Cajun Spotlight
Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper
Midwest
March 2002
ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS CONTINUE
Maurine McCort offers Cajun and zydeco dance lessons. Classes are
held on Saturday from 4:00 to 5:30 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 March: Zydeco 1 on March 9, 16, 30. The two continuing
series for Zydeco will be offered in April and May; check CAJUN SPOTLIGHT
next month for the dates or contact Maurine.
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.
FIDDLERS FOUR
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. Also featured on these gigs is
talented cellist Rushad Eggleston. One of their appearances will
be at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis on Wednesday, April 17 (this
is a change from the date given last month). They also play at the Old
Town School of Folk Music in Chicago on Friday, April 19.
POTLUCK/DANCE WITH THE CAJUN HOT SOLES
There will be a Potluck and Dance with the Cajun Hot Soles on Saturday,
March 16 at Lake Harriet Church in Minneapolis. The church is located at
4401 Upton Avenue South. The potluck begins at 6:30 pm. There will be a
dance lesson at 7:30 pm and dancing from 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm.
MIDWAY RAMBLERS PLAY MARCH 1
The Midway Ramblers, a fine Cajun band from the Chicago area, will
perform in Chicago at the Irish-American Center on Friday, March 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 FEST IN NEBRASKA
For four years now the Taste Louisiana Cajun Fest has been a Memorial Day
Weekend destination for hundreds of folks from around the Midwest (see
article below). Now there's another Cajun Fest planned by the same folks
for Lincoln, Nebraska the weekend of April 27 and 28. Appearing at the
Lancaster Event Center will be Hadley Castille and the Sharecroppers
Cajun Band, Sheryl Cormier, The Treater Band, Curtis Coubello and The
Zydeco Boneshakers. Expect great music, food, dancing and surprises.
For more information check out www.cajunfest.net
on the Web.
CAJUN FEST IN IOWA
The Fifth Annual Budweiser Taste Louisiana Cajun Fest in Amana, Iowa is
May 25-27. On slate are Hadley Castille and the Sharecroppers Cajun
Band, Chubby Carrier, Egan, Lormand & Garnier, Lisa Haley & the
Zydekats and the Dixie Power Trio. There is sure to be another
large contingent of Twin Cities' dancers heading south for this festival.
For more information check out www.cajunfest.net
on the Web.
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.
FROM THE KREWE DE WALLEYE
The Minnesota Cajun & Zydeco Music & Dance Association (the Krewe
de Walleye) is pleased to present STEVE RILEY & THE MAMOU PLAYBOYS
on Thursday, March 14. The dance will be held in the friendly environs
of the Polish American Hall at 1003 Arcade Street in Saint Paul Because
it's on a weeknight the dance will start at 7:00 pm. Tickets for this event
are $10 for Krewe members and $12 for others. This is a great chance to
see one of the finest Louisiana bands around in a great venue.
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,
innesota. 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.
AUGUSTA ANNOUNCES STAFF
Augusta Heritage Center at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia
has announced the staff for Cajun/Creole Week this year. The dates are
August 4-11. Here is the lineup of instructors and guest artists:
Accordion: Jesse Lege, John Vidrine, Paul Daigle, Charlie Terr
Fiddle: Edward Poullard, Mitch Reed, D'Jalma Garnier, Michelle Kaminsky
Guitar: Jane Vidrine
Accordion Repair and Maintenance: Larry Miller
Cooking: Jackie Miller, Judie Smith
Dance: Carol & Gerald Trahan, Mona Wilson, Joely Bias, Chester
Gremillion
Evolution of Cajun & Creole Music: Ann Savoy
Guest Master Artist: Bois Sec Ardoin
Guest Master Artist: Shelton Manuel
Guest Artist (Fri/Sat): Marc Savoy
Also on hand playing music for dance classes will be Joel Savoy,
Wilson Savoy, John Terr and Tracy Schwarz. Creole Connection,
the 'Masked Band', will be there playing zydeco and Creole tunes that will
keep everyone dancing. For information check out their Web site at augustaheritage.com.
Their address is Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College,
100 Campus Drive, Elkins, West Virginia 26241. The phone number is 1-800-624-3157,
ext. 1209.
UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS
-
March 01 - The Cajun Hot Soles: (AT BLUEGRASS WEEKEND), RADISSON, PLYMOUTH
(10 PM)
-
March 01 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO
-
March 03 - The Cajun Hot Soles:(AT BLUEGRASS WEEKEND), RADISSON, PLYMOUTH
(1:00 PM)
-
March 03 - Grande Prairie: DANCE (AT BLUEGRASS WEEKEND), RADISSON, PLYMOUTH
(2:30 PM)
-
March 03 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
-
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 12 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: ONEIDA BINGO & CASINO,
GREEN BAY, WI
-
March 13 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7-9 PM)
-
March 14 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: POLISH AMERICAN HALL,
ST. PAUL (7:00 PM)
-
March 15 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN,
IL
-
March 16 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: HARMONY BAR, MADISON,
WI
-
Match 16 - Potluck and Dance w/The Cajun Hot Soles: LAKE HARRIET CHURCH,
MINNEAPOLIS
-
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 30 - The Midway Ramblers: OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC, CHICAGO
(6-8 PM)
-
March 31 - Help Us Name This Band: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
-
April 05 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO
-
April 06 - The Cajun Hot Soles, others: DALBO TOWN HALL, DALBO, MN
-
April 07 - To Be Announced: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
-
April 14 - To Be Announced: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
-
April 17 - Fiddlers 4 (w/ Michael Doucet): CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
-
April 19 - Fiddlers 4 (w/ Michael Doucet): OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC,
CHICAGO
-
April 21 - To Be Announced: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
-
April 27-28 - Taste Louisiana Festival : LANCASTER EVENT CENTER, LINCOLN,
NEBRASKA
-
April 28 - To Be Announced: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
-
May 03 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO
-
May 05 - To Be Announced: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
-
May 11 - The New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
-
May 12 - To Be Announced: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
-
May 18 - Buckwheat Zydeco: FIRST AVENUE, MINNEAPOLIS
-
May 19 - To Be Announced: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
-
May 24-26 - The New Riverside Ramblers: WHEATLAND TRADITIONAL ARTS WEEKEND,
REMUS, MI
-
May 25-27 - Fifth Annual Budweiser Taste Louisiana Cajun Fest: AMANA, IA
-
May 26 - To Be Announced: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
-
June 15 - Cajun Cruise w/ The Bone Tones: ON THE ST. CROIX OUT OF STILLWATER
-
July 21 - St. Paul Saints pregame w/ The Cajun Hot Soles: MIDWAY STADIUM
(11:30 AM)
-
August 20 - St. Paul Saints pregame w/ The Cajun Hot Soles: MIDWAY STADIUM
(5:30 PM)
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item
on calendar.
TAPESTRY'S SPRING FUNDRAISER
Tapestry Folkdance Center's annual spring benefit is scheduled for Saturday,
March 30 starting at 7:00 pm. Playing first is Jumbo Ya Ya, back
again to please dancers with their mix of Latin, zydeco, Cajun and swing.
Following them will be Pig's Eye Landing. Besides great dancing,
the evening will feature magician Tyler Erickson and a silent auction.
Refreshments will be available for purchase from Café of the Americas.
Advance tickets can be purchased at Tapestry for just $15; tickets at the
door are $20. Tapestry is located at 3748 Minnehaha Avenue in Minneapolis.
For more information on any of the events featured at Tapestry or to ask
about volunteering or joining, call 612-722-2914. Tapestry information
can be found on the Web at www.mtn.org/~tapestry.
NEWS FROM THE HOME OFFICE
Several of the folks on our staff are currently taking language lessons.
One person is studying Spanish and another has been taking evening Norwegian
classes. Another person is learning to sing some songs in Cajun French.
Frequently all three are simultaneously practicing their speaking or singing
skills at our office. When this happens it results in a marvelous, if somewhat
confusing, clamor that can be intimidating to the casual visitor. We generally
find it somewhat educational. The quiz this issue features songs that (with
one or two exceptions) have been on the Billboard Top Forty but are sung
in a language other than English. The exceptions were also popular but
predate Billboard. Can you match the performer with the song?
| 01) SUKIYAKI (Japanese) |
a) The Singing Nun |
| 02) DOMINIQUE (French) |
b) The Andrews Sisters |
| 03) VOLARE (Italian) |
c) Olle i Skratthult |
| 04) BEI MIR BUST DU SCHON (German) |
d) Kyu Sakamoto |
| 05) ADESTE FIDELES (Latin) |
e) The Weavers |
| 06) LA BAMBA (Spanish) |
f) Domenico Medugno |
| 07) AUTOBAHN (German) |
g) Bing Crosby |
| 08) GUANTANAMERA (Spanish) |
h) Ritchie Valens |
| 09) TZENA TZENA (Hebrew) |
i) Kraftwerk |
| 10) NICOLINA (Swedish) |
j) The Sandpipers |
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
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