Cajun Spotlight 


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

SCREENING OF CAJUN DOCUMENTARY

A Work-In-Progress screening of a documentary by St. Paul resident John Whitehead on The Hackberry Ramblers is scheduled for 5:30 pm on Saturday, November 2 at the the Oak Street Cinema in Minneapolis. The Hackberry Ramblers formed in 1933; two of the founders, Luderin Darbonne and Edwin Duhon, still lead the band today. Make 'Em Dance: The Hackberry Ramblers Story gives the history of the band and follows them to a crawfish boil, MTV and their first appearance on the Grand 'Ole Opry (just two years ago). Also in the film are Marcia Ball, Michael Doucet and Richard Thompson. John Whitehead is an award-winning film maker whose works have appeared on PBS, The Learning Channel and The Discovery Channel. His documentary Death of the Dream: Farmhouses in the Heartland was a widely-praised look at changes to agricultural America. The Oak Street Cinema is located near the U of M at 309 Oak Street SE. There is an admission charge.
 

CAJUN/ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS

Maurine McCort started her Zydeco I (Getting the Groove) series on Saturday, October 26. The next two classes are November 2 and 9. Classes are held at the Oddfellows Lodge at 2382 Hampden in Saint Paul on Saturdays from 4 to 5:30 pm. The next level zydeco series (Rockin' with the Rhythm) will be given November 23, December 7 and 14. For more information call Maurine at 651-488-6269 or email her at maurine@spacestar.com. Don't forget that through the end of the year there are free Cajun or zydeco mini-classes before the Sunday dances at the Half Time Rec. Maurine usually teaches these lessons also. 
 

NEW RIVERSIDE RAMBLERS CD

Look for an announcement soon about the new compact disk from the New Riverside Ramblers. A CD Release Party and Dance will take place in December or early in the new year.
 

THE KREWE PRESENTS...

The Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association continues to offer a free dance lesson by Maurine McCort before each of the regular Sunday night dances at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul. Maurine will teach either Cajun or zydeco depending on what the band plays. The lesson will be from 7 to 7:45 pm. Bands will start playing at 8:00 pm. The Half Time is located at 1013 Front Avenue. 

The Krewe also presents a dance Thanksgiving Eve (Wednesday, November 27). The band is the Faux Playboys (formerly Name This Band). There might be some surprise guests on hand, also. There will be a dance lesson at 8 pm. dancing is from 8:30 to midnight. The location is the Polish American Club at 1006 Arcade Street in Saint Paul. 

Looking ahead, the Krewe presents an End of The Year Dance on Saturday, December 28. Playing will be The New Riverside Ramblers and JJ's Zydeco Paydirt. It will also be at the Polish American Club. On Saturday, February 22 the Krewe has a great Mardi Gras dance planned with three bands. Location is not set yet, but mark your calendar now. For information on membership in the Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association (The Krewe de Walleye) check out their great web site at www.krewedewalleye.com
 

GIRL GERMS/BOB WALSER IN CONCERT

Three concerts featuring percussive dance troupe GIRL GERMS and traditional multi-instrumentalist Bob Walser are scheduled for Friday, November 1 at 8:00 pm and Saturday, November 2 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Each concert will be followed by an old time square dance. The location is Grace Trinity Community Church at 1430 West 28th Street in Minneapolis (at the corner of 28th and Hennepin). Cost is just $10 ($8 for seniors, $5 for age 12 and under). Because space is limited reservations are recommended. Call 612-374-4364 to reserve your spot for this fun evening.
 

MANDOLIN FOR SALE...

...with a case. Seller is asking $100. Sorry we don't have more information. For more information call Donna at 952-525-1553
 

A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION

Garrison Keillor hosts A Prairie Home Companion at the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul twice more this year; remaining shows here are:
  • November 02 - Iris Dement, Dan Newton 
  • November 09 - Delbert McClinton, more guests TBA

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • November 01 - Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • November 02 - Film: Make 'Em Dance: The Hackberry Ramblers Story: OAK STREET CINEMA, 5:30 PM
  • November 02 - Midway Ramblers: WAVERLY HOUSE TAVERN, WOODSTOCK, IL (9:00 PM)
  • November 02 - The Buffalo Gals: PUMP HOUSE ARTS CENTER, LACROSSE, WI
  • November 03 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
  • November 10 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
  • November 13 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM) 
  • November 15 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS 
  • November 17 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
  • November 24 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
  • November 27 - Faux Playboys: POLISH AMERICAN CLUB, ST. PAUL
  • December 01 - Frogtown Hotshots: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
  • December 06 - Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • December 08 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
  • December 12 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM) 
  • December 15 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 22 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
  • December 28 - New Riverside Ramblers, JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: POLISH AMERICAN CLUB, ST. PAUL
  • December 29 - Jumbo Ya Ya: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 31 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt: DIXIE'S ON GRAND, ST. PAUL
  • January 05 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
  • January 08 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM) 
  • January 11 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • January 12 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL 
  • January 18 - Tofu Gumbo (new band): DALBO TOWN HALL, DALBO, MN 
  • January 19 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • January 26- TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 08 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • February 22 - Krewe de Walleye Mardi Gras w/ Three (3!) Bands: LOCATION TBA
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar. 
 

LIKE A ROLLING STONE...

Assuming we can get the newsletter out and in the mail in time, our staff is going to see Bob Dylan in Saint Paul on Wednesday, October 30. Bob continues on what has been called the Never Ending Tour, performing somewhere almost every night without more than a few months off since 1988. While he continues to re-invent his old songs, in the last few months he has been performing some songs written or associated with other artists. Our quiz this month has some songs that we hope to hear on Wednesday that Bob has been doing in concert lately. Can you match the song with the performer?
 
01) OLD MAN a) Van Morrison
02) ACCIDENTALLY LIKE A MARTYR b) Bailes Brothers
03) THE END OF THE INNOCENCE c)  The Grateful Dead
04) SEARCHING FOR A SOLDIER'S GRAVE d) Ralph Stanley
05) BROWN SUGAR e) Don Henley
06) FRIEND OF THE DEVIL f) Warren Zevon
07) I AM THE MAN, THOMAS g) The Rolling Stones
08) CARRYING A TORCH h) Johnny & Jack
09)  HUMMINGBIRD i)  Neil Young 

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