Cajun Spotlight 

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

NEWS FLASH:  NEW CAJUN JAM STARTED!!

A new Cajun Jam has been started in the Twin Cities. It will take place on Saturday mornings from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Betsy’s Back Porch.  Betsy’s is located at 5447 Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis (near Diamond Lake Road).  The first jam will be Saturday, July 9. There is room to dance, beverages and snacks available and easy access from nearby 35W.  C’mon  down with your fiddle, accordion, tee fer, guitar, dancin’ shoes or what have you.  Thanks to Kevin Anthony for getting this new jam off the ground. 
 

LOUISIANA HOT SAUCE FESTIVAL

Sawdust Days in Oshkosh, Wisconsin is held  the July 4th weekend each year. Part of the event this year will be the Louisiana “Hot” Sauce Festival, with groups from Texas, Louisiana as well as some great area bands. Signed up to play are Dora & the Zydeco Badboyz, The Lost Bayou Ramblers, Jamie Bergeron & the Kickin’ Cajuns, The Cajun Strangers, The Midway Ramblers and Big Nick & the Cydecos.  Go to sawdustdays.com for complete details.
 

FESTIVAL IN WEBSTER CITY, IOWA

The Raspberry Festival in Webster City, Iowa features two great bands on Saturday, July 2. Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp and Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas are scheduled afternoon and evening. Go to raspberryfestival.com for details.
 

CRUISE THE RIVER W/ THE FAUX PLAYBOYS

The Faux Playboys will be playing for some evening cruises on the St. Croix this summer. The next two will be on Friday, July 29 and Friday, August 19. There will be two trips offered each of these dates. The first at 6:15 pm includes a buffet dinner; the second at 8:45 has beverage service. The boat leaves from Stillwater. For more information  go to andiamo-ent.com/excursio.htm on the Web or  call 651-430-1236
 

SMOKEY HOLLOW GATHERING ON HOLD

We regret to announce that the Smokey Hollow Gathering is on hold. The location lined up for the September event is no longer available. If/when another location is found we will let you know.
 

BLACK BEAR BAYOU AT VILLAGE BLEND

Black Bear Bayou appear on Friday, July 22 at the Village Blend in St. Anthony. It’s located in the St. Anthony Shopping Center on New Brighton Blvd; the address is 2900 Pentagon Drive NE. The Village Blend serves sandwiches, coffee and a great selection of wines. Music will be from 8:00 to 10:00 pm; a very small dance space is available.
 

AUGUST CAJUN JAM AND POTLUCK

Nancy Tennessen hosts her annual Cajun Jam and Potluck (the 8th!) in her backyard on Sunday, August 21. These have become a tradition in the local dance community  – a chance for folks to get together, relax and visit with friends. Nancy lives in northeast Minneapolis at 626 4th Street NE.  This is one block east of University Avenue; turn at Emily’s Lebanese Deli on University at 7th Avenue NE. It’s just a few minutes from downtown. The party starts at 2:00 pm. Bring a dish to share with the group. Plates and silverware (and ice cream!) will be provided.   Stop by and play a few tunes, dance or  visit with friends.
 
 

TASTE LOUISIANA CAJUN/ZYDECO FESTIVAL

by Big Nick (of Big Nick & the Cydecos)

1) AMANA COLONIES
Amana is a beautiful settlement and features bakeries (a highly recommended stop), antique shops, herb, crafts, etc.  There are numerous nicely remodeled bed & Breakfasts in the area. German immigrants who made a large land purchase founded the Colonies in the mid-1800’s.  They had some excellent communal living ideas, communal breakfast buildings and churches.  I understand that initially, most homes did not have kitchens because the Amanites ate at communal kitchens. Our B & B was very nice (it was a converted church) with home cooked food in a remodeled building, but remodeled in such a manner that it maintained all its character.  (Nice flower bed & garden in the yard.)

2) THE FESTIVAL
The organizers provided a very good PA system, but I’d suggest that  you wears earplugs if you’re dancing close to the speakers. The entertainment schedule was well organized and had a quick change over time - 15 to 20 minutes with entertainment between band performances.  The change over time was bridged with events like “The Biggest Beer Belly” (you get the idea.)   Five bands each play about a 45-minute set with 15minute change over from 12:00 noon to 5:00pm.  The band schedule then repeats from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. I’d estimate the dance floor size at about 20x60 feet and it would really fill up!  Music events were held in two pole-barns, one very large with seating & dancing, & the other a bit smaller for dance lessons, cooking, workshops, etc. All dancing was in the pole barns so that the weather wouldn’t dampen the activities.  The festival features a midway with a carnival as well! Luckily, this year, we experienced some beautiful weather too. The Festival serves food as well, and as you’d probably guess, the obligatory gumbo, blackened chicken, beans & rice, jambalaya, or if it should please your pallet, hamburgers & French-fries!

3) THE BANDS
This year’s lineup included The New Riverside Ramblers, Bruce Daigrepont, Sean Vidrine & Swampfyre, Waylon Thibodeaux, and Nathan & Zydeco Cha-Cha’s, which represents quite the spectrum of Louisiana music. I was personally impressed by the New Riverside Ramblers sound  - to my ears, very classic Cajun, which may be surprising since they hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota.  (They did receive a CFMA award for their last recording.) It was a treat to see Bruce Daigrepont who had filled in at the last minute for Belton Richard who could not make the festival due to a family health issue. Waylon Thibodeaux is quite the entertaining showman and all around excellent musician and vocalist.  I don’t think that even the most stone-faced individual could watch Waylon without cracking a smile! Sean Vidrine & Swampfyre kicked butt! And Nathan wrapped up each day with his zydeco dance party (somebody scream!) Of course, I had to purchase everyone’s CD’s, which were available right there. The festival culminates daily in quite the party, (but we snuck out when it got out of control and hard to find room to dance.) This was my third year to attend the festival, and we will return again in 2006!
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • 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 - Dennis Stroughmatt, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas: WEBSTER CITY, IA
  • July 02 - Big Nick & the Cydecos: TED’S GRANDVIEW, FREMONT, WI (5:00 -9:00 PM)
  • July 02 - The Midway Ramblers: WEGGY WINERY, RICHLAND CENTER, WI (1:00 -5:00 PM)
  • July 03 - NO DANCE SCHEDULED: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • July 05 - Faux Playboys: MN HISTORY CENTER, ST. PAUL (6:30 -8:00 PM)
  • July 06 - Big Nick & the Cydecos: CONCERTS ON THE SQUARE, WAUSAU, WI (6:OO-8:00 PM)
  • July 07 - Rockin’ Pinecones: NORTHROP PLAZA, U OF M, MINNEAPOLIS (NOON - 1:00 PM)
  • July 08 - Buckwheat Zydeco: INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, WORTHINGTON, MN
  • July 08 - Big Nick & the Cydecos: SUMMERFEST, MILWAUKEE, WI (8:00 PM)
  • July 09 - Cajun Cruise w/ Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp: STILLWATER, ST. COIX RIVER
  • July 09 - Midway Ramblers: STICKNEY VILLAGE PICNIC, MEMORIAL PARK, STICKNEY, IL (NOON)
  • July 10 - Rockin’ Pinecones: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • July 15 - Big Nick & the Cydecos: CAPITAL BREWERY, MIDDLETON, WI (6:00 -9:00 PM)
  • July 15 - Everett Smithson Band: INNKAHOOTS, HAMEL, MN (9:00 PM)
  • July 16 - Big Nick & the Cydecos: BASTILLE DAYS, MILWAUKEE, WI (5:30 PM)
  • July 16, 17 - Midway Ramblers: LINCOLN PARK ZOO, CHICAGO (NOON-3:00 PM)
  • July 17 - Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • July 20 - Midway Ramblers: LINCOLN PARK ZOO, CHICAGO (NOON-3:00 PM)
  • July 21 - The Midway Ramblers: BANK ONE PLAZA, EVANSTON, IL (LESSON 6 PM, MUSIC 7-8:30 PM)
  • July 22 - Black Bear Bayou: VILLAGE BLEND, ST. ANTHONY (8:00-10:00 PM)
  • July 24 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • July 26 - New Riverside Ramblers: NORTHROP PLAZA, U OF M, MINNEAPOLIS (NOON - 1:00 PM)
  • 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)
  • July 30 - New Riverside Ramblers: TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CNTR (LESSON 7:30 PM, DANCE 8:00 PM)
  • July 31 - Pat Harison & the Hoodoo Makers:  HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • August 07 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • August 12,13 - New Riverside Ramblers: MBOTMA FESTIVAL, RICHMOND, MN
  • August 14 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • August 19 - Faux Playboys: ROCKIN’ THE RIVER. ST. CROIX BOAT CO, STILLWATER (6:00 & 8:30 PM)
  • August 21 - Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • August 24 - Cajun Hot Soles: SAINTS PREGAME SHOW, MIDWAY STADIUM (5:30 -7:00 PM)
  • August 25 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band: MN ZOO, APPLE VALLEY (7:30 PM)
  • August 28 - Jumbo Ya Ya: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • September 04 - Pat Harison & the Hoodoo Makers:  HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • September 11 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • September 18 - Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM) 
  • September 24 - Fais Do Do: Riverside Ramblers, Cajun Hot Soles: POLISH AMERICAN CLUB, ST. PAUL
  • September 25 - Jumbo Ya Ya: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than four weeks from first item on calendar.
 

THE SEAT OF POWER...

Recently we replaced several of the old, wooden chairs in our office with some modern, ergonometrically-designed office chairs with levers for various adjustments and firm, yet comfortable back support. Everyone was really be pleased with the new chairs. Soon, we noticed that the office was a much quieter place. We were unsure of the reason until we realized that the folks who we assumed were deep in contemplative thought were actually asleep.  The Editor figured that as long as the work was done (and no one fell out of his or her chair) he would let it pass. He did suggest the theme for this month’s quiz, however. Can you match the song with the performer?
 
01) WAKE UP, LITTLE SUSIE  a) Mississippi Sheiks
02) SHAKE ME, WAKE ME b) Everly Brothers
03) WHEN YOU AWAKE  c) Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys
04) WAKE ME, SHAKE ME d) Boris Gardiner
05) WHEN YOU GONNA WAKE UP e) The Band
06) WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO f)   Magic Slim & the Teardrops
07) DON’T WAKE IT UP g) B.B. King
08) WAKE THE TOWN AND TELL THE PEOPLE h) The Coasters
09) WAKE ME EARLY i) The Four Tops
10) I WANT TO WAKE UP WITH YOU j) Wham
*11)  J'AI REVILLE A CE MATIN k) Bob Dylan
*12) I WOKE UP THIS MORNING l) Les Baxter
* 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.