Cajun Spotlight

Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest 
  April 2004

ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS WITH MAURINE

Maurine McCort offers zydeco lessons again this spring. Classes are held on Saturday afternoons from 4 to 5:30 pm at the Oddfellows Lodge at 2382 Hampden in Saint Paul. You do not need a partner; cost is $10 per person per class. Here’s the schedule:
  • Moving with The Music: Intermediate- March 27, April 3,10
  • Rocking with the Rhythm: Extreme - April 27, 24 and May 1 


CAJUN STRANGERS DANCE IN MADISON

The Cajun Strangers play for a Cajun dance in Madison, Wisconsin on Friday, April 16. It’s at the Grace Episcopal Church located at 116 West Washington Avenue. Music starts at 8:00 pm. For information email music@cajunstrangers.com. Also check there for news of there new compact disk.
 

CAJUN DANCE AT POLISH AMERICAN CLUB

There will be a Cajun dance at the Polish American Club in Saint Paul on Saturday, April 10. with the Cajun Hot Soles. The Hot Soles are working on a CD; we hope to have definite word on a release date soon. Music starts at 8:00 pm. The club is located at 1003 Arcade Avenue in Saint Paul.
 

KFAI FUND DRIVE

KFAI radio is a community, noncommercial radio station in the Twin Cities. It has excellent public affairs programs and music programming that reflects the diverse tastes of our multicultural metropolitan area.  One of our favorite shows is Louisiana Rhythms, which features Cajun, zydeco, swamp pop and  New Orleans R & B. The station is currently running a fund drive. I encourage all readers to join and support this station. Please call on Friday, April 2 between 9 and 11 am (during Louisiana Rhythms) and pledge your support. The phone number is 612-375-9030 or hit the web site at www.kfai.org. Listen to the station at 90.3 FM in Minneapolis or 106.7 FM in St. Paul. 
 

CAJUN WEEKEND AT FOLKLORE VILLAGE

The Cajun Music Dance and Heritage Weekend at Folklore Village in Dodgeville, Wisconsin is April 23-25. On staff for workshops in accordion, fiddle, dance and culture will be Robert Jardell, Matt Cormier, Eric Mohring, Charlie Terr, John Terr, Will Whedbee, Gene Losey, Karen Kleinspehn, Christine Voigt, Maureen Mullen and Jackie Miller. There will be workshops in three levels of  accordion, fiddle and dance as well as  sessions in guitar, culture and cooking. Expect time to jam also.  You can contact Folklore Village at 608-924-4000 or go to folklorevillage.org.
 

BLACK BEAR BAYOU 

Black Bear Bayou is a trio playing traditional Cajun music. They will be performing at Columbia Grounds coffeehouse at 33rd and Central Avenue NE on Friday, April 16. Music  is from 7 to 9 pm. There is limited room for dancing but unlimited room for fun. Might be worth checking out...
 

DANCE LESSONS WITH DAVE JORDAHL

David Jordahl offers regular dance lessons and occasional CD Dance Parties at Four Seasons Dance Studio in Minneapolis. Beginning zydeco lessons will be offered on Sunday afternoons April 4, 11 ,18 and 25 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. Intermediate zydeco lessons are offered March 28, April 4, 11 and 18 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Cajun dance lessons are also going to be offered soon. Four Seasons Dance Studio is located at 1637 Hennepin Avenue near Loring Park. For more information go to bayoudancer.com
 

CAJUN/CREOLE WEEK AT AUGUSTA

The staff for the Cajun/Creole Week (July 11 -16) at Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia has been announced. Instructors include Marc Savoy, Al Berard, Courtney Granger, Mitchell Reed, Joel Savoy, Charlie Terr, Paul Daigle, Wilson Savoy, Jason Frey, Ann Savoy, Edward Poullard, Michelle Kaminsky, Tracy Schwarz,  John Terr, Jesse Lege, Mona Wilson,  Joely Bias,  Chester Gremillion, Carol & Gerald Trahan and Jackie & Larry Miller.  Zydeco Force will be on staff, with accordionist Jeffrey Broussard teaching zydeco accordion. For more information call 1-800-624-3157 or  check out augustaheritage.com. We have a limited number of catalogs for Augusta here at the office; call us if you would like one.
 

LOOKING AHEAD IN 2004

Here are the dates and lineups for area Cajun/zydeco weekends and festivals in the months ahead.
  1. The Budweiser Taste Louisiana Cajun Fest in Amana, Iowa is May 29-31. Scheduled to perform at the popular event are Rosie Ledet and the Zydeco Playboys, Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars,  Jamie Bergeron and the Kickin’ Cajuns, Hadley Castille and the Sharecroppers and Dennis Stroughmatt & Marce Lacouture. The festival in Lincoln, Nebraska will take place in the fall.
  2. The Gumbo Ya-Ya Festival held in Rock Island, Illinois will be June 11 and 12. No word yet on who will be appearing, but usually has some great performers.
  3. Among the many performers at Oshkosh Sawdust Days in Oshkosh, Wisconsin are Poncho Chavis & the Magic Sounds Zydeco Band and Peewee Harison & 612 Bayou Crew. The dates are June 30 to July 4. Go to sawdustdays.com for details.


UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • April 01 - Everett-Smithson Band (zydeco/blues): FAMOUS DAVE’S, UPTOWN MPLS (8:00 PM)
  • April 02 - Midway Ramblers: IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • April 02 - Everett-Smithson Band (zydeco/blues): VIKING BAR, MPLS (9:00 PM)
  • April 03 - Everett-Smithson Band (zydeco/blues): RASSET BAR & GRILL, WAVERLY, MN
  • April 04 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • April 09 - Midway Ramblers: BARRINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, BARRINGTON, IL (8:00 PM)
  • April 10 - Cajun Hot Soles: POLISH AMERICAN CLUB, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • April 11 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • April 14 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • April 16 - The Cajun Strangers: GRACE  EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MADISON, WI (8:00 PM)
  • April 16 - Everett-Smithson Band (zydeco/blues): SHAW’S, MINNEAPOLIS
  • April 16 - Black Bear Bayou: COLUMBIA GROUNDS, MINNEAPOLIS (7-9 PM)
  • April 18 - Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • April 24-26 - Cajun Music & Dance Weekend: FOLKLORE VILLAGE, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • April 25 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • April 28 - Rockin’ Pinecones: LEE’S LIQUOR BAR, MINNEAPOLIS (9:30 PM)
  • May 02 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • May 07 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS (7:30 PM)
  • May 07 - Midway Ramblers: IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • May 08 - Cajun Hot Soles: POLISH AMERICAN CLUB, ST. PAUL
  • May 08 - Everett-Smithson Band (zydeco/blues): NEUMANN’S BAR, NORTH ST. PAUL
  • May 09 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • May 12 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • May 16 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • May 23 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • May 29-31 - Taste Louisiana Cajun Fest: AMANA, IOWA
  • May 30 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • June 05 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS (7:30 PM)
  • June 06 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • June 09 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)
  • June 13 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • June 20 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • June 24 - New Riverside Ramblers: COON RAPIDS DAM REGIONAL PARK (7-8:30 PM)
  • June 25 - Buckwheat Zydeco: MUSIC IN THE ZOO, MINNESOTA ZOO
  • June 27 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • July 14 - New Riverside Ramblers: LIONS PARK, LINDSTROM, MN (7-8:30 PM)
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.


GAMBLING, MINNESOTA STYLE

Gambling in Minnesota takes a variety of forms. Of course, there is the familiar casino type, which has in just a few decades become a major industry in many states. There are office pools, especially during the NCAA playoffs. There are pulltabs, there are state lottery games... One of the most overlooked forms of gambling in Minnesota and other northern states, though, involves gardening. A recent spell of 60 degree days had a lot of folks looking seriously at their back yards - was there going to be another frost? Could those plants go in now??  This month’s quiz has gambling as its theme. Can you match the performer with the song?

 
01) TUMBLING DICE a) Robert Johnson
02) SPINNING WHEEL  b) T. Texas Tyler
03) DYING CRAPSHOOTER’S BLUES c) Kenny Rogers
04) DON’T LET YOUR DEAL GO DOWN  d) Boozoo Chavis
05) THE GAMBLER e) Rolling Stones
06) RAMBLIN’ GAMBLIN’ MAN  f) Blood, Sweat & Tears
07) LAST FAIR DEAL GONE DOWN g) Blind Willie McTell
08) DECK OF CARDS  h) Charlie Poole
09) JACK O’ DIAMONDS  i) Blind Lemon Jefferson
10) MOLLY AND TENBROOKS  j) Bob Seger System
*11) LULA, DON'T YOU GO TO BINGO k) The Stanley Brothers
 * Special Internet 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