Cajun Spotlight 

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

CAJUN HOT SOLES: SOLE MUSIC

The new CD by the Cajun Hot Soles is out and it’s great!  Sole Music features 16 great songs in the old-style Cajun and Creole style the Hot Soles are known for. We plan to have a more in-depth review in an upcoming issue. The recording is available at  their gigs as well as at their Web site at:  cajunhotsoles.com. The official CD Release Party is slated for Sunday, November 7 at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul. 
 

DALBO DANCES STARTING SOON

The next round of community dances at the Dalbo Town Hall start on October 9 with a dance featuring  music by the Patrick Harison Band. This dynamic accordion player leads a group featuring fiddle, guitar, drums and mandolin. Their repertoire includes blues, Cajun, zydeco and country. There will be a dance lesson with Demi Miller at the beginning of the evening. On Saturday, November 13 the Cajun Hot Soles and Skandilous perform at Dalbo. Dances are also scheduled in January and February. 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 0.2 mile to 399th Ave.  Go right 0.2 mile to Nacre St.  Go left to the Town Hall. For more information call Amy at 763-389-1536 or email: asabrina@ecenet.com.
 

NEW CD FROM THE BUFFALO GALS

See You In The Morning  is the title of the new CD by the Buffalo Gals. It should be available when they play at Minnehaha Park on Monday, September 6 as part of the Laughing Waters Bluegrass Festival (they will be on around 6:30 pm).  There will be a CD Release Concert on Sunday, September 12 at Molly Quinn’s Irish Pub in Minneapolis. The pub is located at 3300 East Lake Street. Note the time: The Gals will perform from 4:00 to 6:30 pm. Why not stop and hear them before heading over to the Half Time Rec for Jumbo Ya Ya?
 

THE KREWE DE WALLEYE PRESENTS...

[Upcoming events sponsored by the Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music & Dance Association]

DENNIS STROUGHMATT & CREOLE STOMP
After seeing Dennis at the Amana Cajunfest this May, we knew we wanted to have him up to the Cities to play for us.  He's an amazingly talented and energetic accordion and fiddle player, and will definitely get you up off your chair and dancing to his Cajun & Creole beats.  Don't miss this exciting event! 
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 24
HALF TIME REC
1013 FRONT AVE. IN ST. PAUL
Tickets $8 for Krewe members, $10 for others
Dance lesson at 7:00 PM; dance from 8:00 -11:00 PM

HALLOWEEN POTLUCK
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31     6:00 PM
HALF TIME REC
1013 FRONT AVE IN ST. PAUL
Potluck will be followed by the Sunday Night Social Dance featuring the Rockin' Pinecones 8-11 PM.  $5.00 charge for the dance
Bring a dish to share and be prepared to pass a good time.  Plates and utensils will be provided by the Krewe.  Plan to buy your beverages at the Half Time as  thanks for their generous support of the Sunday Night Social Dances.
 

BAYOU BOOGIE IN GRAND PORTAGE

Bayou Boogie returns to the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino in Grand Portage, Minnesota over Labor Day weekend. It's a great lineup this year: Rosie Ledet (The Zydeco Sweetheart), the Treater Band with Washboard Charlie and 12-year-old fiddling sensation Amanda Shaw with her band. Feast on authentic Louisiana cuisine like jambalaya, gumbo and shrimp creole. Don't miss the Mardi Gras parades, storytelling, crafts and music.
 

CAJUN WEEKEND AT FOLKLORE VILLAGE 

For those interested in advanced planning, the dates for the 2005 Cajun Music & Dance Weekend at Folklore Village are March 18-20. More information in a few months on this great event.
 

DANCE LESSONS WITH DAVID JORDAHL

2004 Zydeco Beginning/Intermediate levels.  Sundays at Four Season's Dance Studio, $12 per lesson, $30 for 3 lessons, $40 for 4 lessons.  Check www.bayoudancer.com for possible changes
September 12
     4-5:30 Beginning 1 of 3
     5:30-7 No Intermediate Lesson
September 19
     No Lessons / Festivals Acadian
September 26
     4-5:30 Beginning 2 of 3
     5:30-7 Intermediate 1 of 3
October 3
     4-5:30 Beginning 3 of 3
     5:30-7 Intermediate 2 of 3
October 10
     4-5:30 Intermediate 3 of 3
     5:30-7 No Lesson
October 17
     4-5:30 Intermediate 1 of 3
     5:30-7 Beginning 1 of 3
October 24
     4-5:30 Intermediate 2 of 3
     5:30-7 Beginning 2 of 3
October 31
     4-5:30 Intermediate 3 of 3
     5:30-7 Beginning 3 of 3

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • September 03-05 - Bayou Boogie: CASINO, GRAND PORTAGE, MINNESOTA
  • September 04 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: CSPS, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA
  • September 05 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • September 5-7 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: ONEIDA CASINO, GREEN BAY, WI
  • September 08 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7:00-9:00 PM)
  • September 10,11 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: WHEATLAND FESTIVAL, REMUS, MI
  • September 12 - Buffalo Gals CD Release Party: MOLLY QUINN’S PUB, IRISH MPLS (4-6:30 PM)
  • September 12 - Jumbo Ya Ya: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • September 16 - Rockin’ Pinecones: LEE’S LIQUOR LOUNGE, MINNEAPOLIS (9:30 PM)
  • September 17 - Beausoleil: DEADWOOD JAM XIV, DEADWOOD, SD
  • September 19 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • September 19 - Beausoleil: WASHINGTON PAVILION OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, SIOUX FALLS, SD
  • September 21 - Beausoleil: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, STEVENS POINT
  • September 26 - Cajun Hot Soles: DEER LAKE ORCHARD, BUFFALO (1-5 PM)
  • September 26 - Beausoleil: IOWA STATE CENTER, AMES, IA
  • September 26 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • October 03 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • October 09 - Patrick Harison Band: DALBO TOWN HALL, DALBO, MN (7:00 PM)
  • October 10 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • October 13 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7:00-9:00 PM)
  • October 17 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • October 23 - New Riverside Ramblers: DISCIASCIO’S BANQUET HALL, COON VALLEY, WI (8-10 PM)
  • October 24 - Special Event: Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp: HALF TIME REC (8:00 PM) 
  • October 30 - Halloween Dance w/ The Buffalo Gals: TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER, MPLS (7:30 PM)
  • October 31 - Krewe Potluck and Rockin’ Pinecones: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • November 06 - Balfa Toujours: THRASHER’S OPERA HOUSE, GREEN LAKE, WI
  • November 07 - Cajun Hot Soles CD Release Party: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • November 07 - Balfa Toujours: OLD TOWN SCHOOL, CHICAGO, IL
  • November 10 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7:00-9:00 PM)
  • November 13 - Cajun Hot Soles, Skandilous: DALBO TOWN HALL, DALBO, MN (7:00 PM)
  • November 14 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • November 21 - Jumbo Ya Ya: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • November 28 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • December 05 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • December 08 - Cajun Jam: HOMESTEAD PICKIN’ PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7:00-9:00 PM)
  • December 12 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • December 19 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • December 26 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • March 18-20 - Cajun Music/Dance Weekend: FOLKLORE VILLAGE, DODGEVILLE, WI
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than four weeks from first item on calendar.
 

BRILL BUILDING, PART ONE

We take a different approach in the Music Quiz this month. Rather than look at a common word or theme in the titles of the songs, we have decided to focus on the writers of the songs. All the songs in the quiz this month were authored by Carole King and (in most cases) her then-husband Gerry Coffin.  They were one of the song-writing  teams working in the Brill Building in Manhattan during the late ‘50s and ‘60s. The Brill Building housed over 150 music businesses at the same time, including writers, producers, publishers and small studios. It’s influence on the early days of rock was phenomenal. Can you match the performer with the song?
 
01) WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW a) The Byrds
02) UP ON THE ROOF b) The Chiffons
03) WASN’T BORN T0 FOLLOW c) The Shirelles
04) CHAINS  d) Taj Mahal
05) DON’T BRING ME DOWN  e) Little Eva
06) I’M INTO SOMETHING GOOD f) James Taylor
07) LOCO-MOTION  g) Steve Lawrence
08) YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND  h) Herman’s Hermits
09) ONE FINE DAY  i) The Drifters
10) GO AWAY LITTLE GIRL j) The Animals
*11) TAKE A GIANT STEP k) The Cookies
* Special internet bonus question.
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. Email Notessteps@aol.com or NOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT, John Tallaksen, 2425 East Franklin, #211 Minneapolis, MN 55406.