Cajun Spotlight

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

KREWE DE WALLEYE PRESENTS...

The Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association (The Krewe de Walleye) presents the Lost Bayou Ramblers on Thursday, June 29 at the Polish-American Hall. Tickets are $8 for Krewe members and $10 for others. The hall is a smoke-free venue with a terrific dance floor and full bar. There will be a free dance lesson by Twin Cities Cajun and zydeco dance teacher Maurine McCort at 7 pm and dancing from 7:30-11 pm. A way good time!

CAJUN HOT SOLES IN TWO HARBORS IN JULY

July 22 and 23 the Cajun Hot Soles are part of the line-up at the Two Harbors Folk Festival in Two Harbors, Minnesota. The Cajun Hot Soles play at the Half Time Rec in St. Paul on Sunday, June 11. Music starts at 8:00 pm.

NEW RIVERSIDE RAMBLERS

The New Riverside Ramblers are busy in the month of June! They play in downtown St. Paul at the Flint Hills International Children’s Festival June 3 and 4, and at the Half Time Rec in St. Paul on June 4 also. The following weekend (Sunday, June 11) they are one of many groups (include Cafe Accordion Orchestra) performing at a gala at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts celebrating the opening of its new wing. On Tuesday, June 13 they travel up 35W to play in Lakeside Park in Forest Lake. Check their web site for details on all of these events.

THE FAUX PLAYBOYS

The Faux Playboys are at the Eagles Club in south Minneapolis on Thursday, June 8. The Faux Playboys are playing for some evening cruises on the St. Croix this summer. The dates are Friday, July 28 and Friday, August 18. There will be two trips offered each of these dates. The first at 6:15 pm includes a buffet dinner; the second at 8:30 has beverage service. The boat leaves from Stillwater. For details go to andiamo-ent.com/excursio.htm on the Web or call 651-430-1234

JJ’S ZYDECO PAYDIRT

JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt will be at the Half Time Rec in St. Paul on Sunday, June 25. Music starts at 8:00 pm

TWIN CITY PLAYBOYS

The Twin City Playboys play at the 331 Club in northeast Minneapolis on Wednesday, June 21. Music starts around 9:00 pm

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 and the Zydeco Outlaws, The Lost Bayou Ramblers, Travis Matte and the Zydeco Kingpins and Knight Train. For complete information on the many activities and bands that are part of Sawdust Days go to sawdustdays.com

ROCKIN’ PINECONES

The Rockin Pinecones are at the Eagles Club in Minneapolis on Thursday, June 22.

JUMBO YA YA

Jumbo Ya Ya will be at the Half Time Rec in St. Paul on Sunday, June 18. Music starts at 8:00 pm.

BEAUSOLEIL: LIVE IN LOUISIANA

A new record label, Way Down in Louisiana, has just released a live album by Beausoleil. It is the first live album by the group actually recorded in Louisiana. Tunes on the release, recorded in January of this year in New Iberia and Lafayette, range from solid traditional tunes by Dennis McGee and Bois Sec Ardoin to new songs that bring to mind recent events in New Orleans. Produced by Todd Mouton, the disk can be ordered online at waydowninlouisiana.com. Beausoleil celebrates 30 years as a group this year, and this recording shows how they can be both traditional and contemporary at the same time. Recommended!

LA FETE DE MARQUETTE IN MADISON

There will be a free festival in honor of Bastille Day in Madison, Wisconsin July 15-16. La Fete de Marquette in Central Park will feature local, national and international performers. All the performers haven’t been named yet, but it appears that the Cajun Strangers, Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie AND Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys will play on Sunday. We will have more specific information as it becomes available.

DANCE LESSONS IN OSHKOSH

A series of Intermediate Cajun and Zydeco Dance Lessons will be offered in June in Oshkosh. If you are interested in getting the complete schedule and details contact Lynn at 920-410-0900 or email lynnstephany@new.rr.com.

ZYDECO CRUISE 2006

The 2006 Zydeco Cruise is November 12-19. It will depart from New Orleans and travel to Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. On board will be Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. Dance instruction, workshops and lots of live performances. For the complete story go to zydecocruise.com.

BUFFALO JAMBALAYA

The Baltimore Folk Music Society presents Buffalo Jambalaya August 10-13 in Darlington, Maryland. This four-day Zydeco and Cajun Dance & Music Camp will feature Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys, Brian Jack & the Zydeco Gambler, Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys as well as dance instructors Debra Seeck, Willie Bushnell, Michael Hart and Sharon Schiliro. For the full story go to buffalojam.org

AUGUSTA HERITAGE CENTER STAFF

Cajun and Creole Week at Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, West Virginia is July 9-15. All of the staff hasn’t been announced yet, but many of the instructors who were at the Balfa Heritage Week are also at Augusta, including David Greely, Ed Poullard and Steve Riley. Also on hand will be Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band, Al Berard, Paul Daigle, John and Jane Vidrine, Charlie Terr, Larry and Jackie Miller, Courtney Granger, Mona Wilson and Joely Bias. To order a catalog describing all the Augusta Heritage Theme Weeks this summer go to augustaheritage.com

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO HAPPENINGS

June 03 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
June 03,04 - New Riverside Ramblers: FLINT HILLS CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL, LANDMARK CENTER
June 04 - New Riverside Ramblers: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
June 08 - Faux Playboys: EAGLES CLUB, 2507 E. 25TH ST., MPLS (8:00 PM)
June 08 - Lil’ Brian & the Zydeco Travelers: FAMOUS DAVE’S, UPTOWN, MINNEAPOLIS
June 10 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
June 11 - New Riverside Ramblers: ART INSTITUTE GALA, FAIR OAKS PARK, MPLS (12:10, 2:25 PM)
June 11 - Cajun Hot Soles: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
June 13 - New Riverside Ramblers: LAKESIDE PARK CONCERT, FOREST LAKE, MN (7:00 -9:00 PM)
June 17 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
June 18 - Jumbo Ya Ya: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
June 21 - Twin City Playboys: 331 CLUB, MINNEAPOLIS (9:00 PM)
June 22 - Rockin’ Pinecones: EAGLES CLUB, 2507 E. 25TH ST., MPLS (8:00 PM)
June 24 - Cajun Jam: BETSY’S BACK PORCH COFFEE, MINNEAPOLIS (10:00 AM-1:00 PM)
June 25 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
June 29 - The Lost Bayou Ramblers: POLISH-AMERICAN HALL, ST. PAUL (LESSON AT 7:00 PM)
June 30-July 04 - Louisiana Hot Sauce Festival: SAWDUST DAYS, OSHKOSH, WI
July 01 - Cajun Strangers: SUNSPLASH, GREEN LAKE, WI 93:30-6:00 PM)
July 02 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
July 04 - JJ’s Zydeco Paydirt: MN HISTORY CENTER, ST. PAUL (6:30 -8:00 PM)
July 07 - The Pine Leaf Boys: SUMMERDANCE, CHICAGO
July 08 - The Pine Leaf Boys: FOLK AND ROOTS FESTIVAL, CHICAGO
July 09 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
July 13 - Faux Playboys: EAGLES CLUB, 2507 E. 25TH ST., MPLS (8:00 PM)
July 16 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
July 16 - Cajun Strangers, Steve Riley, Geno Delafose: CENTRAL PARK, MADISON, WI
July 20 - TC Playboys: SAINTS PREGAME SHOW, MIDWAY STADIUM, ST. PAUL (5:30 PM)
July 21 - Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, Beausoleil: ZOO AMPHITHEATER, APPLE VALLEY (7:30 PM)
July 22,23 - Cajun Hot Soles: TWO HARBORS FOLK FESTIVAL, TWO HARBORS, MN
July 23 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
July 25 - New Riverside Ramblers: NOON CONCERT SERIES, NORTHROP PLAZA, U OF M (NOON)
July 28 - Faux Playboys Rockin’ on the River: ST. CROIX BOAT & PACKET COMPANY, STILLWATER
July 28 - Twin City Playboys: 318 CLUB, EXCELSIOR, MN (7:30-10:30 PM)
July 29 - Cajun Hot Soles: FARMER’S MARKET, 5TH AND WALL ST., ST. PAUL (9:00 AM-NOON)
July 29 - New Riverside Ramblers: TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER, MPLS (7:30 PM)
July 30 - TBA: HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL (8:00 PM)
July 31 - Cajun Hot Soles: SAINTS PREGAME SHOW, MIDWAY STADIUM, ST. PAUL (5:30 PM)
August 04 - The Cajun Strangers: CONVENTION CENTER, HAYWARD, WI (8:00 PM)
August 10 - The Faux Playboys: MINNEAPOLIS EAGLES CLUB (8:00 -10:30 PM)
August 18 - Faux Playboys Rockin’ on the River: ST. CROIX BOAT & PACKET COMPANY, STILLWATER
August 19 - Twin City Playboys: FARMER’S MARKET, 5TH AND WALL ST., ST. PAUL (9:00 AM-NOON)

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

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

One of the most difficucult decisions a band has to make is choosing a name. While it may not seem a problem, when you choose a band name you have to live with it for as long as the band exists. A too-cute name quickly gets cloying; a difficult to pronounce name makes word-of-mouth problematic. Clever, punning names are often chosen (Bob E. Sox & the Blue Jeans, Warren Storm & the Hurricanes), but may seem stale quickly. The topic of this month’s quiz is band names from Louisiana. We have chosen both popular and obscure names from Cajun, swamp pop and zydeco. Can you match the bands name with the leader?

01) Nathan	a) & the Lollipops
02) Cookie	b) & the Rockets
03) Rosie Ledet	c) & the Zydeco Cha Chas
04) Lawrence Walker	d) & the Red Hot Louisiana Band
05) Steve Riley	e) & the Scott Playboys
06) Aldus Roger	f) & the Cupcakes
07) Geno Delafose	g) & the Mamou Playboys
08) Little Bob	h) & the Wandering Aces
09) Rod Bernard	i) & the Zydeco Playboys
10) C. J. Chenier	j) & the Twisters
*11) Little Malcolm	m) & the Lafayette Playboys
*12) Walter Mouton	n) & French Rockin’ Boogie
*13) Randy	o) & the Houserockers

* 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.