Cajun Spotlight 

Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest
 March 2006

FOLKLORE VILLAGE CAJUN WEEKEND

The dates for the Cajun Music and Dance Weekend at Folklore Village are March 31-April 2.  The staff this year is outstanding: Creole fiddler Edward Poullard,  accordionist Jesse Lege, craft and cooking expert Jackie Miller, Charlie Terr, John Terr and more. Dance instruction will be provided by David Jordahl, Debbie Clark and Karen Kleinspehn.  Look for downloadable registration form at folklorevillage.org or call 608-924-4000.
 

KREWE DE WALLEYE .

The Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association (the Krewe de Walleye) presents Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys on Saturday, April 1 at the Marion KC Hall in Bloomington.  Tickets are just $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers. There will be a dance lesson at 8:00 pm and dancing from 8:30 to midnight.  The Krewe also plans to bring back the Lost Bayou Ramblers in June.  You can get complete information on joining the Krewe, an event calendar, addresses, links  and other news at krewedewalleye.com.
 

JJ’S ZYDECO PAYDIRT

You can catch JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, March 12.  There will be a dance lesson before the show. 
 

ROCKIN’ PINECONES

The Rockin Pinecones are at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, March 5 and at the Eagles Club in Minneapolis on Thursday, March 23.
 

NEW RIVERSIDE RAMBLERS

The New Riverside Ramblers play for a dance at the roomy Cedar Cultural Center on Saturday, March 4  (7:30 lesson) and are also at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, March 26 (dancing starts at 8:00 pm).
 

CAJUN HOT SOLES

The Cajun Hot Soles and the Everett Smithson Band crank out the tunes for your listening and dancing pleasure at Lee’s Liquor Lounge on Friday, March 24.
 

CHUBBY CARRIER AT FAMOUS DAVE’S

Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band liven things up at Famous Dave’s in Uptown on Friday and Saturday, March 3 and 4.
 

WINTER BLUEGRASS WEEKEND

The Winter Bluegrass Weekend at the Plymouth Radisson will feature short sets by Black Bear Bayou (Saturday at 2:00 pm) and the Twin City Playboys (Friday at 11:00 pm and Saturday at 8:00 pm).  There is a long list of other great performers there also.
 

THE FAUX PLAYBOYS

The Faux Playboys are at the Eagles Club in south Minneapolis on Thursday, March 9 and at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, March 19. They also perform in Cannon Falls at the Community Center there on Saturday, March 18. Music starts at 6:30. 
 

ROCKIN’ PINECONES AT MOOSEJAW

The Wild Goose Chase Cloggers annual music and dance weekend (aka MooseJaw) will be held March 10, 11 and 12  at Maplelag Resort near Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The line-up includes the Foghorn String Band, the Rockin’ Pinecones, caller Beth Molaro and the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers. There will be dance instruction (Cajun, Scandinavian, squares  and more),  jamming and lots of dancing.  For complete information and to download a registration form go to wildgoosechasecloggers.org
 

TASTE LOUISIANA FESTIVAL

The Taste Louisiana Cajun & Zydeco Festival in Amana, Iowa is May 27-29. The lineup includes Curley Taylor  & Zydeco Trouble, Jamie Bergeron & the Kickin’ Cajuns, Hadley Castille & the Sharecropper Band, Hunter Hayes and Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp. We’ll have more information in upcoming issues.
 

ZYDECO LESSONS WITH MAURINE MCCORT

Maurine McCort begins zydeco dance lessons in March. They will be at the Oddfellows Lodge at Raymond and Hampden in St. Paul. Cost is $10 per person per lesson; no partner necessary. Lessons are from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm. You can contact her at momo2004@comcast.net. The schedule:
Getting the Groove: (Beginning):
March 04, 11, 18
Working with the Feeling (Intermediate):        
April 8,15,22

SAWDUST DAYS IN OSHKOSH

Presented over the July 4th weekend as part of Sawdust Days in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the  Louisiana Hot Sauce Festival features great bands from Louisiana. Appearing this year will be Step Rideau & the Zydeco Outlaws, The Lost Bayou Ramblers, Travis Matte & the Zydeco Kingpins and Knight Train. More information as the time gets closer.
 

BAYOU DANCER AND CO

David Jordahl offers Cajun and zydeco dance lessons. Get the latest schedule of classes and dances and  more information at bayoudancer.com. In March and April he will be giving a class at the Saint Paul Student Center (on the U. of M. Saint Paul Campus) in Zydeco Dance. Classes are 7 to 9 pm on March 23 and 30 and April 6 and 13. For information  go to www.sao.umn.edu/events/minicourses/ 
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • March 03 - Jumbo Ya-Ya: THE TIMES BAR, MINNEAPOLIS (9:30 PM)
  • March 03 - The Cajun Strangers: PRAIRIE CAFE, MIDDLETON, WI (6:00 -8:00 PM) 
  • March 03 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • March 3,4 - Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band: FAMOUS DAVE’S, UPTOWN (9:00 PM)
  • March 3,4 - Twin City Playboys, Black Bear Bayou: WINTER BLUEGRASS WEEKEND, PLYMOUTH
  • March 04 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • March 04 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS (7:30 PM)
  • March 05 - Rockin’ Pinecones: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • March 09 - The Faux Playboys: MINNEAPOLIS EAGLES CLUB (7:00 -10:00 PM)
  • March 10-12 - Rockin’ Pinecones, more: MOOSEJAW WEEKEND, MAPLELAG RESORT, DETROIT LAKES
  • March 11 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • March 12 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • March 18 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • March 18 - The Faux Playboys: CANNON FALLS COMMUNITY CENTER, CANNON FALLS (6:30 -9 PM)
  • March 19 - Faux Playboys: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • March 23 - Rockin’ Pinecones: THE EAGLES CLUB, MPLS (7:30 PM)
  • March 24 - Cajun Hot Soles, Everett Smithson Band: LEE’S LIQUOR LOUNGE, MPLS
  • March 25 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • March 26 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • March 31-April 2 - CAJUN DANCE & MUSIC WEEKEND: FOLKLORE VILLAGE, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • April 01 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • April 01 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: MARION KC HALL (DETAILS TO FOLLOW)
  • April 02 - Beausoleil: OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC, CHICAGO (4 PM AND 7 PM)
  • April 02 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • April 02-04 - Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys: ONEIDA CASINO, GREEN BAY (7:30 PM)
  • April 07 - The Midway Ramblers: IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE CENTER, CHICAGO (8:00 PM)
  • April 08 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • April 09 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • April 13 - Twin City Playboys, Pop Wagner: LEE’S LIQUOR LOUNGE, MPLS (8:30 PM)
  • April 13 - The Faux Playboys: MINNEAPOLIS EAGLES CLUB (7:00 -10:00 PM)
  • April 15 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • April 16 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • April 22 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • April 22 - New Riverside Ramblers: CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS (7:30 PM)
  • April 23 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • April 29 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
  • April 30 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
  • May 05 - Twin City Playboys: 318 CLUB, EXCELSIOR, MN
  • May 11 - Twin City Playboys, Cattle Gate: LEE’S LIQUOR LOUNGE, MPLS (8:30 PM)


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

ANATOMY LESSON

Although last month we missed the Valentine’s Day-themed quiz (songs with ‘heart’ in the title) one of our researchers noticed a reference last week to March as “Kidney Month – Support the Diabetes Foundation”. Unfortunately we pretty much struck out when we looked for songs with kidney (or other internal organs) in the title. Plenty of tunes mentions other parts of the body, and so we decided to use these in this month’s music quiz. Can you match the song with the performer? Answers are on page 8 of the newsletter.
 
01) Bette Davis Eyes a) T-Bones
02) Legs  b) Robert Parker
03) Your Feets Too Big c) Kim Weston
04) These Arms of Mine d) Booker T. & the MG’s
05) Put Your Head on My Shoulder e) Preston Frank
06) Talk Back Trembling Lips f) Fats Waller
07) Hip-Hug-Her   g) The Bar-Kays
08) Snap Your Fingers  h) Otis Redding
09) Silver Haired Daddy of Mine  i) ZZ Top
10) No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In) j) Joe Henderson
*11) Big Butt Women  m) Johnny Tillotson
*12) Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While) n) Kim Carnes
*13) Barefootin' o) Gene Autry/Jimmie Long
*14) Soul Finger p) Paul Anka
* Special internet bonus question.
Back to Cajun Spotlight Page
Back to Newsletter Page
Back to Main Page

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.