Cajun SpotlightCajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest October 2003 LOUISIANA BACK PORCH DANCE IN OSHKOSHThere
will be an old-fashioned Louisiana “Back Porch” Family Dance in Oshkosh,
Wisconsin on Sunday, October 26thfrom 1 to 5 pm. Playing will be the
Cajun Strangers. It takes place at Legion on the Lake at 1393 Washington
Avenue in Oshkosh. Profits will be donated to Habitat for Humanity. For
more information call Lynn at 920-233-0931.
BIG ISLAND RENDEZVOUS & FESTIVALThe
annual Big Island Rendezvous & Festival is October 4 and 5 in Albert
Lea, Minnesota. Plenty of local favorites appear at this event, including
the
Wild Goose Chase Cloggers, The Cajun Strangers, Bill Hinkley & Judy
Larson, Bob Bovee & Gail Heil, Gibson, Martin & I and
Dick
Kimmel & Adam Granger. For more information and a performance schedule
check out bigislandfestival.org.
LALA GALA BENEFIT IN NOVEMBERThe
First Annual Lala Gala for the Huntington’s Disease Society of Minnesota
is Saturday, November 8. It will be at the Polish-American Club at 1003
Arcade Street in Saint Paul. It will feature Bayou Hazard and The
Cajun Hot Soles. The evening includes Cajun food available for purchase,
a cake walk, door prizes, dance lessons and plenty of great music. There
will be a dance lesson at 7:30 pm and dancing from 8 to 11 pm. Come on
out and support a good cause and have a good time doing it.
SMOKEY HOLLOW CAJUN GATHERING: LET’S DO IT AGAIN!Despite
the fact that the rain was unrelenting the entire weekend, the Smokey Hollow
Cajun Gathering held near Madison, Wisconsin in September was a great success.
Folks came from Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. The rain began
as people arrived on Friday afternoon and began to lift as they left on
Sunday. Under the covered pavilion dancers and musicians kept dry while
they danced, played, visited and ate (thanks for the great pancakes, Brian!).
Some or all of the members from the following bands were in attendance:
Crawfish
Hotdish, Grande Prairie, The Cajun Hot Soles, The Cajun Strangers, Sioux
Bayou Cajun Band and Tofu Gumbo. A band showcase Saturday afternoon
and evening (with a break for a tasty potluck dinner) featured musicians
in various combinations and a dance lesson by Lynn Stephany. The
event also raised money for the restoration of some damaged tapes of early
Cajun and Creole music and stories. These recordings were improperly stored
for several years. About $450 was sent to Louisiana to support this project.
Thanks to Brian Grondin and Ross Grotbeck for all their work
in organizing the Smokey Hollow Cajun Weekend. Let’s hope it will happen
again next year.
CAJUN/ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS IN OSHKOSHLynn
Stephany is offering two series of classes in Cajun-Zydeco Dancing
this fall through Fox Valley Technical College in eastern Wisconsin. They
will take place at the Oshkosh Seniors Center Annex in Oshkosh. Both series
meet on Tuesdays. The first runs from September 9 to October 14; the second
from November 4 through December 9. For more information call Lynn at 920-233-0931.
CAJUN JAMS STILL GOING STRONGThe
regular Cajun Jams at Homestead Pickin’ Parlor continue to attract a small
but loyal group of musicians. Jams are held the second Wednesday of each
month from 7 to 9 pm. Homestead is located at 6625 Penn Avenue South in
Richfield. Regrettably there is no room for dancing, but if you want to
play some Cajun tunes stop by on any second Wednesday.
THE KREWE PRESENTS.…The
Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association (the Krewe de Walleye)
has a busy schedule of dances in the months ahead. On Halloween (Friday,
October 31) JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt play for a dance at the Polish American
Club at 1003 Arcade in Saint Paul. There will be a dance lesson at 8:00
pm; dancing is from 8:30 to midnight. Two weeks later (Friday, November
14) Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys return to the Twin Cities
for a dance. It will be held at the Marian Knights of Columbus Hall at
1114 West 79th Street in Bloomington. There will be a Cajun dance lesson
at 8:00 pm; dancing will be from 8:30 to midnight. The Krewe also presents
a Thanksgiving Eve Dance at the Polish American Club on Wednesday, November
26. Playing will be the Faux Playboys. Don’t forget that before
zydeco dances at the Half Time Rec on Sunday night the Krewe presents a
zydeco lesson by Maurine McCort. To learn about Minnesota Cajun
and Zydeco Music and Dance Association and to view other useful information
check out www.krewedewalleye.com.
DALBO DANCES IN OCTOBER, NOVEMBERThe
next Dalbo Town Hall dance will be Saturday, October 4 from 7 to 11 pm.
Music will be provided by DUCK FOR THE OYSTER. DUCK FOR THE OYSTER,
from Sarona, Wisconsin, plays a dynamic mix of traditional American dance
music, as well as toe-tappin' tunes from around the world. Contras, squares,
schottisches, waltzes, and polkas are some of their offerings. From 7 to
7:30 pm, Karen Kaufman, the Duck's caller, will teach basic dance moves.
Everyone is welcome to attend; no experience is needed. Admission is $7
for
adults and children are admitted free. The Dalbo Town Hall is wheelchair
accessible and smoke free.
Mom's
Food Co-op of Cambridge will sell tasty refreshments. Dalbo is located
about an hour north of the Twin Cities between Cambridge and Princeton.
From Dalbo, take Highway 47 north approx. 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. On November 15 The Cajun Hot
Soles and Skandilous play for a dance at the same venue. For
more information contact Amy at #763-444-8390 or asabrina@ecenet.com.
UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS
NOTE:
Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.
JOHNNY CASHIn
mid-September Johnny Cash, the Man in Black, passed away. He began
recording out of the same Memphis studio that would produce Jerry Lee
Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley. His distintive sound
belonged to no single genre; he fit in to rock and roll, country, gospel,
rockabilly and, during the last few year, alternative (whatever that is).
He was a legend and will be missed. All the songs in the quiz this month
are by performers named Johnny or Johnnie. Can you match the artist with
the song?
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