Cajun Spotlight 


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

BAYOU BOOGIE AT GRAND PORTAGE

Although the Walker Cajun/zydeco fest is a no-go again 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 and several other great performers. More information about Bayou Boogie is available at: www.grandportagemn.com/bayou.html
 

AUGUST CAJUN JAM AND POTLUCK

Nancy Tennessen hosts another Cajun Jam and Potluck in her backyard on Sunday, August 25. These have become a tradition in the local dance community - " a chance for folks to get together, relax and visit with friends". 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. The party starts at 2:00 pm. Bring a dish to share with the group. Plates and silverware (and ice cream!) will be provided. Stop by and play a few tunes, dance or visit with friends.
 

ZYDECO CRUISE 2002

Don't dilly-dally if you plan to sign up for Zydeco Cruise 2002. On board this year are Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie, Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gamblers, Andre Thierry, Louisiana Sue and seven zydeco dance instructors. Departure is Sunday, November 3. Call 1-800-683-9882 for a free color brochure.
 

LIL' BRIAN IN MINNEAPOLIS, DULUTH

Lil' Brian & the Zydeco Travelers appear in Minneapolis on Friday, August 9 at Famous Dave's. Two days later he will be at the The Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth. (his set is around 3 in the afternoon). Some of the other great performers appearing in the Port City include Pinetop Perkins, Shemekia Copeland, Little Milton, Kelley Hunt, Dr. John, the North Mississippi Allstars and more. For more information check out www.bayfrontblues.com
 

CAJUN HOT SOLES IN HUOT, MINNESOTA

The Cajun Hot Soles travel to Huot, Minnesota (near Crookston) to appear at the annual Chautauqua and French Festival August 24 and 25. They play during the day Saturday and Sunday and also for a dance in nearby Red Lake Falls on Saturday evening. This small but charming festival takes place at Old Crossing and Treaty Park in Huot. Contact CAJUN SPOTLIGHT for more information.
 

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. 
 

GENO AT WHEATLAND FESTIVAL

The Wheatland Music Festival in Remus, Michigan is September 6-8. Performers include Geno Delafose, Hot Club of Cowtown, Eric Bibb, Buddy & Julie Miller, Norman Blake, Johnny Gimble, April Verch and others. For details check out wheatlandmusic.org or call 989-967-8879
 

MUSIC AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR

Besides the mixed bag of Grandstand shows at the Minnesota State Fair, there's plenty of great free music one you're inside the fairgrounds. Here are the some favorites and the dates they will appear. Check the newspaper for times and location.
  • Tangled Roots - August 22-25
  • Café Accordion Orchestra - August 26-29
  • Jack Knife & the Sharps - August 26, 27
  • Monroe Crossing - August 30-September 2
  • Bob Bovee & Gail Heil - September 1, 2
  • State Fiddlers Contest - September 1, 2
  • Wild Goose Chase Cloggers- September 2

MBOTMA PRESENTS

The Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association (MBOTMA) presents their big August festival August 8-11 this year at El Rancho Manana in Richmond, Minnesota. Some big names at this one, including Special Consensus, Ralph Blizard, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, The Rocking Hams, Rayna Gellert & John Hermann, Blue Highway, The Osborne Brothers and plenty more. For more information call 612-285-9133 or 1-800-635-3037.
 

NEW LONDON MUSIC FESTIVAL

The 4th Annual New London (Minnesota) Music Festival is on Saturday, August 24. Performers scheduled include Curtis & Loretta, The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers, Diane Jarvi, Peter Mayer, Peter Ostroushko & Dirk Freymuth and Monroe Crossing. For more information call 320-354-5753 or go to: newlondonarts.com
 

NINE NIGHTS OF MUSIC FUN

The Minnesota History Center and Tapestry Folkdance Center continues Nine Nights of Music Fun in August. These free Tuesday evening concerts are outside at the History Center from 6:30 to 8 pm. Bring your dancing shoes!
  • August 06 - After Five
  • August 13 - Pig's Eye Landing
  • August 20 - Jumbo Ya Ya
  • August 27 - Robayat

MINNESOTA FOLK FESTIVAL

The Minnesota Folk Festival is September 21 and 22 at Mounds Park in Saint Paul. Already lined up are John Gorka, Vance Gilbert, Lynn Miles, Bill Isles, Lehto & Wright, Tim Eriksen, Café Accordion Orchestra, Laura McKenzie, Bells of the North and more. Also taking place at the festival is the 4th Annual New Folk Songwriting Contest. For information on entering the song writing contest or the many volunteer opportunities call 651-292-4900 or check out: minnesotafolkfestival.org
 

INTERNATIONAL FOLK FEST IN DULUTH

The YWCA Duluth International Folk Festival is Saturday, August 3 at Leif Erickson Park. Performers include Myll-rit, Mariachi Serenata, the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers, Arna Rennan and much more. Music starts at 10:00 am. There will an an international marketplace, ethnic foods and a children's area. 
 

UPCOMING CAJUN/ZYDECO EVENTS

August 01 - The New Riverside Ramblers: COON RAPIDS DAM REGIONAL PARK: (7-8:30 PM)
August 01 - The Midway Ramblers: CITY CENTER DANCE, EVANSTON, IL (7-9 PM)
August 03 - The Midway Ramblers: CONCERT IN THE PARK, MORTON ARBORETUM, IL (7-9)
August 04 - Name This Band: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
August 09 - Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
August 09 - Lil' Brian & the Zydeco Travelers: FAMOUS DAVE'S, MINNEAPOLIS
August 10,11 - The Midway Ramblers: FESTIVAL, BROOKFIELD ZOO, IL (BETWEEN 1-4 PM)
August 11 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
August 11 - Lil' Brian & the Zydeco Travelers: BAYFRONT BLUES FESTIVAL, DULUTH
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 24,25 - The Midway Ramblers: FESTIVAL, BROOKFIELD ZOO, IL (BETWEEN 1-4 PM)
August 24,25 - The Cajun Hot Soles: FESTIVAL, HUOT, MINNESOTA
August 25 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
August 30-September 01 - " Bayou Boogie: CASINO, GRAND PORTAGE, MN
August 31 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
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 06 - The New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
September 6-8 - Geno Delafose, others : WHEATLAND FESTIVAL, REMUS, MICHIGAN
September 08 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
September 11 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
September 14 - Grande Prairie: DUNN BROS FREIGHTHOUSE, DOWNTOWN MPLS (8:30 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

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

THANKS, BUT NO THANKS...

Recently our Editor ran into an old friend who worked at a Major Corporation and was also a sort of Blue Light Special consultant to the publishing field. He looked at the newsletter and had suggestions for additional features. Some of these included a recipe, a crossword puzzle, a cartoon, spicy gossip and an astrology column. Our Research Staff is conducting a thorough demographic study of each of these ideas and promises to get their results in a few months to the Content Subcommittee, who will pass them on to the Editorial Policy Group which will send them on to... In the meantime, the astrology idea suggested a Music Quiz theme to the Music Research Staff. Each song has the word - 'sign' in the title. Can you match the song with the performer?
 
01) BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN a) Bob Dylan
02) SIGNS b) The Supremes
03) SIGN ON THE WINDOW c) Prince
04) SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED d) Albert King
05) CHATTANOOGA CITY LIMIT SIGN e) Parliment
06) GIMME LITTLE SIGN f) Five Man Electrical Band
07) (IT'S A) SIGN OF THE TIMES g) Johnny Cash
08) SIGN 0' THE TIMES h) Brenton Wood
09) NO MATTER WHAT SIGN YOU ARE i)  Stevie Wonder
10) SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED j) Petula Clark
*11) (You're a Fish and I'm a)WATER SIGN k) Cowboy Copas
* 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