Cajun Spotlight 

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

HOT SOLES AND POP WAGNER AT KITTY CAT

The Cajun Hot Soles and Pop Wagner will be at the Kitty Cat Klub in Minneapolis on Tuesday, March 1.  It’s located in Dinkytown just a few short steps from the Loring Pasta Bar. Music starts at 9:00 pm.
 

MARDI GRAS IN WISCONSIN

The Lake of the Torches Resort Casino in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin celebrates Mardi Gras on March 11 and 12. Music on Friday, the 11th, will be by Pop Wagner and the “Crawdaddy Bayou Band” (who are actually Pop, John Terr and the Cajun Hot Soles). On Saturday evening (the 12th) C. J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band appear. The casino is about 250 miles from the Twin Cities.
 

DANCE LESSONS WITH MAURINE MCCORT

Maurine McCort is offering 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 is the schedule for upcoming lessons:
March  5,  26
Zydeco I
April  2, 16, 23
Zydeco II

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.  The weekend offers workshops in dance, cooking, guitar, fiddle, accordion and mask and hat making. As always, there will plenty of time for jamming and fellowship. For more information go to folklorevillage.org
 

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 groups from Texas and Louisiana and local Cajun and zydeco bands. Signed up so far are Dora & the Zydeco Badboyz, The Lost Bayou Ramblers, Jamie Bergeron & the Kickin’ Cajuns, The Cajun Strangers and Big Nick & the Cydecos. We will have more information about this event in the coming months or go to sawdustdays.com
 

CAJUN MUSIC AT  BLUEGRASS WEEKEND

The MBOTMA Winter Bluegrass Weekend at the Plymouth Radisson includes some live Cajun music for your listening and dancing pleasure. The Cajun Hot Soles and Black Bear Bayou play on Friday, March 4 at 9:30 pm after a two hour square dance. For a complete schedule of this event go to minnesotabluegrass.org
 
 

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, Waylon Thibodeaux, Belton Richard & the Musical Aces and the New Riverside Ramblers. Dance lessons will be offered by both Maurine McCort and David Jordahl.  For complete details go to cajunfest.net.
 

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.
 

AUGUSTA HERITAGE CAJUN/CREOLE WEEK

Cajun/Creole Week at Augusta Heritage Center has been set for July 10-15. Located in Elkins, West Virginia, this event features classes in a variety of instruments as well as dance, cooking and culture. Some of the staff this year includes James Adams, Charlie Terr, Paul Daigle, Ed Poullard, Jesse Lege, Goldman Thibodeaux, Jeffrey Broussard, Lisa Reed, Al Berard, Jason Frey, Mitch Reed, Joel Savoy, Tracy Schwarz, Larry Miller, Jackie Miller, Judie Smith, Mona Wilson, Courtney Granger, Michelle Kaminsky, Joely Bias, Chester Gremillion and Harry Trahan.  For more information go to augustaheritage.com.
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • March 01 - Pop Wagner & the Cajun Hot Soles: KITTY CAT KLUB, MINNEAPOLIS (9:00 PM)
  • March 04 - Cajun Hot Soles, Black Bear Bayou: BLUEGRASS WEEKEND, PLYMOUTH (9:30 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 19 - Faux Playboys, Joe T. Cook & the Longshots: WITHROW BALLROOM, STILLWATER
  • 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 01 - Everett Smithson Band: INNKAHOOTS, HAMEL (9:00 PM)
  • April 02 - Everett Smithson Band: THE SPOT, CUMBERLAND, MN (9:00 PM)
  • April 03 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • April 08 - Everett Smithson Band: BOONEDOX, BUFFALO (9:00 PM)
  • April 09 - The Cajun Strangers: TYRANENA BREWING COMPANY, LAKE MILLS, WI (7:30 PM)
  • April 10 - The Rockin’ Pinecones: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • April 15 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt, Everett Smithson Band: WITHROW BALLROOM, STILLWATER
  • April 17 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 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) 
  • April 24 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • April 29 - The Cajun Strangers: TOM’S GARAGE, APPLETON, WI (9:30 PM)
  • May 01 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • May 06 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • May 08 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • May 15 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • May 22 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • May 27 - Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Jumbo Ya Ya: MEDINA BALLROOM
  • May 29 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • May 28-30 - Taste of Louisiana Cajun/Zydeco Festival: AMANA, IOWA
  • May 28-30 - Cajun Strangers, more: WHEATLAND ARTS WEEKEND, REMUS, MI
  • June 17 - Faux Playboys: ROCKIN’ THE RIVER (DETAILS LATER)
  • July 09 - Cajun Cruise w/ Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp: DETAILS LATER


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

NAME GAME

At a recent large gathering we attended there were two people who had the same first name. Whenever someone tried to get the attention of one of these folks by saying their name, there would be two responses. Pretty soon we found out some last and middle names and the confusion ended. Many entertainers, including actors and singers, go my just one name. Actor/comedian Catinflas starred in the original “Around the World in 80 Days”, and Dagmar was a frequent guest on the old Jack Paar show. This month’s music quiz looks at singers with just one name. The first we can recall was Fabian, who had some hits starting in 1959.  Here are some more: can you match the song with the performer?
 
 
01) CHER a) To Sir With Love
02) DION b) Rock Me Amadeus
03) MADONNA c) Brand New Key 
04) DONOVAN d) If I Could Turn Back Time
05) LULU e) Cinnamon
06) MELANIE  f)  Hurdy Gurdy Man
07) NILSSON g) If You Love Someone, Set Them Free
08) FALCO  h) 98.6
09) DEREK i) Ruby Baby
10) KEITH j) Material Girl
*11) STING k) Cocoanut
* 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.