Cajun Spotlight 

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

CAJUN STRANGERS

The Cajun Strangers play for a dance in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin on Friday, October 15 (Cottage Grove is close to Madison). The venue is Flynn Hall located at 116 West Reynolds Street.  Music starts around 8:00 pm. You can also enjoy the sounds of the Cajun Strangers on Wisconsin Public Radio on Saturday, October 30. They are performing on Higher Ground; the show begins at 7:00 pm.
 

DALBO DANCES 

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. Additional dances are slated for January and February
 

BUFFALO GALS AT TAPESTRY

The Buffalo Gals play for a Halloween Dance Party at Tapestry Folkdance Center on Saturday, October 30. Costumes are encouraged! The Gals play a wide variety of great dance music, including Cajun, country and swing. There will be a Cajun two-step lesson at 7:30 pm and dancing from 8 to 11. Don’t forget to check out the just-released second CD from the group, See You in the Morning.  It is available at their performances as well as Homestead Pickin’ Parlor and on cdbaby.com.
 

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 play for us.  He's a talented and energetic accordion and fiddle player, and will definitely get you up 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.  NOTE: The Krewe offers zydeco  lessons before zydeco bands at the Sunday night Half Time Rec dances. For details go to krewedewalleye.com
 

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 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. 
 

DEWEY BALFA HERITAGE WEEK 2005

The next Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week is April 10-16 at Chicot State Park in Louisiana. For complete details and registration information go to lafolkroots.org.
 

DANCE LESSONS WITH MAURINE MCCORT

Maurine McCort will be offering Cajun and zydeco lessons at the Oddfellows Hall in St. Paul starting sometime in October. Contact CAJUN SPOTLIGHT for more information. You can also speak to Maurine before the free zydeco dance lesson on Sundays at the Half Time Rec (offered only when a zydeco band is scheduled). 
 

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 and the schedule for November and December.
    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

  • October 01 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER (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 15 - The Cajun Strangers: FLYNN HALL, COTTAGE GROVE, WI (8:00 PM)
  • October 17 - The Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • October 23 - New Riverside Ramblers (Concert): DISCIASCIO’S, 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 19 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER (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 11 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER (8:00 PM) 
  • December 11 - The Cajun Strangers: TYRANENA BREWING COMPANY, LAKE MILLS, WI 97:30 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) 
  • January 02 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • January 08 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER (8:00 PM) 
  • January 09 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • January 16 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • January 22 - New Riverside Ramblers: KC HALL, SIOUX FALLS, SD (7;30 PM)
  • January 23 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • January 30 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • February 05 - Bal Masque w/ New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER (8:00 PM) 
  • February 19 - Mardi Gras w/ Cajun Hot soles, Black Bear Bayou: TOWN HALL, DALBO, MN
  • February 26 - Krewe de Walleye Mardi Gras: MEDINA ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
  • 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 TWO

Our second look at the Brill Building in Manhattan looks at the songwriting team of Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil (in case you missed last month’s quiz, the Brill Building housed over 150 music businesses at the same time, including writers, producers, publishers and small studios. It was a major force in the development of popular music in the ‘60s. Several companies employed full-time songwriting teams). Barry Mann abandoned architecture to write songs, and had a hit with “Who Put the Bomp”. He met Cynthia Weil at the Brill Building and they were married in 1961. They penned fifty hits over the next five years, and kept it up through the ‘80s. Can you match the performers with the following hits that thIs hitmaking duo wrote?
 
01) UPTOWN a) Eydie Gorme
02) MY DAD b) Paul Revere & the Raiders
03) BLAME IT ON THE BOSSA NOVA c) Dolly Parton
04) ONLY IN AMERICA d) The Crystals
05) ON BROADWAY  e) Paul Petersen
06) HERE YOU COME AGAIN f) Jay & the Americans
07) HE’S SO SHY g) The Drifters
08) SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH h) The Pointer Sisters
09) MAKE YOUR OWN KIND OF MUSIC i) Dan Hill
10) KICKS  j) Mama Cass Elliot
* 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.