Cajun Spotlight 

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

CAJUN HOT SOLES AND POP WAGNER

TASTE LOUISIANA  CAJUN/ZYDECO FESTIVAL

The 2005 edition of the Taste 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.  There are always lots of friends from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa in attendance at this popular event. For complete details go to cajunfest.net.
 

BUT BEFORE HEADING FOR AMANA...

Before heading south to Amana for the Taste Louisiana Festival (which starts Saturday around noon), head out to the Medina on Friday, May 27. Start the weekend right with Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas and an opening set by Jumbo Ya Ya. 
 

WITHROW BALLROOM ZYDECO DANCING

A series of dances at the Withrow Ballroom featuring blues and zydeco music continues in May. Stopping by there on Friday, May 20 are the Faux Playboys and The Everett Smithson Band. There will   be a dance lesson at 7:30 pm; music will be from 8:30 to 12:30. The ballroom is north of Stillwater.
 

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, Louisiana and local 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. Go to sawdustdays.com for complete details.
 

DANCE LESSONS WITH DAVID JORDAHL

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

ATTENTION: CAJUNS MUSICIANS/DANCERS

Going to Louisiana? 
Looking to stay in the heart of Cajun country?
Imagine this: Fully furnished trailer home  available for rental -- weekends, weeks, or longer  -- in Iota (northwest of Lafayette) on 2.5 acres of open land with some trees.  15 minutes from Crowley or Eunice ; 35 minutes to the outskirts of Lafayette. Three bedrooms plus sleep sofa -- can accommodate 3-7 people.  Kitchen with dinette, comfortable living room, full bath and half bath, screened porch (chairs for 15-20 people to jam!).  Closets and storage space.  Air conditioning and heat, fans in every room, smoke alarms,  washer and drier, dishwasher, microwave, fridge, TV, iron, sewing machine, vacuum cleaner, sheets, towels - all amenities.  Kitchen fully equipped for cooking, eating. Great neighbors (Larry and Jackie Miller live less than a mile away). Photos: see http://homepage.mac.com/imcajuntwo/PhotoAlbum5.html   Interested? Contact Nancy Weston at email imcajuntwo@aol.com or call 203-744-6823.
 

SCHULTZE GETS THE BLUES

A German-made film that follows a unhappy miner/polka musician from Germany to Louisiana (to which he travels after hearing zydeco music) is showing at the Edina Cinema in Minneapolis. “Schultze Gets the Blues” started at the Lagoon on March 25, moved recently to the Edina Cinema and may still be showing (check with them). Some music in the film is by  Zydeco Force. 
 

CREOLE FIDDLING

The latest issue of Dirty Linen magazine (with Pinetop Perkins on the cover) has a great article by Dan Willging on Creole fiddlers. It should be available at major newsstands around town. On a related note, Creole fiddler Carlton Frank passed away in February. He was Keith Frank’s great uncle and appeared on the Creole Connection album and on an album by the Preston Frank Family Band. Carlton Frank was 74.
 

AUGUSTA HERITAGE CAJUN/CREOLE WEEK

Cajun/Creole Week at Augusta Heritage Center is set for July 10-15. Located in West Virginia, this event features classes in a variety of instruments and 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 information go to augustaheritage.com.
 

SMOKEY HOLLOW GATHERING

The Smokey Hollow Gathering (a weekend of Cajun, Creole and zydeco music and dance) is back! It will be September 9-11 at Smokey Hollow Campground near Madison, WI. Details next month.
 

A LOOK BACK AT BALFA HERITAGE CAMP

"Sturgeon's Law" states that 90% of anything is junk. The Dewey Balfa Cajun Creole Heritage Week unquestionably falls into the other 10%, being très magnifique! We experienced a brief downpour on Monday morning, but the weather was beautiful for the remainder of the week. It was so nice to see many familiar faces return, and new faces as well. I personally spoke/jammed with friends from Quebec, Japan, Australia, California, Georgia, Minnesota and more!  This was the first time that I had participated in a "Band Lab". I had reservations of being a band-leader when Peter Schwarz announced that the leaders would be responsible for rehearsals, gigs, etc. (Too much like being at home!) But I knew that I had take the challenge to fully live the experience, and it was a good one indeed!  I was lucky to work with some very self-motivated people (actually, more motivated than I  was) and our “concert” was a hoot!  Actually, everyone else was hooting, but it still worked! The food, park, talent, administration, instructors .. all excellent! Jude Taylor performed a master presentation that was entertaining and showed his  great talent. (I think I understand where some of Buckwheat’s licks come from now!) He performs some admirable Clifton-style zydeco .. so smooth! Jeffery Broussard (from Zydeco Force) taught some nice Creole and zydeco styles on Cajun accordion, and talked about his recent interest in fiddle.  Young Creole accordionist and fiddler Cedric Watson was there for the week. He amply demonstrated that he is the “real deal”. Keith Frank and his band was brilliant this year -  Liz and I danced for 3 hours, exercising our newly learned Mona Wilson-instructed zydeco steps. I think that Balfa Toujours gets better every time they perform and the Heritage week was no exception!  After each evening dance there was one or more jams. I attended one jam that really rocked .. until it grew too big! It started to sound like 101 Strings playing Iry Lejeune, but it was still cool anyways!  Of course, the pillars were there: Ann Savoy, Dirk Powell, Larry Miller, Christine Balfa... Dirk and Christine’s children Sophie Jo and Amelia have grown into quite a handful! There is nowhere near the space here to list all the performances and experiences. I hope you were there, and if you weren’t, I hope y’all stop down next year! Merci Beaucoup,           --Big Nick
[Big Nick is leader of Big Nick & the Cydecos, a Milwaukee-area band performing a very danceable mix of Cajun, zydeco and r & b. Catch ‘em if you can]
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • May 01 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • May 05 - Rockin’ Pinecones: LEE’S LIQUOR BAR (9:30 PM)
  • May 06 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • May 07 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie: BARRYMORE THEATRE, MADISON, WI
  • May 07 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER (7:30 PM) 
  • May 08 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • May 15 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • May 20 - Everett Smithson Band, The Faux Playboys: WITHROW BALLROOM, STILLWATER (9-1 PM)
  • May 21 - Everett Smithson Band: THE SPOT, CUMBERLAND, MN (9:00 PM)
  • May 22 - The New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • May 27 - Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Jumbo Ya Ya: MEDINA BALLROOM
  • May 28-30 - Taste Louisiana Cajun/Zydeco Festival: AMANA, IOWA
  • May 28-30 - Cajun Strangers, more: WHEATLAND ARTS WEEKEND, REMUS, MI
  • May 29 - Rockin’ Pinecones: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • May 31 - Jumbo Ya Ya: KITTY CAT KLUB, MINNEAPOLIS (9:00 PM)
  • June 02 - The Midway Ramblers: ST. JOSEPH’S FESTIVAL, SUMMIT, IL (6:00 -7:30 PM)
  • June 03 - Everett Smithson Band: HOOKS ROADHOUSE, EAST BETHEL (9:00 PM)
  • June 05 - The New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • June 12 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • June 17 - Faux Playboys: ROCKIN’ THE RIVER. ST. CROIX BOAT CO, STILLWATER (6:00 & 8:30 PM)
  • June 17 - Everett Smithson Band: RASSET BAR & GRILL, BUFFALO (9:00 PM)
  • June 18 - The Cajun Hot Soles: ST. PAUL FARMERS MARKET (9:00 AM-NOON)
  • June 19 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • June 22 - Everett Smithson Band: LEGENDS, ST. CLOUD (9:00 PM)
  • June 25 - Everett Smithson Band: THE SPOT, CUMBERLAND, MN (9:00 PM)
  • June 26 - The Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • June 26 - The Midway Ramblers: PARK DISTRICT, DEERFIELD, IL (5:00 -6:30 PM)
  • June 28 - The Cajun Hot Soles: TUESDAY IN THE PARK: PRINCETON, MN (7:00 -8:30 PM)
  • June 30-July 4 - Louisiana Hot Sauce Festival: OSHKOSH, WI
  • July 01 - Roddie Romero & the Hub City All Stars: BLUES FESTIVAL, DAVENPORT, IA
  • July 02 - The Midway Ramblers: WEGGY WINERY, RICHLAND CENTER, WI (1:00 -5:00 PM)
  • July 08 - Buckwheat Zydeco: INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, WORTHINGTON, MN
  • July 09 - Cajun Cruise w/ Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp: DETAILS LATER
  • July 29 - The New Riverside Ramblers: ROBINSON PARK, PINE CITY, MN (6:30 PM)
  • July 29 - Faux Playboys: ROCKIN’ THE RIVER. ST. CROIX BOAT CO, STILLWATER (6:00 & 8:30 PM)
  • August 12,13 - New Riverside Ramblers: MBOTMA FESTIVAL, RICHMOND, MN
  • August 19 - Faux Playboys: ROCKIN’ THE RIVER. ST. CROIX BOAT CO, STILLWATER (6:00 & 8:30 PM)


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

MAY FLOWERS

This time around we return from last month’s literary excursion to what most people prefer in a music quiz - MUSIC! Rather than looking at common themes in the title, our Research Committee chose to select songs that first hit the Top of the Charts in May of years past. For any who might think the quiz is a tad easy (I’ll admit we haven’t heard that very often...), we also offer the years these songs were big. Can you match the song, the performer and (for extra credit) the year it was a hit?
 
01) KANSAS CITY  A) Archie Bell & the Drells a) 1986
02) SOLDIER BOY  B) Bill Haley and the Comets  b) 1971
03) TICKET TO RIDE C) Freddy Fender c) 1955
04) TIGHTEN UP D) The Rolling Stones  d) 1977
05) BROWN SUGAR  E) Little Richard e) 1968
06) BEFORE THE NEXT TEARDROP FALLS  F) The Beatles  f)  1962
07) HOTEL CALIFORNIA G) The Shirelles g) 1965
08) FUNKYTOWN H) The Eagles  h) 1956
09) LET’S DANCE  I) Lipps, Inc. i) 1980
10) WEST END GIRLS J) Wilbert Harrison  j) 1983
*11) LONG TALL SALLY K) David Bowie k) 1959
*12) ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK L) Pet Shop Boys l) 1980
* 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.