Cajun Spotlight 

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

BAYOU BOOGIE AT GRAND PORTAGE

Although the Walker Cajun/zydeco fest is again a no-go this year, the Bayou Boogie at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino is on! The dates are August 30 to September 1 (Labor Day Weekend). Scheduled to appear are the Treater Band with Washboard Charlie, T-Mamou and Rodney Thibodeaux & Tout Les Soir. More information about Bayou Boogie is available at www.grandportagemn.com/bayou.html
 

OSHKOSH SAWDUST DAYS

Sawdust Days in Oshkosh, Wisconsin will be celebrated July 3-7. Coming up from Louisiana this year for 7 shows over the first 4 days of the festival is La Bande Feufollet. This hot young band perform traditional Cajun music and have two CD's out, both produced by Steve Riley. Members of the band, astoundingly enough, are all in high school! Also appearing in Oshkosh are Big Nick & the Cydecos (on Saturday, July 6) and The Hot Club of Cowtown (on Thursday, July 4). www.oshkoshcvb.org/sawdust.htm
 

JULY AND AUGUST CAJUN JAM & POTLUCKS

This year Nancy Tennessen hosts not one, but TWO Cajun Jam & Potlucks in her backyard in Minneapolis. These have become a tradition in the local C/Z dance community - a chance for folks to get together, relax and visit with friends during the busy summer months. The events are on the last Sundays of July and August (July 28 and August 25). Nancy lives in northeast Minneapolis at 626 4th Street NE. This is one block east of University Avenue; turn at Emily's Lebanese Deli on University at 7th Avenue NE. It's just a few minutes from downtown Minneapolis. The party starts at 2:00 pm. Bring a dish to share with the group. Plates and silverware (and ice cream!) will be provided. Bring your guitar, accordion, fiddle, triangle, harmonica, frottoir or...(?) Stop by and play a few tunes, dance or visit with friends.
 

NINE NIGHTS OF MUSIC FUN

The Minnesota History Center (along with Tapestry Folkdance Center) presents Nine Nights of Music Fun during July and August. These Tuesday night concerts are outside at the History Center from 6:30 to 8 pm. Bring your dancing shoes!
  • July 02 - Chmielewski Funtime Polka Band
  • July 09 - Kalogerson Greek Band
  • July 16 - Tsatskelahs All Grrrl Klezmer Band
  • July 23 - Mariachi Los Soles
  • July 30 - Cafe'Accordion
  • August 06 - After Five
  • August 13 - Pig's Eye Landing
  • August 20 - Jumbo YaYa
  • August 27 - Robayat

SQUARE DANCE WEEKEND 2002

Again this year Square Dance Weekend will be held at Head of the Rapids group camp in St. Croix State Park, east of Hinkley, Minnesota. The dates are August 23-25. Music and dance workshops will be led by outstanding dancers, musicians and callers from near and far. There will be a potluck Friday night and meals provided Saturday and Sunday, Cabins are available and there is plenty of room for camping. Enrollment is limited to 100 people so sign up early. If you have questions call Lee at 715-386-7790 or Dave at 651-699-0557.
 

HIAWATHA TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

You can also see see La Bande Feufollet (see above story) at the Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival in Marquette, Michigan July 19-21. Other performers include Rhythm in Shoes, Myll-rit, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, True Blue and more. On the Web: portup.com/~hiawatha/festival.html.
 

ZYDECO CRUISE 2002

Don't dilly-dally if you plan to sign up for Zydeco Cruise 2002. The popular seven-day cruise through the Caribbean has sold out the last four years! On board this year are Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie, Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers, Andre Thierry, Louisiana Sue and seven world-class zydeco dance instructors. Departure is Sunday, November 3. Call 1-800-683-9882 for a free color brochure.
 

DANCE VORTEX 2002

Dance Vortex 2002 will be October 4-6 at Camp Riverview in Mentone, Alabama. This weekend of music and dance features Cajun, zydeco, swing and blues dancing. Musicians scheduled include The Basin Brothers, Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, Lil' Malcolm & the Houserockers, B & the Buzz, Phantoms of the Opera and Laura Light & Dave Wiesler. Dance instructors include Joel Domoe & Melanie Myers and Michael Seider & Patsy Hebert (who will teach zydeco and the new "Whiskey River" Jitterbug). Information is available on the Web at dance_vortex.home.mindspring.com. You can also call (352) 472-7762 for a brochure.
 

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT AWARDS

The National Endowment for the Arts has announced the 2002 recipients of the National Heritage Fellowships, the country's highest honor in the field of folk and traditional arts. Fourteen awardees were chosen for their artistic excellence, authenticity and contributions to their field. One was selected to receive the Bess Lomax Hawes award for service to the folk and traditional arts field as a whole.

2002 AWARD RECIPIENTS

  • Ralph Blizard, Old-time fiddler (Blountville, TN)
  • Loren Bommelyn, Tolowa tradition bearer (Crescent City, CA)
  • Kevin Burke, Irish fiddler (Portland, OR)
  • Jose Cree/Francis Cree, Ojibwe basketmakers and storytellers (Dunseith, ND)
  • Luderin Darbone/Edwin Duhon, Cajun fiddler and accordionist (Sulphur,LA/Westlake, LA)
  • Nadim Dlaikan, Lebanese reed flute player (Southgate, MI)
  • David "Honeyboy" Edwards, blues guitarist/singer (Chicago, IL)
  • Flory Jagoda, Sephardic musician/composer (Falls Church, VA)
  • Clara Neptune Keezer, Passamaquoddy basketmaker (Perry, ME)
  • Bob McQuillen, contra dance musician/composer (Peterborough, NH)
  • Domingo "Mingo" Saldivar, Conjunto accordionist (San Antonio, TX)
  • Losang Samten, Tibetan sand mandala painter (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Jean Ritchie, Appalachian musician/songwriter (Viper, KY)

UPCOMING CAJUN/ZYDECO EVENTS

  • June 29 - The New Riverside Ramblers: TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER
  • June 30 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • July 03-06 - Various Louisiana artists: FITZGERALD'S AMERICAN MUSIC FESTIVAL, BERWYN, IL
  • July 07 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • July 09 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • July 11 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie: TBA, MADISON, WI
  • July 12 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie: BASTILLE DAYS, MILWAUKEE, WI
  • July 13 - Geno Delafose, Chicago Cajun Aces: FOLK ROOTS FESTIVAL, CHICAGO
  • July 14 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • July 19-21 - La Feufollet: HIAWATHA MUSIC FESTIVAL, MARQUETTE , MI
  • July 20 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: JAZZ/BLUES FESTIVAL, SIOUX FALLS
  • July 21 - St. Paul Saints pregame w/ The Cajun Hot Soles: MIDWAY STADIUM (11:30 AM)
  • July 21 - No Dance Scheduled: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • July 21 - Sean Ardoin & Zydecool: SHEFFIELD GARDEN WALK, CHICAGO, IL
  • July 26 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: MUSIC AT HARRY'S PLACE, BELOIT, WI
  • July 26-28 - Bayou Hazard: SUMMER IN THE NORTHWOODS FEST, MANITOWISH WATER, WI
  • July 27 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: SUMMERDANCE, CHICAGO, IL
  • July 28 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • July 31 - The Midway Ramblers: CONCERT IN THE PARK, USHER PARK, ITASCA, IL
  • August 01 - The New Riverside Ramblers: COON RAPIDS DAM REGIONAL PARK: (7-8:30 PM)
  • August 04 - Name This Band: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 11 - To Be Announced: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 14 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • August 18 - No Dance Scheduled: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 20 - St. Paul Saints pregame w/ The Cajun Hot Soles: MIDWAY STADIUM (5:30 PM)
  • August 22 - Rosie Ledet: NARROWS SALOON, NAVARRE, MN
  • August 23 - Rosie Ledet: BLUES FESTIVAL, MADISON, WI
  • August 25 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 30-September 01 - Bayou Boogie: CASINO, GRAND PORTAGE, MN
  • September 01 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 01 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: ON THE WATERFRONT, ROCKFORD, IL
  • September 08 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 11 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • September 15 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 22 - Name This Band: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 28 - Beausoleil: HEMMONS CULTURAL CENTER, ELGIN, IL
  • September 29 - Jumbo YaYa (tentative): HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • October 05 - The Cajun Hot Soles, others: TOWN HALL, DALBO, MN
  • October 19 - The Cajun Hot Soles: LAKE HARRIET CHURCH, MINNEAPOLIS
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.
 

KEEPIN' COOL

The hot and steamy weather at the end of June was hard on our staff, especially since occasional power outages meant no air conditioning. We took longer breaks and lunches at our local bistro, and passed some time discussing the cooling effect of different beverages. Our Research Staff spent considerable time doing comparison tests, and one evening worked late into the night in the interests of Science. This month's quiz features songs with beverages or drinks in the title. Can you match the song with the performer?
 
01) ONE MINT JULEP a) Bob Dylan
02) RUM AND COCA COLA b) John Lee Hooker
03) WHITE LIGHTNING c) Rupert Holmes
04) MALTED MILK d) The Clovers
05) TEAR IN MY BEER e) 
06) ONE MORE CUP OF COFFEE f) The Andrews Sisters
07) COOL WATER g) Hank Williams
08) TEQUILA h) Sons of the Pioneers
09) PINA COLADA SONG i)  The Champs
*10) ONE BOURBON, ONE SCOTCH, ONE BEER j) Eric Burdon and War
*11) THE LIMONADE SONG k)  George Jones
* Special Internet Version Bonus Question
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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