Cajun Spotlight


Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest 
 January 2003

CAJUN/ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS

Maurine McCort has announced the schedule for her upcoming Cajun and zydeco dance lessons. Classes are held at the Oddfellows Lodge at 2382 Hampden in Saint Paul on Saturdays from 4 to 5:30 pm. For more information call Maurine at 651-488-6269 or email her at maurine@spacestar.com.
  • Cajun Basics: Two Step, Waltz, Jitterbug January 04,11,25
  • Cajun Jitterbug February 01,08,22
  • Zydeco I: Gettin' in the Groove March 08,15, 22
  • Zydeco II: Movin' with the Music March 29, April 05,12
  • Zydeco III: Rockin' with the Rhythm April 19,26, May 03

NEW RIVERSIDE RAMBLERS AT MOOSEJAW

MooseJaw is a weekend of old time music and dance presented each March by the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers at Maplelag Resort near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. There are workshops, jams, dances and a chance to enjoy the outdoors. One of the bands appearing this year will be The New Riverside Ramblers. The dates are March 7-9. We'll have more information next issue.
 

THE KREWE PRESENTS...

The Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association continues to offer a free dance lesson before each of the regular Sunday night dances at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul. The lesson is from 7 to 7:45 pm. Bands will start playing at 8:00 pm. The Half Time is located at 1013 Front Avenue.
On Saturday, February 22 the Krewe presents a Mardi Gras dance with three bands: The New Riverside Ramblers, JJ's Zydeco Paydirt and Bayou Hazard. Location is the Everett McClay VFW in Bloomington. Volunteers are needed to help decorate the hall; work for the entire afternoon and get in free to the dance. 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.
 

CAJUN WEEKEND AT FOLKLORE VILLAGE

Special guests for the Cajun Music, Dance and Culture Weekend at Folklore Village near Dodgeville, Wisconsin will be Balfa Toujours. The dates are March 28-30. Joining the members of Balfa Toujours (Christine Balfa, Dirk Powell, Kevin Wimmer and Courtney Granger) will be Gene Losey, Charlie Terr, Will Whedbee, Chris Voigt, Claire Hedlund, Kirby Jambon and Jolen Adam. We'll have more information next month. To contact Folklore Village call 608-924-4000.
 

NEXT DALBO DANCES SET

The next dance at the Town Hall in Dalbo, Minnesota will be Saturday, January 18. Playing will be The Mad Cow Band and Tofu Gumbo, a new band making their public debut. The Mad Cow Band plays old time and variety music; Tofu Gumbo plays Cajun, country and blues. On February 15 a Mardi Gras Dance at the hall will feature The Cajun Hot Soles and Crawfish Hotdish. Admission at both dances is just $7 for adults and children are free. Mom's Food Co-op from Cambridge will be selling delicious refreshments. Dalbo is located about an hour north of the Twin Cities between Cambridge and Princeton.
Directions to the town hall from Dalbo: from Dalbo take Highway 47 north about 3.3 miles to County 16. Go west (left) 1.8 miles to Jaspar St. Go left .2 mile to 399th Ave. Go right .2 mile to Nacre St. Go left to Town Hall. For more information you can email Amy at asabrina@ecenet.com or call 763-444-8390.
 

FROSTBITE FOLLIES

Frostbite Follies is a special show in the spirit of old classic vaudeville featuring music, juggling, dancing, rope twirling and more. Sharing the stage for the three performances will be Pop Wagner, Café Accordion Orchestra, Clint Hoover, In Capable Hands and Girl Germs. Frostbite Follies will be presented on Saturday, January 18 at the Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson, Wisconsin (with shows at 2 and 8 pm) and on Sunday, January 19 at the Mabel Tainter Theater in Menomonie, Wisconsin (one show at 2:00 pm). Phone number for the Phipps is 715-386-2305. Contact the Mabel Tainter Theater at 715-235-0001.
 

BLUFF COUNTRY GATHERING

The next Bluff Country Gathering in Lanesboro, Minnesota is May 15-18. Bob Bovee and Gail Heil have arranged another fine lineup of musicians this year: Rayna Gellert, The Rhythm Rats, Bill Dillof, Jimmy Triplett, Eric & Suzy Thompson, Pop Wagner, Shawn Glidden and Betsy Neil. This four-day event includes jams, workshops, concerts, dances and more. There is limited space and it always fills up quickly, so if you are interested act soon. For more information call 507-498-5452 or email: bobngail@means.net
 

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

...new Wisconsin band The Cajun Strangers are in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin on January 17...Beausoleil appears on A Prairie Home Companion from Saint Paul on January 18...Doug Kershaw will be at the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, Minnesota on January 26...Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys are in Madison and Chicago in mid-February...
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • January 02 - Bayou Hazard: WASHINGTON SQUARE BAR & GRILL, WHITE BEAR LAKE
  • January 03 - Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO
  • January 05 - C/Z Dance Lesson: KINETIC ENERGY, OSHKOSH, WI (6:30 -7:15 PM)
  • January 05 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • January 08 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • January 10,11 - C. J. Chenier: FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • January 11 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • January 12 - The Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • January 15 - C/Z Dance Lesson: DANCE TEC, MENASHA, WI (8:00-9:45 PM)
  • January 17 - The Cajun Strangers: COTTAGE GROVE, WI
  • January 18 - Beausoleil: A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION, ST. PAUL
  • January 18 - Tofu Gumbo (new band), Mad Cow Band: DALBO TOWN HALL, DALBO, MN
  • January 19 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • January 24 - C/Z Dance Party w/ Lesson: KINETIC ENERGY, OSHKOSH, WI (8-11 PM)
  • January 25 - The Cajun Hot Soles: LAKE HARRIET SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY, MPLS
  • January 26 - NO DANCE: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • January 26 - Doug Kershaw: SHOOTING STAR CASINO, MAHNOMEN, MN
  • February 02 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 03 - Bayou Hazard: NEUMANN'S BAR, NORTH ST. PAUL
  • February 07 - Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO
  • February 08 - Terrance Simien: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, MARSHFIELD. WI
  • February 08 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • February 08,09 - Savoy Family Band: UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FOLK FESTIVAL, CHICAGO
  • February 09 - The Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 12 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • February 13 - Buckwheat Zydeco: POTAWATOMI BINGO CASINO, MILWAUKEE, WI
  • February 14 - Buckwheat Zydeco: HOUSE OF BLUES, CHICAGO
  • February 14 - Lil' Brian & the Zydeco Travelers: WAVERLY GOLD NOTE LOUNGE, WOODSTOCK, IL
  • February 15 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: HARMONY BAR, MADISON, WI
  • February 15 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: OLD TOWN SCHOOL, CHICAGO (NOON AND 3 PM)
  • February 16 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 18 - Mardi Gras at Dalbo w/ Cajun Hot Soles, Crawfish Hotdish: TOWN HALL, DALBO
  • February 22 - Krewe de Walleye Mardi Gras w/ Three (3!) Bands: LOCATION TBA
  • February 23 - Jumbo Ya Ya: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 28 - Grande Prairie: WINTER BLUEGRASS WEEKEND, RADISSON INN, PLYMOUTH
  • March 07 - Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO
  • March 08 - Bayou Hazard: FLOYD'S BAR, VICTORIA, MN
  • March 28-30 - Cajun Weekend w/ Balfa Toujours: FOLKLORE VILLAGE, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • April 04 - Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO
  • April 26 - The Cajun Hot Soles: LAKE HARRIET SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY, MPLS
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.
 

CLOCK WATCHING

Because of the hectic activities down here at the CAJUN SPOTLIGHT offices related to the holidays (all our staff insisted on hanging up a Christmas stocking, and since we lacked a mantel they hung them on the water cooler - it was not a pretty sight), the editor worked late to get this issue out. Many of the staff were on holiday, including the Music Quiz Research Department. Hence the Editor did the quiz this time around. While frantically searching for a quiz theme as the hour to get to the printer approached, he realized that songs with times of day in the title would be a good idea (amazing what sounds reasonable when you have a deadline!) You can judge the results for yourself below. Can you match the performer with the song?
 
 
01) QUARTER TO THREE a) Lovin' Spoonfu
02) THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING b) Patsy Cline
03) WEDNESDAY MORNING, 3 A.M. c) Tex Ritter
04) FOUR IN THE MORNING d) Gary "U. S." Bonds
05) 9 TO 5  e) Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
06) HIGH NOON f) The Vogues
07) 5 O'CLOCK WORLD g) Jesse Collin Young
08) SIX O'CLOCK h) Dolly Parton
09)  IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR i)  Simon and Garfunkel
10) WALKIN' AFTER MIDNIGHT j) Wilson Pickett

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