Cajun Spotlight 

Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest
 February 2005

MARDI GRAS MINNESOTA-STYLE

Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) is February 8. There are several dance and music events  to choose from this year. Heck, you can even go to all of them and really have a great February!  Details  follow...
 

MARDI GRAS BAL MASQUE AT THE CEDAR 

On Saturday, February 5 The New Riverside Ramblers present a Bal Masque at the Cedar Cultural Center. There is a dance lesson at 7:30 pm followed by dancing to 11:30 pm. Costumes are encouraged. Cost in advance is $10; $12 at the door.
 

JJ’S ZYDECO PAYDIRT GIGS

On Fat Tuesday itself (February 8) JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt play at Dixie’s on Grand. Music is from 6 to 10 pm. On Saturday, February 12 JJ travels to Floyd’s Bar in Victoria for another Mardi Gras Party; food at 8:00 pm; music at 9:00 pm
 

MARDI GRAS IN DALBO

The Mardi Gras Dance at the Dalbo Town Hall is Saturday, February 19 from 7 to 11 pm.  Costumes are encouraged!  Step out of the cold and into the color, music and fun of this event for music lovers of all ages. The Cajun Hot Soles and Black Bear Bayou will offer up hot 'n spicy Cajun and Creole tunes. The Smokey Hollow Ramblers play classic blues, rock and country. Two steps, waltzes, and however-you-want-to-move dancing is encouraged.   A free dance lesson and party favors are included. Admission is $10 for adults, children are admitted free. The Town Hall is wheelchair accessible and smokefree.  Refreshments by Mom's Food Co-op of Cambridge will be on sale. Dalbo is located about an hour north of the Twin Cities. To get to the Town Hall from Dalbo:  take Highway 47 north about 2.5 miles to County 16.  Go west (left) 1.8 mile to Jaspar St.  Go left 0.2 mile to 399th Ave.  Go right 0.2 mile to Nacre St.  Go left to Town Hall. Overnight lodging is available at area motels and at nearby Sweetgrass Farm.  For details contact Amy at asabrina@ecenet.com or call 763-389-1536.
 

MARDI GRAS AT THE MEDINA BALLROOM

The fourth annual Krewe de Walleye Mardi Gras Celebration Dance on Saturday, February will be a great time to "laissez les bon temps rouler" and get into the Louisiana spirit of Mardi Gras! For the second year, the venue is the Medina Entertainment Center, where there's a great dance floor, lots of room to listen or dance, and plenty of parking.  There will be three bands, loads of beads, two king cakes,  (with prizes for the ones who find the baby in their piece of cake) a Mardi Gras parade, costume contest and lots more prizes.  The bands are The Faux Playboys, JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt and Patrick Harison & the Hoodoo-Makers. It's an event not to be missed, whether you're a dancer or just like to "pass a good time" the Louisiana way. Ticket prices are $12 for Krewe members; $15 for non-members in costume, and $17 for non-members without costumes. Save some money and join the Krewe as a member!  There will be a free dance lesson at 6:30 PM by Maurine McCort. The dance will go from 7:30 pm until 12:15 am. For more information go to krewedewalleye.com
 

ROSIE LEDET AT FAMOUS DAVE’S

Rosie Ledet (The Zydeco Sweetheart) returns to Minnesota with a stop at Famous Dave’s BBQ in Uptown on Thursday, February 10. 
 

DANCE LESSONS WITH MAURINE MCCORT

Maurine McCort is offering Cajun and zydeco lessons at the Oddfellows Hall in Saint Paul.  No partner is needed and cost per session is just $10. Email her at Maurine.McCort@co.hennepin.mn.us or call 651-688-6269  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). Here the the upcoming lessons:
February 5, 12, 18
Cajun Jitterbug
March 5, 19, 26
Zydeco I
April  2, 9, 16
Zydeco II
April  23, 30, May 7
Zydeco III

BEAUSOLEIL AT THE DAKOTA

According to one calendar we’ve run across Beausoleil makes an appearance at The Dakota in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday, February 13.  Call them for confirmation and details.
 

CAJUN MUSIC AT THE U OF C FESTIVAL

The University of Chicago Folk Festival is held each February; the dates this year are  February 4-6. Some great Cajun and Creole music will be part of the event this year with the appearance of guitarist J. B. Adams, accordionist Edward Poullard and fiddler Cedric Watson. For more information about this event go to uofcfolk.org on the Web.
 

LOUISIANA “HOT” SAUCE FESTIVAL

Sawdust Days in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is held over the July 4th weekend each year.  Part of the celebration this year will be the Louisiana “Hot” Sauce Festival, with Texas/Louisiana and local Cajun and zydeco bands. Signed up so far are The Lost Bayou Ramblers and Jamie Bergeron & the Kickin’ Cajuns. We will have more information about this event in the coming months.

CAJUN HOT SOLES IN ROCHESTER

On Thursday, February 3 the Cajun Hot Soles travel to Rochester, Minnesota. The venue is Whistle Binkies Olde World Pub, a restaurant and bar with a full menu and 140 different beers. The address is 3120 Wellner Drive NE; music starts at 8:00 pm
 

TASTE OF LOUISIANA  FESTIVAL

The 2005 edition of the Taste of Louisiana Cajun and Zydeco Festival is May 28-30; the location is again Amana, Iowa. Appearing this year are Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Sean Vidrine & Swamp Frye, Belton Richard & the Musical Aces and the New Riverside Ramblers. For complete details go to cajunfest.net.
 

DANCE LESSONS WITH DAVID JORDAHL

David Jordahl offers instruction in a variety of Cajun and zydeco dance styles, including Cajun Cowboy Jitterbug. Go to bayoudancer.com for his latest schedule of classes
 

CAJUN WEEKEND AT FOLKLORE VILLAGE 

The dates for the 2005 Cajun Music & Dance Weekend at Folklore Village are March 18-20. Some of the folks slated to be on staff include Charlie Terr, Jason Frey, Al Berard, John Terr, Will Whedbee, Stacy Huval, Jackie Miller, Robert Morrow and Eric Mohring.  We’ll have more information as we get it or go to folklorevillage.org

BATTLE OF THE JUGBANDS 2005

The 23rd annual Battle of the Jugbands is Sunday, February 13 at the Cabooze Bar in Minneapolis. The competition is from 1:15 to 8:15 pm, with 21 band hoping to take home the coveted Waffle Iron. Among the bands appearing are The Jook Savages,The Saggy Bottom Girls, The Geezers, The Je Ne Sais Quoi Jug Band, Fat, Drunk & Stupid and the Smokey Hollow Ramblers. This last-mentioned band you may have seen at the Dalbo Town Hall dances; they will play at about 5:30. Come on down and say nice things about them to the judges.
 

HOMESTEAD CAJUN JAM ON HIATUS 

After a run of almost nine years, the second Wednesday Cajun Jam at Homestead Pickin’ Parlor  have been suspended. If you would like to be notified whenever informal Cajun jams are scheduled drop an email or a postcard to CAJUN SPOTLIGHT. Thanks to all the folks who came out to the jams or just stopped by to listen and visit.
 

2005  MARDI GRAS YANKEE-CHANK SWAMP JAM 

from Nancy Weston
he 12th Annual Mardi Gras Yankee-Chank Swamp Jam will take place on Monday, Feb. 7, 2005, 11:00 am, at McGee’s Landing in Henderson, Louisiana.  What we do is this:  drift for almost 2 hours through the Atchafalaya Swamp on a motorized flatboat.  You can jam or dance. This trip is lots of fun and a chance to relax with music and friends from around the country. (There may be some smuggled live Cajuns on the boat, such as the infamous “Tee Larry” of Iota!) There will be two boats to accommodate more folks, and spots are first come, first served. PLEASE INDICATE if you are a musician, and what you play!  This is very important to ensure even and adequate numbers of musicians between the two boats. 

The cost is $12 per person.  Send me a check ASAP (made out to Nancy Weston) to reserve your spot:  PAY ATTENTION HERE - DIFFERENT ADDRESS!!!!    186 Ray Milner Rd., Iota, LA  70543.  DO NOT SEND TO MY CONNECTICUT ADDRESS!  Include your e-mail (preferred) or a stamped-self-addressed envelope for confirmation and directions to the site.   If you choose to wait until the last minute, you can call me at 337-779-2040  to reserve a spot if there are any left, or find out about cancellations.   (Starting Jan. 5 use the 337 phone number.)    After the  jam, those who would like can stay to eat at McGee’s (open menu) and can continue jamming and dancing.  Do not try to reserve or buy your ticket for the boat trip through McGee's as this is a charter trip.  However, with notice, you may join us at McGee’s afterwards even if you do not make the boat ride.
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • February 03 - The Cajun Hot Soles: WHISTLE BINKIES PUB, ROCHESTER, MN (8:00 PM)
  • February 04 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • February 04-06 - Edward Poullard, Cedric Watson, more: U OF CHICAGO FOLK FESTIVAL, CHICAGO
  • February 05 - Everett Smithson Band: NEUMANN’S BAR, NORTH ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • February 05 - Bal Masque w/ New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER (8:00 PM) 
  • February 06 - New Riverside Ramblers: ST. STEPHEN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH, MPLS (NOON-2:30 PM)
  • February 06 - NO DANCE! (SUPER BOWL): HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • February 08 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: DIXIE’S ON GRAND, ST. PAUL (6-10 PM)
  • February 08 - Mardi Gras w/ The Midway Ramblers: JACK SULLIVAN’S, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • February 10 - Rosie Ledet: FAMOUS DAVE’S UPTOWN, MINNEAPOLIS
  • February 11 - Beausoleil, Preservation Hall Jazz Band: SYMPHONY CENTER, CHICAGO
  • February 11 - Rosie Ledet: LUTHER’S BLUES, MADISON, WI
  • February 12 - Mardi Gras Party w/ JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: FLOYD'S, VICTORIA, MN 
  • February 12 - The Cajun Strangers: SWAMP ‘N’ GRASS, ELKHART LAKE, WI
  • February 13 - NO DANCE!: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • February 13 - Beausoleil: THE DAKOTA, MINNEAPOLIS (CALL THEN FOR DETAILS)
  • February 13 - The Cajun Strangers: INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, OVERTURE CENTER, MADISON
  • February 18 - Everett Smithson Band: FLOYD’S, VICTORIA
  • February 19 - Mardi Gras w/ Cajun Hot Soles, Black Bear Bayou: TOWN HALL, DALBO, MN
  • February 20 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • February 26 - Krewe de Walleye Mardi Gras: MEDINA ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
  • February 27 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • March 04 - Cajun Hot Soles, Black Bear Bayou: BLUEGRASS WEEKEND, PLYMOUTH (10:00 PM)
  • March 04 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • March 06 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • March 11 - Pop Wagner, Cajun Hot Soles: LAKE OF THE TORCHES CASINO, LAC DU FLAMBEAU, WI
  • March 11,12 - Terrance Simien & the Zydeco Experience: MESKWASKI CASINO, TAMA, IA
  • March 12 - C. J. Chenier: LAKE OF THE TORCHES CASINO, LAC DU FLAMBEAU, WI
  • March 13 - Bayou Hazard: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • March 18-20 - Cajun Music/Dance Weekend: FOLKLORE VILLAGE, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • March 19 - Everett Smithson Band: THE SPOT, CUMBERLAND, WI (9:00 PM)
  • March 20 - Jumbo Ya-Ya: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • March 25 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER (7:30 PM) 
  • March 27 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • April 01 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • April 09 - The Cajun Strangers: TYRANENA BREWING COMPANY, LAKE MILLS, WI (7:30 PM)
  • April 23 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HOBGOBLIN MUSIC LOFT, RED WING (7:30 PM)
  • April 23 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER (7:30 PM) 
  • May 28-30 - Taste of Louisiana Cajun/Zydeco Festival: AMANA, IOWA
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than four weeks from first item on calendar.
 

THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER...

The end of the holiday season and the start of a new year was not unwelcome to several folks in our office. The numerous gatherings of friends and families, the crowded shops, parking lots and highways, the pressure to festively drape the house (inside and out!) with lights, garlands and holiday inflatables and then pack it all away a few weeks later...it was too much for some staffers. They came in before holiday break ended (leaving family, hearth and home early) and came up with this month’s quiz: family bands. Many recorded groups consisted largely or exclusively of family members. Can you match the song with the performer?
 
01) THE RAIN, THE PARK & OTHER THINGS a) The Beach Boys
02) VAS Y CARREMENT (STEP IT FAST) b) The Ramones
03) BROWN’S FERRY BLUES c) The Corrs
04) TONIGHT YOU BELONG TO ME d) The Dixie Cups
05) WILDWOOD FLOWER e)  The Von Trapp Family Singers
06) RAINY DAYS AND MONDAYS f) Hanson
07) CATHY’S CLOWN g) The Pointer Sisters
08) ABC h) The Balfa Bros.
09) RUM AND COCA COLA i) The Staples Singers
10) TREAT HER LIKE A LADY j) The Osmonds
*11) HELP ME RHONDA k) The Delmore Brothers
*12) PARLEZ NOUS A BOIRE l) The Cowsills
*13) ONE BAD APPLE m) Lennon Sisters
*14) I'M SO EXCITED n) Jackson 5
*15) MMMBOP o) The Carter Family
*16) SHEENA IS A PUNK ROCKER p) The Carpenters
*17) BREATHLESS q) Cleoma, Amedee and Ophy Breau
*18) EDELWEISS r) Everly Brothers
*19) IKO IKO s) Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
*20) I'LL TAKE YOU THERE t) Andrews Sisters
* 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.