Cajun Spotlight 

Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance in the Upper Midwest
 August 1999

HALF TIME REC DANCE SCHEDULE

Although there was only one Sunday Night Social Dance at the Half Time Rec in July, regular weekly dances resume in August. Here's the line-up:
  • August 01 - Buffalo Gals
  • August 08 - Swamp Sextet
  • August 15 - ZoloGo
  • August 22 - New Riverside Ramblers 
  • August 29 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt

CAJUN DOUBLEHEADER

A dance featuring both the Cajun Hot Soles and Grande Prairie is scheduled for Saturday, August 28 in south Minneapolis. The dance is at the Playwright Center at 2301 East Franklin(a block east of the Seward Café and Seward Coop). It starts at 7:00 pm.
 

MADISON CAJUN/ZYDECO DANCE PARTIES

Some folks living in Madison, Wisconsin  who love Cajun and zydeco music and dance have organized  CD dance parties for the summer months. They are being held at Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ at 1501 Gilbert Road. They're scheduled on Saturdays starting at 7 pm; the dates are  August 14 and September 25. There will be a free lesson for the first hour.  Bring your favorite music to play and dance to. For more information call Susan at (608) 276-7669.
 

CAJUN/ZYDECO AT THE STATE FAIR

Besides a wide variety of foods on a stick and free shopping bags, the  Minnesota State Fair offers  local Cajun and zydeco music that's free once you've paid your admission to the fair. The Bone Tones appear August 26-29 at the Bazaar Stage. Look for them 4 to 7 pm on Thursday and Saturday and 11:30 am to 3 pm Friday and Sunday. On September 1 and 2 JJ's Zydeco Paydirt play on the Beer Garden Stage from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm.  Also appearing at the fair in  September are Café Accordion Orchestra. Look for them at the Bazaar Stage on September 3 and 5 at 11:30 am and on September 4 at 4 pm.

CAJUN POTLUCK/JAM/PICNIC 

Another backyard Cajun Potluck/Jam/Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August  15 at the home of Nancy Tennessen in northeast Minneapolis. Nancy lives 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 Minneapolis.  The party starts at 2:00 pm. Bring a dish to share with the group. If you have an extra chair to bring please do so.

Beverages, plates and silverware will be provided. Bring your guitar, accordion, fiddle, triangle, frottoir, harmonica or...(?). Come on over and visit with friends, do a little dancing and/or play a few tunes. See you there! 
 

WALKER CAJUNFEST

The Walker, Minnesota CajunFest, which has been held outside the Northern Lights Casino in years past, moves this year to nearby Moondance Fairgrounds (located seven mile east of Walker on Highway 200). CajunFest, co-sponsored by Moondance, Northern Lights Casino and the Leech Lake Area Chamber of  Commerce, will be August 26-28. This larger venue means more bands, more activities and more food options - plus the chance to camp on site!

Some of  the bands lined up include Tee Mamou (with Bob Reed),  The Treater Band, Zydeco Joe and Rockin Dopsie, Jr.  Tickets are $8.50/day or $20 for the weekend. Camping is $10/night and is sold on a first come/first served basis; the campground will NOT be oversold. Ticketed guests who get there after 4:00 pm on Wednesday the 25th can get a free extra night of camping. To purchase tickets contact the Chamber of Commerce at 1 (800) 833-1118 or call (218) 547-1313
 

ZYDECO CRUISE '99

Zydeco Cruise '99 is scheduled for November 13-20 and is filling up fast. It sails out from New Orleans and stops at Cozumel, Mexico, Grand Cayman Island and Montego Bay, Jamaica. Playing for your listening and dancing enjoyment are Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, Lil' Malcolm & the House Rockers, Kenny Menard and Jo Jo Reed. 

An optional Zydeco Dance Workshop Package is offered for just $75; it features 9 instructors including Mona Wilson, Joely Bias, Ben Pagac and Debbie Shaw.  For a full color brochure call Travel Machine, Inc. at 1 (800) 683-9882. For updates and additional information on the cruise check the Web at http://www.erols.com/ghayman/cruise.htm.
 

PETER SCHWARZ HITS THE BOOKS

Peter Schwarz, who has sang and played bass and fiddle with Steve Riley &  the Mamou Playboys since Day One, has left the group to get his MBA. He will be going to school in Austin, Texas for the next two years. Peter was 15 when he was apprenticed to Dewey Balfa; shortly after that he met Steve Riley on the Mardi Gras wagon in Mamou. The popularity of the Steve Riley group today is not only due to their marvelous music but also to the managerial and organizational skills of Peter. The Playboys are looking for a new bass player, and no interruptions in their busy touring schedule is expected. We wish Peter the best of luck in his studies and are sure his musical gifts will be heard again.
 

AT THE MEDINA IN SEPTEMBER: GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH ROCKIN' BOOGIE
"The Best Zydeco Group in 1999"- Big Easy Awards in New Orleans
by Maurine McCort

You will have a chance to hear one of Louisiana's hottest traditional Creole zydeco bands, Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, at the Medina  Ballroom on Saturday, September 11, 1999.  They are an award winning Louisiana dance band and are  popular all over America, as well as across the sea and around the world. They headlined this year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and in January this year they were in the PBS special  "River of Song". The band was featured in the movie "Passion Fish" and were also on the soundtrack of "Eve's Bayou".

Geno, son of the legendary John Delafose, has successfully kept true to his Creole and zydeco music roots while infusing it with modern country, the rhythms of R & B, swing and rock. He started out in his father's band playing frottoir, then drums, then accordion. Geno has now become known as a "triple threat" as he is able to play three different types of accordion creating a different sound and mood with each. "Delafose appears to be one of those cultural guardians with the courage to inject modern influences and themes  into traditional zydeco without sacrificing its integrity or spirit." (San Diego Union) 

The music is totally infectious and those listening just have to get up and dance. At the Medina there will be a zydeco dance lesson from 6:30-7:30 pm with Maurine McCort and friends. The dance starts at 8:00 PM. The cost of the dance lesson is $10. The dance is $12.  Dance lesson and dance combined are $20. The dance is brought to you by the Minnesota Cajun & Zydeco Music and Dance Association (Krewe de Walleye). Contact CAJUN SPOTLIGHT for information about joining. In October the Krewe brings the Savoy-Doucet Band to the Medina; look for more information in the next CAJUN SPOTLIGHT.
 

TAPESTRY FOLKDANCE CENTER UPDATE

Tapestry Folkdance Center and many dedicated volunteers are busy etting the new home for the organization ready for a gala opening in September. In late July work was underway on the new dance floor. Look for a month of special events at the new location including the return of Wild Asparagus.

During July and August Tapestry will have a limited schedule of dances at two different Minneapolis locations. Thursday night swing classes and Saturday ight dances will be held at Sabathani Community Center while Friday Night International Dances and Sunday Night English Country Dances will be at the Barbara Barker Center for the Dance. This is the new dance building on the University of Minnesota on the West Bank. It's located at the corner of Riverside Avenue and 21st Avenue South (about 3 blocks from the Cedar Cultural Centre). Street shoes are not permitted on  this dance floor; bring  your dance shoes. Many Tapestry events and workshops are on break for the summer and will resume in September. There will be no monthly Scandinavian dance, no Family Folkdance, no Challenge Contras and no swing workshops.

The First Saturday Swing Dance on Saturday, August 7 will feature music by rockabilly band The Vibrochamps.  Time is 7:00 pm. Don't forget that Tapestry's new phone number is (612) 722-2914. The mailing address is 3748 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55406. For more  information on any of the many events featured at Tapestry or to volunteer call (612) 722-2914 (after July 1). Tapestry can be found on the Web at http://www.mtn.org/~tapestry;  check there to see how the new building is coming along and to see The Volunteer of the Week!
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • July 31 - The Swamp Sextet : LAKEFRONT PARK, HUDSON, WI (1:00 PM)
  • July 31 - The Chicago Cajun Aces : FOLKLORE VILLAGE FARM, DODGEVILLE, WI
  • August 01 - Buffalo Gals : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL, MN
  • August 04 - Sheryl Cormier & Cajun Sounds : JOE'S BEBOP CAFE, CHICAGO, IL
  • August 06 - The Bone Tones : MBOTMA FESTIVAL, ZIMMERMAN, MN
  • August 07 - Terrance Simien : DECATUR DAYS, DECATUR, IL
  • August 07 - The Chicago Cajun Aces : SUMMERDANCE, CHICAGO, IL
  • August 07 - Beausoleil : BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA, BAYFIELD, WI
  • August 08 - The Swamp Sextet : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 11 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7:00-9:00 PM)
  • August 13 - Chicago Cajun Aces/ Midway Ramblers : DOWNTOWN ALIVE CAJUN FEST, CHICAGO, IL
  • August 14 - Beau Jocque & the Zydeco Hi-Rollers : BAYFRONT BLUES FEST, DULUTH, MN (5:10 PM)
  • August 14 - Cajun/Zydeco CD Dance Party : ORCHARD RIDGE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST, MADISON
  • August 15 - Zydeco Dance w/ ZoloGo : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL, MN
  • August 22 - Cajun Dance w/ New Riverside Ramblers :  HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • August 26-29 - The Bone Tones : BAZAAR STAGE, MINNESOTA STATE FAIR
  • August 27 - Beausoleil :  GRAND OPERA HOUSE, OSHKOSH, WI
  • August 28 - Beausoleil : DOOR COMMUNITY AUDITORIUM, FISH CREEK, WI
  • August 28 - Cajun Hot Soles and Grande Prairie : PLAYWRIGHT CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS (7:00 PM)
  • August 29 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL, MN
  • September 01 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : SPRINGFIELD, IL
  • September 01,02 - J.J's Zydeco Paydirt : BEER GARDEN, MN STATE FAIR (8:30 -10:30 PM)
  • September 05 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : LAKEVIEW MUSEUM,  PEORIA, IL
  • September 08 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7:00 -9:00 PM)
  • September 10 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : UNIVERSITY OF N. IOWA, CEDAR FALLS
  • September 10 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : CEDAR FALLS, IA
  • September 11 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : MEDINA BALLROOM,  MEDINA, MN
  • September 17 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MPLS (TENTATIVE!)
  • September 18 - Beausoleil : GRANT PARK, CHICAGO, IL
  • September 25 - Cajun/Zydeco CD Dance Party : ORCHARD RIDGE UCC, MADISON, WI
  • October 08 - Savoy-Doucet Band :  MEDINA BALLROOM, MEDINA, MN
  • October 16 - Bone Tones Farewell Dance :  CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • November 27 - Upriver Fais Do Do w/ Steve Riley : MEDINA ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.
 

THE PICKER AND THE PICKED ON

Recently our Research Staff came upon several Web sites devoted to jokes about musicians who play particular instruments (and, for that matter,  conductors and singers). Perhaps no one will be surprised that the greatest number of jokes concerned banjo and accordion players. Why this is the case is hard to say. In any case both instruments remain popular. The accordion has a place in music throughout the world, while the banjo in its present form (in either the 4- or 5-string variety) is used primarily in America (although several Irish musicians we heard in Ireland last spring used it as a melody instrument). The songs in this month's quiz all feature a banjo in the recording; can you match the performer with the song? Answers are on page 6.
 
 
01) STOP STOP STOP a)  The Weavers
02) M.T.A b) Buffalo Springfield
03) GREEN, GREEN c)  The Byrds
04) MR. BOJANGLES d)  Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
05) IF I HAD A HAMMER e)  Dexy's Midnight Runners
06) THE BALLAD OF JED CLAMPETT f)  Kingston Trio
07) I AM A PILGRIM g)  New Christy Minstrels
08) EILEEN h) Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
09) BLUEBIRD  i)  The Hollies
10) DUELING BANJOS  j)  Flatt & Scruggs

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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 $8.00. Email Notessteps@aol.com or NOTES & STEPS/CAJUN SPOTLIGHT, John Tallaksen, 2425 East Franklin, #211 Minneapolis, MN 55406.