Cajun Spotlight 

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

EAGLES’ CLUB DANCES

A “new” dance venue that’s really not new at all has been getting lots of notice lately. The Eagles Club in south Minneapolis has been having old-tyme polka and country dances for many years, but recently has added Cajun, zydeco and blues to the mix. Located at 2507 East 25th Street in Minneapolis, the club has a large dance floor, beverage service and is smoke-free. Most Wednesdays the Butanes play, and sometimes on Thursday there is Cajun /zydeco music (the Faux Playboys will be there January 12). Dances are generally start early, usually  between 7 and 8 pm. The phone number is 612-729-4469.
 

NEW RIVERSIDE RAMBLERS

The New Riverside Ramblers play at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, December 4 starting at 8:00 pm and at the Cedar Cultural Center on Saturday, December 17 (a 7:30 start on that one).
 

ANTOINE’S CREOLE MAISON RESTAURANT

A new restaurant recently opened in south Minneapolis near Uptown features “Home-style Louisiana French Creole Cuisine”.  The owner is originally from Lafayette, and the reports from folks we’ve talked to is that the food is quite good. The attractive decor is on the elegant side (white tablecloths, etc.) and Antoine’s is a fine place to go for that special occasion. There may be live music there on Sundays from time to time (no room to dance, though...). The address is 2819 Hennepin Avenue South. Phone number is 612-871-2262
 

CAJUN HOT SOLES

The Cajun Hot Soles return to Lee’s Liquor Lounge again in December, playing an opening set before the Everett-Smithson Band on Thursday, December 22. They will also be at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, December 18 and perform with the Twin City Playboys and Lazy Ike & the Daredevils on Friday, December 9 at the the Leaning Tower of Pizza on University Avenue.
 

JJ’S ZYDECO PAYDIRT

You can catch JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt at the Withrow Ballroom in Hugo on Saturday, December 10. Music starts at 8:30 pm.
 

TWIN CITY PLAYBOYS

The Twin City’s Playboys bring their mix of  Cajun and classic country to several venues in December. They will be as part of a three-band bill at Famous Dave’s on Wednesday, December 7 and on Friday, December 9 are with the Cajun Hot Soles and Lazy Ike & the Daredevils at the Leaning Tower of Pizza on University Avenue. They also play at Betsey’s Back Porch Coffee on Saturday, December 17 and with Pop Wagner (and another band TBA) on Thursday, December 29 at Lee’s Liquor Lounge.
 

FAUX PLAYBOYS

The Faux Playboys will be at the Half Time Rec in St. Paul on Sunday, December 11. Music starts at 8:00 pm.
 

NO CAJUN JAM CHRISTMAS EVE

There will not be a Cajun Jam at Betsy’s Back Porch Coffee on Saturday, December 24. There will be one on Saturday, December 31. The Jam continues to draw a good crowd, usually 6 to 8 folks. For information call 651-647-6063.
 

DANCE LESSONS WITH MAURINE MCCORT

Zydeco Dance Lessons with Maurine McCort  started in October at the Oddfellows Lodge. Lessons are $10 per person per lesson. The Oddfellows Lodge is at the corner of Raymond and Hampden in St. Paul. No partner needed. Lessons are on Saturdays from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. The schedule for the remaining lessons: 
Rocking the Rhythm (Advanced) 
     December 3, 10, 17 

DWAYNE DOPSIE BACK AT FAMOUS DAVE’S

Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers are back again at Famous Dave’s in Uptown! The date is Thursday, December 29; showtime is around 9:00 pm.
 

CARRIER FAMILY FESTIVAL IN LOUISIANA

If you’re lucky enough to get down to the Carrier Family Festival in Louisiana at New Year’s, here’s some of the groups you’ll enjoy:
Friday, December 30 (Offshore Lounge, Lawtell)
     Goldman Thibodeaux
     Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys
     Dikki Du & the Zydeco Crew
     Willis Prudhomme & Zydeco Express
Saturday, December 31 (Offshore Lounge, Lawtell)
     T-Broussard & the Zydeco Steppers
     Dexter Ardoin
     Zydeco Joe
Sunday, January 1 (Slim’s Y-Ki-Ki, Opelousas)
     Chris Ardoin &  Nu-Step
     Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie
     Roy Carrier & the Night Rockers

FOLKLORE VILLAGE CAJUN WEEKEND

We don’t know who’s on the staff yet, but the dates for the Cajun Music and Dance Weekend at Folklore Village are March 31-April 2. We will have more information in the next issue.
 

CAJUN STRANGERS IN SAUK CITY DECEMBER 4

The Cajun Strangers play at the Roxbury Tavern in Sauk City, Wisconsin in Sunday afternoon December 4. There will be a special Cajun meal available that day; the band plays from 3 to 5 pm. For directions from Madison call 608-643-8434.
 

STAFF FOR BALFA HERITAGE WEEK

The next Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week is April 21-27 at Chicot State Park near Ville Platte, Louisiana.  There’s another great list of instructors, including Kenny Alleman, Al Berard, Jeffrey Broussard, Jonno Frishberg, David Greely, Ed Poullard, Dirk Powell, Lisa Reed, Steve Riley, Ann Savoy, Joel Savoy and Peter Schwarz. Registration has started and cabins are filling up fast. For complete information go to lafolkroots.org
 

BAYOU DANCER AND CO

David Jordahl offers Cajun and zydeco dance lessons. Get the latest schedules and lots more information at bayoudancer.com
 

MINNESOTA ACCORDION ALL STARS

Many of the finest accordion and concertina players in Minnesota will be in concert at the Cedar Cultural Center on Sunday, December 11 at 7:00 pm. It will be a CD Release Celebration of the recent Rounder release “Minnesota All Stars: Great Accordion and Concert Performances from the Northstar State”. Performing at the Cedar are Dan Newton, Hank Thunander, Dee Langley, Paddy O’Brien, Matt Vorderbruggen and others.
 

UPCOMING CAJN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • December 02 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • December 03 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • December 04 - The Cajun Strangers: ROXBURY TAVERN, SAUK CITY, WI (3:00-5:00  PM)
  • December 04 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • December 07 - Twin City Playboys, others: FAMOUS DAVE’S, UPTOWN, MINNEAPOLIS (9:00 PM?)
  • December 09 - TC Playboys, Cajun Hot Soles, Lazy Ike: LEANING TOWER OF PIZZA, U of M (9:00 PM)
  • December 10 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • December 10 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: WITHROW BALLROOM, HUGO (8:30 PM)
  • December 11 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • December 17 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • December 17 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS (7:30 PM)
  • December 17 - TC Playboys: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS 
  • December 18 - Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • December 22 - Cajun Hot Soles, Everett-Smithson Band: LEE’S LIQUOR LOUNGE (9:00 PM)
  • December 24 - NO! Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (NOT THIS WEEK!)
  • December 29 - Pop Wagner, Twin City Playboys, other TBA: LEE’S LIQUOR LOUNGE, MPLS (8:30 PM)
  • December 29 - Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers: FAMOUS DAVE’S, UPTOWN (9:00 PM)
  • December 31 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • January 01 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • January 06 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • January 07 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • January 07 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS (7:30 PM)
  • January 08 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • January 12 - The Faux Playboys: MINNEAPOLIS EAGLES CLUB (7:00 -10:00 PM)
  • January 14 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • January 15 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • January 21 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • January 22 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • January 28 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • January 29 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • February 03 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • February 04 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS (7:30 PM)
  • February 05 - Super Bowl???TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • February 11 - Mardi Gras w/ Cajun Hot Soles, Black Bear Bayou: TOWN HALL, DALBO (7-11 PM)
  • February 12 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • February 18 - Krewe Mardi Gras: New Riverside Ramblers, JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: MEDINA BALLROOM
  • February 19 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • February 25 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt Mardi Gras Party: FLOYD’S, VICTORIA, MN (8:30 PM)
  • February 26 - New Riverside Ramblers Mardi Gras Concert/Dance: ST. JOAN OF ARC, MINNEAPOLIS
  • February 26 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • February 28 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: DIXIE’S ON GRAND, ST. PAUL (6:00 -10:00 PM)
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than four weeks from first item on calendar.
 

DECEMBER IS...

According the the unknown folks who decide such things, December is National “Write to a Friend” Month.  It is also National “Stress-Free Family Holiday” Month,  National “Read a New Book” Month and National “Safe Toys and Gifts” Month. Clearly the month of December is going to be far busier than most of us imagined.  Between shopping, reading, writing and trying to keep things stress-free, I’m not sure how I’ll find time to sleep. The quiz this month looks at songs with the word “letter” in the title. Can you match the song with the performer?  Relax and take some deep breaths if you find yourself tensing up.  Here’s wish you a peaceful holiday season! 
 
01) TEAR-STAINED LETTER a) Glen Wells & the Blends
02) LOVE LETTERS IN THE SAND  b) R. B. Greaves
03) DEATH LETTER c) Warren Storm
04) THE LETTER d) Fats Waller
05) LETTER EDGED IN BLACK e) Richard Thompson
06) THE SOLDIER’S LAST LETTER   f) Pat Boone
07) TAKE A LETTER, MARIA  g) Ketty Lester
08) WRITE ME A LETTER h) The Box Tops
09) WRITE MYSELF A LETTER   i) Ernest Tubb
10) LOVE LETTERS j) Bradley Kincaid 
*11) SEVEN LETTERS m) Son House
* 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.