Du Flambeau, Wisconsin is located in north central Wisconsin near Rhinelander. The local folks performs around 4 pm; Wayne Toups and Zydecajun hits the stage at 8 pm.
 

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FOLK FESTIVAL

The 42nd Annual University of Chicago Folk Festival is February 1 through 3. As in years past there will be some good Louisiana music included, performed this year by Jesse Lege and Edward Poullard. Other musicians scheduled include Sones México Ensemble, Matapet, Brendan Bulger and Jim DeWan, Slanina Tamburitza Orchestra and more. For more information call 773-702-9793.
 

FIDDLERS THREE

Touring around the country this spring are three of the finest fiddle players in contemporary folk circles. Beasuoleil-stalwart Michael Doucet, old-time fiddler Bruce Molsky and jazz and bluegrass legend Darol Anger have joined forces for a tour. One of their appearances will be at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on April 18.
 

MIDWAY RAMBLERS PLAY FEBRUARY 1

The Midway Ramblers, a fine Cajun band from the Chicago area, will perform in Chicago at the Irish-American Center on Friday, February 1. The center is located at 4626 North Knox. Music starts at 8 pm and lasts until 11 pm. For more information call 773-282-7035 or 630-833-3515
 

CAJUN HOT SOLES AND BAYOU HAZARD

Mark your calendars for a great night of Louisiana music on Saturday, March 9 at the Polish- American Club in Saint Paul. It's a double bill featuring the Cajun/Creole sounds of The Cajun Hot Soles and the zydeco/blues/funk of Bayou Hazard. The music starts at 7:30 pm. The Polish-American Club is at 1003 Arcade Street. 
You can also catch Bayou Hazard at the Sunday Night Social dance at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul on Sunday, February 23. The Cajun Hot Soles play a coffeehouse gig (no room to dance) with The Brother Sisters at the Mad Hatter on Friday, February 8. The Mad Hatter is at 943 West 7th in Saint Paul. For other Hot Soles appearances in early March see the MBOTMA article elsewhere in this issue.
 

MARDI GRAS YANKEE-CHANK SWAMP JAM

by Nancy Weston
The 9th Annual Mardi Gras Yankee-Chank Swamp Jam will take place on Monday February 11, 2002, 11: 00 am, at McGee's Landing in Henderson, Louisiana. For those of you who have joined us before, this trip needs no introduction! For those of you who haven't been, what we do is this: drift for almost 2 hours through the Atchafalaya Swamp on a motorized flatboat. You can jam or dance. There will be two boats this year to accommodate the demand, and spots are first come, first served. PLEASE INDICATE if you are a musician! This is very important to ensure even and adequate numbers of musicians between the two boats. The cost is $12 per person. Send me a check ASAP (made out to Nancy Weston) to reserve your spot. Send check to 19 Purcell Dr., Danbury, CT 06810, and include a stamped-self-addressed envelope for confirmation and a map to the site OR (preferred) send me your e-mail and I will e-mail your confirmation and directions. If you choose to wait until the last minute, you can call me at the Millers (337-779-2456) starting Friday Feb. 23 and reserve a spot if there are any left, or find out about cancellations. This trip is lots of fun and a chance to relax with music and friends from around the country. (There may be some smuggled live Cajuns on the boat, such as the infamous "Tee Larry" of Iota!) Don't miss the boat! Note: After the boat jam, at about 1:15 pm we go to Pat's Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant (where the town road meets the levee road) to eat and continue jamming and dancing. Feel free to join us there even if you do not make the boat ride.
 

FROM THE KREWE DE WALLEYE

The Minnesota Cajun & Zydeco Music & Dance Association (the Krewe de Walleye) presents THREE GREAT BANDS playing Cajun & zydeco music at a MARDI GRAS DANCE & CELEBRATION on Saturday, February 23, 2002 from 8 PM-12:30 AM. It takes place at the Everett McClay VFW in Bloomington, Minnesota. There will be a free Cajun dance lesson from 7:00 pm until 8:00 PM by Twin Cities dance teacher Maurine McCort (beginners at 7 PM and more experienced dancers at 7:30 PM). There'll be a costume contest with a grand prize of two tickets to the Cajun Cruise & Dance aboard the paddleboat Jubilee on the St. Croix on June 15, a $70 value. We'll also have a costume parade, door prizes and lots of beads. Tickets: $12 for Krewe members,$17 for the general public. Here's the lineup: 

The New Riverside Ramblers band plays high-energy traditional Cajun dance music with authentic French vocals. The members of the band have been together for 9 years and have studied and performed with Cajun music greats such as as Dewey Balfa, Tracy Schwarz, Steve Riley, Marc and Anne Savoy, D. L. Menard, Eddie LeJeune, Calvin Carriere and others. 

JJ's Zydeco Paydirt plays the plugged-in straight-ahead zydeco dance music of Black Creole Louisiana. They're a 5-piece group pumping out the music of such zydeco giants as Boozoo Chavis, John and Geno Delafose, Keith Frank, and Beau Jocque as well as doing some original tunes. JJ and his band are favorites at the dances at the Half Time Rec.

The new and as-yet-unnamed Help Us Name This Band is made up of great musicians like Karl Smelker (from the Swamp Sextet) on bass, Ted Klotz (also from the Swampers) on drums and Gary Powell (of the Bone Tones) on accordion. They deftly handle Cajun, zydeco, blues, swamp pop and general get-down Louisiana music. Still looking for a name, they've been packing 'em in at the Half Time Rec with their energy and the variety of their music. The VFW Hall is located at 2731 East 78th St. on the south side of 494 at the 24th Ave. exit. The helicopter in front is visible from the freeway. It has a great dance floor, bar, and easy parking. Call (612) 729-1129 for more information.
 

MORE FROM THE KREWE DE WALLEYE

The Krewe is also working on another Cajun Cruise. The date is Saturday, June 15 and the live band is The Bone Tones. There will again be an hors d'oeuvres dinner. but the Krewe is working to avoid the long lines experienced last year. Cost is $35 per person. You can order tickets now by sending a check to Carroll Franco at 1455 Osceola Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55105 (be sure to include your phone number). You can also reserve tickets by emailing cafzydeco@yahoo.com. All tickets must be paid for by May 15. 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.
 

CAJUN DANCES AT BLUEGRASS WEEKEND

The Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association (MBOTMA) presents a Winter Bluegrass Weekend March 1-3 at the Radisson Hotel in Plymouth, Minnesota. Besides great oldtime and bluegrass music, there are many dances planned, including some Cajun dances. On Friday, March 1 the Cajun Hot Soles play at 10 pm following a square dance. They also play on Sunday, March 3 at 1 pm. Also scheduled Sunday afternoon is an appearance by Grande Prairie! For tickets or more information call 612-285-9133 or 1-800-635-3037.
 

CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • February 01-03 - Jesse Lege, Edward Poullard: UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FOLK FESTIVAL, CHICAGO
  • February 01 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO, IL
  • February 02 - The New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • February 03 - NO DANCE (Superbowl): HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 08 - Bluerunners: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • February 09 - The Cajun Hot Soles: MMSA SCHOOL BENEFIT, 592 ARLINGTON AVE W, ST. PAUL
  • February 09 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: FLOYD'S BAR, VICTORIA, MN
  • February 10 - From Louisiana: The Bluerunners: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 10 - The Chicago Cajun Aces: JOE'S' BEBOP CAFE, CHICAGO (1-4 PM)
  • February 11 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • February 12 - The Chicago Cajun Aces: JOE'S BEBOP CAFE, CHICAGO (5-9 PM)
  • February 12 - The Bluerunners: LUTHER'S BAR, MADISON, WI
  • February 12 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: DIXIE'S ON GRAND, ST. PAUL (6-10 PM)
  • February 12 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie: ONEIDA BINGO & CASINO, GREEN BAY, WI
  • February 12 - The Bayou Betcha Boys: DIXIE'S ON CALHOUN, MINNEAPOLIS (6-10 PM)
  • February 13 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM) 
  • February 14,15 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: FESTIVAL DU VOYAGEUR, WINNIPEG, CANADA
  • February 16 - Wayne Toups & Zydecajun: LAKE OF THE TORCHES CASINO, LAC DU FLAMBEAU, WI
  • February 17 - NO DANCE: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 23 - Mardi Gras Dance w/ Three(!!) Bands: EVERETT MCCLAY VFW, BLOOMINGTON
  • February 24 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • March 01 - The Cajun Hot Soles: DANCE (AT BLUEGRASS WEEKEND),RADISSON, PLYMOUTH (10 PM)
  • March 01 - Buckwheat Zydeco: HOUSE OF BLUES, CHICAGO, IL
  • March 02 - Buckwheat Zydeco: HIGH DIVE, CHAMPAIGN, IL
  • March 03 - The Cajun Hot Soles: DANCE(AT BLUEGRASS WEEKEND)RADISSON, PLYMOUTH (1:00 PM)
  • March 03 - Grande Prairie: DANCE (AT BLUEGRASS WEEKEND)RADISSON, PLYMOUTH (AFTERNOON)
  • March 03 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • March 09 - The Cajun Hot Soles and Bayou Hazard: POLISH AMERICAN HALL, ST. PAUL
  • March 10 - The New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • March 13 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM) 
  • March 12 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: ONEIDA BINGO & CASINO, GREEN BAY, WI
  • March 15 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: FITZGERALD'S. BERWYN, IL
  • March 16 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: HARMONY BAR, MADISON, WI
  • March 17 - NO DANCE (St. Patrick's Day): HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • March 22-24 - Cajun Music, Dance and Culture Weekend: FOLKLORE VILLAGE, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • March 24 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • March 26 - Beausoleil: VITERBO FINE ARTS CENTER, LACROSSE, WI
  • March 31 - Help Us Name This Band: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • April 19 - Fiddlers 3 (w/ Michael Doucet): CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • May 18 - Buckwheat Zydeco: FIRST AVENUE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • June 15 - Cajun Cruise w/ The Bone Tones: ON THE ST. CROIX OUT OF STILLWATER


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

NAME GAME

The folks on our staff all enjoy reading, although there is considerable variety of literary preferences. Some prefer mysteries, others history, still others the current best seller. A member of the Music Quiz staff has an interest in word reference books, such as reverse dictionaries, dictionaries of slang and thesauruses (thesauri?) and so on. (Last month he was going around the office murmuring, "What's another word for thesaurus?") His latest "can't put it down" book is a rhyming dictionary, and it inspired the quiz that follows. Can you match the song with the performer?
 
01) HANKY PANKY a) Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys
02) OOBY DOOBY  b) Buddy Holly
03) TUTTI' FRUTTI c) Buddy Knox 
04) NITTY GRITTY d) Tommy James & the Shondells
05) MAYBE BABY e) AC/DC
06) LOVEY DOVEY f) Shirley Ellis
07) MELLOW YELLOW g) The Drifters
08) ROLY POLY h) Roy Orbison
09) MONEY HONEY i) Little Richard
10) HELLS BELLS j) Donovan
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