Cajun Spotlight 


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

WALKER CAJUNFEST IS BACK!

The Cajun Festival at the Northern Lights Casino in Walker, Minnesota is back!  Four days of Cajun and zydeco music are planned from August 19-22 with some great Louisiana bands. Performing will be The Basin Brothers Cajun Band, Zydeco Joe, The Treater Band and more.  Check out the web site of the  casino for updated information.
 

BAYOU BOOGIE IN GRAND PORTAGE

Bayou Boogie returns to the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino in Grand Portage, Minnesota over Labor Day weekend this year. On hand will be the Treater Band, Rodney Thibodeaux & Tous Les Soir and Amanda Shaw. Information should be available on their web site.
 

FROM THE KREWE DE WALLEYE...

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. $35 includes a 4 hour cruise down the beautiful St. Croix River on the new. larger Jubilee paddle boat, an hors d'oeuvres buffet and dancing to the music of the Faux Playboys.   Call Carroll Franco to reserve your place at 651-699-0376 or email her at cafzydeco@yahoo.com.  Send checks to Carroll at 1455 Osceola Ave, St. Paul, MN  55105. Numbered tickets will be sent upon receipt of money, along with departure time and location.  There is a cash bar on the boat. This event will sell out; don’t wait too long to get your tickets.  Also, parking is at a premium, so make sure to get to the boat with time to spare. 
The following month (Friday, August 6) 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. We will have additional information in the next issue. To  read more about the Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association and see about other events go to  www.krewedewalleye.com 
 

MARDI GRAS IN JULY

The MultiCultural Development Center is an organization committed “to promote cultural understanding and inclusiveness to enhance workplace performance and community relationships.”  They  present Mardi Gras In July  on Thursday, July 22 to celebrate Acadian and Cajun Culture. The evening includes a Cajun dinner, a talk on Acadian culture and music by Sharon Dee and Cajun music for dancing by Black Bear Bayou. For details go to mcdc.org
 

OSHKOSH SAWDUST DAYS

Among the many performers at Oshkosh Sawdust Days in Oshkosh, Wisconsin are Poncho Chavis & 
the Magic Sounds Zydeco Band and the Patrick Harison Band. The festival dates are June 30 
to July 4; these two bands perform on July 2 and 3.  Go to sawdustdays.com for the full story.
 

DANCE LESSONS WITH DAVE JORDAHL

David Jordahl offers regular dance lessons and occasional CD Dance Parties at Four Seasons Dance Studio in Minneapolis. These lessons are on hiatus for the summer. We’ll have information about Dave’s lessons and dance parties when they resume.

KINGFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD FESTIVAL

The Kingfield Neighborhood Association in south Minneapolis presents their neighborhood festival on Saturday, July 31 from 4 to 9 pm. It takes place at Martin Luther King Park at 41st Street and Nicollet. Performing around 6:30 or 7:00 pm will be Black Bear Bayou; they will play for about an hour.
 

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.
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • July 01 - New Riverside Ramblers: GAZEBO, RAILROAD PARK, WHITE BEAR LAKE (7:00 PM)
  • July 01 - Midway Ramblers: JAMES PARK, EVANSTON. IL (7:30 -9:00 PM)
  • 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 03 - Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas: SUMMERDANCE, CHICAGO, IL (7:30 PM)
  • July 03 - Big Nick & the Cydecos: TED’S SUPPER CLUB, FREMONT, WI (6:30 PM)
  • July 04 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) NOTE: MAY NOT BE A DANCE
  • July 05 - Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience: FAMOUS DAVE’S, UPTOWN, MPLS
  • July 08 - Midway Ramblers: LIBRARY CONCERT, SKOKIE, IL (7:00-8 :00 PM)
  • July 10 - Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band: RAMSEY AUDITORIUM, BATAVIA, IL
  • July 10 - Midway Ramblers: VILLAGE PICNIC, STICKNEY, IL (NOON-2:00 PM)
  • 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 (7:00-8:30 PM)
  • July 14 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7:00-9:00 PM)
  • July 14 - Rockin’ Pinecones: FAMOUS DAVE’S, UPTOWN, MPLS
  • July 15 - Midway Ramblers: SINNISSIPPI PARK, ROCKFORD, IL (7:30 PM)
  • July 16 - C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: JAZZ 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 22 - Mardi Gras in July w/ Sharon Dee, Black Bear Bayou: GO TO MCDC.ORG FOR DETAILS
  • July 24 - Beausoleil: BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA, BAYFIELD, WI (8:15 PM)
  • July 24 - Rockin’ Pinecones, Hot Club of East Lake: MAYSLACK’S, NE MINNEAPOLIS
  • July 25 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • July 31 - Black Bear Bayou: KINGFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD FESTIVAL,41ST AND NICOLLET (6:30 PM?)
  • August 01 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • August 06 - From Louisiana - The Bluerunners: POLISH AMERICAN CLUB, ST. PAUL
  • August 07 - From Louisiana - The Bluerunners: LEE’S LIQUOR BAR, MINNEAPOLIS
  • August 08 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • August 10 - New Riverside Ramblers: MINNESOTA HISTORY CENTER, ST. PAUL (6:30 -8:00 PM)
  • August 11 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7:00-9:00 PM)
  • August 15 - tba: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • August 17 - Rockin’ Pinecones: MINNESOTA HISTORY CENTER, ST. PAUL (6:30 -8:00 PM)
  • August 19-22 - Cajunfest: NORTHERN LIGHTS CASINO, WALKER, MINNESOTA
  • August 21 - The Cajun Hot Soles: ST. PAUL FARMER’S MARKET, 5TH & WALL STREET (9:00 - NOON)
  • August 26-29 - New Riverside Ramblers: MN STATE FAIR (VARIOUS TIMES)
  • August 27 - Chicago Cajun Aces: MUSIC AT HARRY’S PLACE, BELOIT, WI (6:00-9:00 PM)
  • August 28 - Cajun Hot Soles: AFRAN CHAUTAUQUA & FRENCH FESTIVAL, RED LAKE FALLS, MN
  • August 31 - Cajun Hot Soles: PREGAME PERFORMANCE, ST. PAUL SAINTS GAME (5:30 PM)
  • September 03-05 - Bayou Boogie: CASINO, GRAND PORTAGE, MINNESOTA
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than four weeks from first item on calendar.
 

WET BEHIND THE EARS...

Recently we added another reporter to our staff.  His enthusiasm is an inspiration to all of us: he promised to put in long hours, take no breaks or lunches and work holidays and weekends. We told him none of that was necessary, since the Editor was doing all that already. He also wanted to learn about the guidelines or stylebook used at this publication.  None of us knew if we had anything like that, but one veteran of the newsroom came up wIth the basic elements of any news story: Who, What, Where, When and Why.  Since the Music QuIz staff overheard this, they decided to use it as a quiz theme. Can you match the performer with the song?
 
01) WHO’S SORRY NOW a) Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
02) WHAT’S YOUR NAME b) Don and Juan
03) WHERE IS THE LOVE  c) Connie Francis
04) WHEN WILL I BE LOVED  d) Marvin Gaye
05) WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE e) War
06) WHO DO YOU LOVE f) The Who
07) WHAT’S GOING ON g) Prince
08) WHERE’S THE PLAYGROUND, SUSIE h) Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
09) WHEN DOVES CRY i) Glen Campbell
10) WHY CAN’T WE BE FRIENDS j) Bo Diddley
*11) WHO ARE YOU k) Everly 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. Email Notessteps@aol.com or NOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT, John Tallaksen, 2425 East Franklin, #211 Minneapolis, MN 55406.