Cajun Spotlight

In early April Linda and I drove south to The Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Weekend at Lake Fausse Pointe State Park near St. Martinville, Louisiana.  This event is presented by Louisiana Folk Roots, a nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing, fostering and sharing the cultural traditions of Louisiana. Lake Fausse Pointe State Park is an perfect setting for such a weekend - the comfortable cabins are next to a lake that was once part of the Atchafalaya Basin. The conference center is ideal for meals and workshops and there are many picnic pavilions close by.  The workshops focusing on fiddle and accordion offered a variety of levels and styles. Accordion instructors included Jimmy Breaux, Paul Daigle and Dexter Ardoin. Fiddle workshops were led by Al Berard, Mitch Reed, D’Jalma Garnier and Michael Doucet. Other sessions looked at particular aspects of Cajun and Creole music and culture, including ballads and home music with Marce Lacouture. Special guests appearing for sessions included Herman Fuselier, Walter Mouton, Preston Frank and U. J. Meaux. It wasn’t all classes though - each night we would board the bus to ride to a different dance destination. Friday it was a street dance in St. Martinville with the Frank Family Band, Saturday it was Walter Mouton & the Scott Playboys at La Poussiere and Sunday to Whiskey River Landing for Geno Delafose & French  Rockin’ Boogie. Back at the conference center afterward there was jamming. It was a good weekend in many ways. The weather was superb, the food was great, the instructors knowledgeable and approachable. The 80 or so participants hailed from all around the United States and Canada. Next year this event will be a full week and located at Chicot State Park north of Lafayette. Information will be on the web site soon (www.lafolkroots.org). if you have a hankering to get to the next level of understanding of Cajun and Creole culture, there’s no better place to go than a Louisiana Folk Roots event. 

John Tallaksen

There will be a Cajun dance at the Polish American Club in Saint Paul on Saturday, May 8. 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.

The Budweiser Taste Louisiana Cajun and Zydeco 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. Dance instruction in Cajun and zydeco dancing will be offered by Jodi Hebert, Gabe Bourgeois, Diane & Richard Luther and David Jordahl.  Look for plenty of good food, great music for listening or dancing, music and cooking  workshops and more. For more information go to www.cajunfest.net

The Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association has set the date for its annual Cajun Cruise on the St. Croix River. It will be Saturday, July 17. Playing this year will be the Faux Playboys. The following month the Krewe will have a dance at the Polish American Hall with music by the Bluerunners, a great Louisiana band that covers all the bases. To  read more about the Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association and see about other events go to  www.krewedewalleye.com.

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 afternoon May 2 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm and Intermediate zydeco the same day from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.  Four Seasons Dance Studio is located at 1637 Hennepin Avenue near Loring Park. Dave also has scheduled a Cajun Jitterbug Workshop for Saturday, May 22 at the Polish American Club in Saint Paul. For more information go to bayoudancer.com or call 612-226-1851.

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. 

Here are the dates and lineups for area Cajun/zydeco events and festivals in the months ahead.

1. Although earlier schedules we’ve seen had Buckwheat Zydeco at the Minnesota Zoo on June 25, it now seems to be set for June 24. In addition, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys are also on the bill. Look for final word on this in local papers when they  feature ads for the entire zoo music schedule.
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.
4. Steve Riley and his group return to Wisconsin and Michigan in early September. Details in the next issue.

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

May 02 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: 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 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

May 12 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)

May 12 - Rockin’ Pinecones: VIKING BAR, MINNEAPOLIS (6:30-9:00 PM)

May 16 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

May 23 - Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

May 26 - Rockin’ Pinecones: LEE’S LIQUOR BAR, MINNEAPOLIS (9:30 PM-CLOSE)

May 29-31 - Taste Louisiana Cajun Fest: AMANA, IOWA

May 30 - The Buffalo Gals: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

June 05 - Jumbo Ya Ya: EDINA ART FAIR (1:30 -4:00 PM)

June 05 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS (7:30 PM)

June 06 - Jumbo Ya Ya: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

June 09 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD (7-9 PM)

June 10 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: WATERFEST,OSHKOSH, WI

June 11 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: CHICAGO BLUES FESTIVAL, CHICAGO

June 13 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) (Tentative)

June 15 - New Riverside Ramblers: NOON CONCERT SERIES, NORTHRUP MALL, U 0F M (NOON)

June 20 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

June 24 - New Riverside Ramblers: COON RAPIDS DAM REGIONAL PARK (7-8:30 PM)

June 24 - Steve Riley, Buckwheat Zydeco: MUSIC IN THE ZOO, MINNESOTA ZOO

June 26 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: RASPBERRY FEST, WEBSTER CITY, IA (9:30 PM) 

June 27 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

June 27 - Buckwheat Zydeco: SUMMERFEST, MILWAUKEE

June 27-29 - Poncho Chavis & the Magic Sounds:  ONEIDA CASINO, GREEN BAY, WI

July 02 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie: BLUES FESTIVAL, DAVENPORT, IA (10:30 PM)

July 02,03 - Poncho Chavis & the Magic Sounds: SAWDUST DAYS, OSHKOSH, WI

July 04 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

July 10 - Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band: RAMSEY AUDITORIUM, BATAVIA, IL

July 11 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

July 11 - Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band: FOLK & ROOTS FESTIVAL, CHICAGO, IL

July 14 - New Riverside Ramblers: LIONS PARK, LINDSTROM, MN (7-8:30 PM)

July 16 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: FESTIVAL, DUBUQUE, IA

July 17 - Cajun Cruise w/ The Faux Playboys: ON THE ST. CROIX, STILLWATER

July 18 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

July 24 - Beausoleil: BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA, BAYFIELD, WI

July 25 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)

August 07 - The Bluerunners: POLISH-AMERICAN HALL, ST. PAUL
 

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

PAIRS

Although the presidential election is still some ways off, there is considerable speculation about who the presumed Democratic candidate will select as his running mate. Folks interested in name recognition have suggested former Senator Bob Kerrey be the Vice-Presidential candidate, meaning the ticket would be “Kerry and Kerrey.”  It is also interesting to note that there has been a Bush or a Dole on every Republican ticket since 1976. In this month’s quiz we look at song titles that features pairs. You won’t see these on the ballot come election day, Can you match the song with the performer?