Cajun Spotlight 

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

CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  1. The city of Osceola, Wisconsin (across the St. Croix not far from Taylors Falls) holds its annual Wheels and Wings Day from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, September 11. There will be a dance there that evening at the Artists' Barn featuring the Cajun Hot Soles. The dance begins at 7:30 pm.
  2. The BIG show in September in the Twin Cities is at the Medina Entertainment Center on Saturday, September 11 when Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie will be there. More about this great dance elsewhere in this issue.
  3. Making their debut at the Sunday Night Social Dance at the Half Time Rec on Sunday, September 12 will be Grande Prairie.
  4. Appearing at the Sunday Night Social Dance at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul on Sunday, September 19 will be ZoloGo.
  5. Besides appearing at the Minnesota State Fair (see below), JJ's Zydeco Paydirt will be at the Cedar Cultural Centre on Sunday, September 19. 6) Look for a very special Half Time Rec Sunday Night Social Dance on Sunday, September 26 when the Bone Tones are joined by alumni Millie Ortego and Matt Haney and special guest Tracy Schwarz. 

ZYDECO AND MORE AT THE FAIR

There is still a chance to hear some local favorites at the state fair. On September 1 and 2 JJ's Zydeco Paydirt play on the Beer Garden Stage from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm. Also at the fair 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.
 

MADISON CAJUN/ZYDECO DANCE PARTY

A Cajun/zydeco CD dance party in Madison, Wisconsin is set for September 25 at Orchard Ridge United Church of Christ at 1501 Gilbert Road. 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.
 

QUEEN IDA, AL RAPONE AT THE CABOOZE

Queen Ida and Al Rapone (who is her brother) are scheduled to play at the Cabooze on Thursday, September 30. Opening will be the Swamp Sextet. The previous evening (Wednesday the 29th) the Swamp Sextet will be at the Cedar Cultural Centre for a 7:30 pm dance.
 

BONE TONES FAREWELL DANCES

The Bone Tones will do two farewell dances at the Cedar Cultural Centre in Minneapolis on the weekend of October 16 and 17. Attendance at each will be limited to 325 people to insure that there will be enough room to dance. The Cedar will be selling tickets in advance to these dances. 
 

Le CAJUN MUSIC AWARDS

Each year the Cajun French Music Association awards the Le Cajun Awards to musicians and composers. Here are the 1999 winners announced a few weeks ago and awarded in August:
BAND OF THE YEAR
Jackie Caillier & Cajun Cousins
BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Je Vas Sortir et Two-Step 
by Jackie Caillier & Cajun Cousins
BEST FIRST RECORDING
Fier D'Etre Cajun by Don Fontenot
SONG OF THE YEAR
"The Visit" by Lee Benoit
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Ivy Dugas of Jackie Caillier & Cajun Cousins
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Les Amies Louisianaises
FIDDLER OF THE YEAR
Eldridge Aguillard
ACCORDIONIST OF THE YEAR
Jackie Caillier
PRIX DEHORS DE NOUS AWARD
(For best Cajun band outside Louisiana)
Cayenne (from Seattle, Washington)

KREWE DE WALLEYE PRESENTS ...

The Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music & Dance Association's (Krewe de Walleye) next big show is on Saturday, September 11 at the Medina Entertainment Center. On stage will be Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie. The San Diego Union said, "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." 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. If you join the Krewe de Walleye at the door you save $5 off your dance admission and get other benefits as well; look for the membership table in the lobby. If you are interested in volunteering at this or future Krewe events (see the article below) call Carroll at (651) 699-0376.
 

THE SAVOY-DOUCET CAJUN BAND

by Maurine McCort
"Put the pedal to the metal", shouts Marc Savoy " and the Savoy-Doucet Cajun Band does! They will be at the Medina Ballroom on Friday, October 8, 1999 and have packed the Medina several times since their first visit in 1988. They have circled the world several times with the spirit of Cajun music and have listeners dancing 'til their feet fly. Marc and Ann Savoy and Michael Doucet have been playing hot-stepping Cajun music together for over 21 years and are considered ambassadors of Cajun music and culture. They have inspired people worldwide to play Cajun music and keep the spirit of this fascinating culture alive.

Marc Savoy has been playing accordion since he was twelve years old. He owns and operates the Savoy Music Center near Eunice, Louisiana where he has been making his famous "Acadian" Cajun accordions for many years. Saturday mornings Cajun musicians and dancers from all cultures converge at the store to make music and friends, eat boudin and dance.

Ann Savoy has been playing guitar since she was young and has been playing Cajun music with Marc since the mid-70's. In 1984 she published her book, "Cajun Music: A Reflection of A People", and she is currently working on her second book. A few years ago Ann started another Cajun band, The Magnolia Sisters, with some women friends and musicians, playing Cajun ballads as well as the dancehall music.

Michael Doucet has been playing in Cajun bands since the early 1970's and studied fiddle with Dewey and Will Balfa, Canray Fontenot and Dennis McGee. Michael also plays with his band Beausoleil, another very popular and internationally known Cajun band that has played here.

Trailer Trash will open at 8:00 PM. There will be a Cajun dance lesson at 9:00 PM with Maurine McCort before the Savoy-Doucet band starts. The cost for the whole evening is $12.
 

DANCE VORTEX

Dance Vortex is a great music and dance weekend scheduled October 1-3 at Camp Riverview in Mentone, Alabama (a two hour drive from Atlanta or Birmingham). Cajun, zydeco, swing and waltz will be featured; performers include Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys, Jean-Pierre & the Zydeco Angels, Amy & the Hank Sinatras and the Nelson Ferry Waltz Band. Dance instructors include Ben Pagac, David Doggett & Dolores Hydock and Marietta & David Massey. Bring your musical instruments as a jam with the bands is scheduled. To get a flyer contact CAJUN SPOTLIGHT or you can check out their Web site at http://members.aol.com/dancvortex.
 
 

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • September 01 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : SPRINGFIELD, IL 
  • September 01,02 - JJ*s Zydeco Paydirt : BEER GARDEN, MN STATE FAIR (8:30 -10:30 PM)
  • September 02 - The Midway Ramblers : FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • September 04 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : FITZGERALD'S, BERWYN, IL
  • September 05 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : LAKEVIEW MUSEUM, PEORIA, IL
  • September 05 - The Midway Ramblers : ON THE WATERFRONT, ROCKFORD, IL (9:15 PM)
  • 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 11 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : MEDINA BALLROOM, MEDINA, MN
  • September 11 - The Cajun Hot Soles : ARTISTS* BARN, OSCEOLA, WI (7:30 PM)
  • September 12 - Grande Prairie : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 13 - The Midway Ramblers : ETHNIC FESTIVAL, UNI, CEDAR FALLS, IA (11 AM)
  • September 17 - Sheryl Cormier & Cajun Sounds : JOE*S BEBOP CAFE, CHICAGO, IL
  • September 18 - Beausoleil : GRANT PARK BANDSHELL, CHICAGO, IL
  • September 19 - ZoloGo : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 19 - JJ*s Zydeco Paydirt : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MPLS 
  • September 25 - Cajun/Zydeco CD Dance Party : ORCHARD RIDGE UCC, MADISON, WI
  • September 26 - The Bone Tones w/ Special Guests : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • September 29 - The Swamp Sextet : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • September 30 - Queen Ida, Al Rapone, Swamp Sextet: CABOOZE BAR, MINNEAPOLIS
  • October 02 - JJ*s Zydeco Paydirt : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MPLS (TENTATIVE!)
  • October 03 - The Cajun Hot Soles : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • October 08 - Savoy-Doucet Band : MEDINA BALLROOM, MEDINA, MN
  • October 10 - The Swamp Sextet : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • October 13 - Cajun Jam : HOMESTEAD PICKIN' PARLOR, RICHFIELD, MN (7:00 -9:00 PM)
  • October 16,17 - Bone Tones Farewell Dances : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • October 17 - ZoloGo : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • October 24 - The New Riverside Ramblers : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • October 30 - New Riverside Ramblers : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • October 31 - JJ*s Zydeco Paydirt : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • November 13 - Krewe de Walleye Dance : ODDFELLOWS HALL, ST. PAUL
  • November 27 - Upriver Fais Do Do w/ Steve Riley, Swamp Sextet : MEDINA ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
  • November 28 - The Swamp Sextet : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
NOTE: Please call to confirm events more than six weeks from first item on calendar.
 
 

RAMBLIN' BLUES

This month's quiz was inspired by the very special appearance in Minneapolis this month of the New Lost City Ramblers. While the most common name for a backup band may be 'Playboys' (derived not from Hugh Hefner but from playing music), a close second may be 'Ramblers'. When the name was first used is hard to say. Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers recorded in the '20s, but other Ramblers were from Texas, Georgia and Tennessee. Other names were more unique: Clodhoppers, Ridge Runners, Skillet Lickers, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Mountaineers and so on. The current era has had some humorous twists on the Rambler name: a Twin Cities group is called the Three Bedroom Ramblers, and Emmylou Harris has recorded bluegrass with the Nash Ramblers. Each of the songs below has rambler or rambling in the title. Can you match the performer with the song? 
 
01) RAMBLIN' ROSE a) Robert Johnson
02) RAMBLIN' GAMBLIN' MAN c) Nat King Cole
03) RAMBLIN' MAN b) Tom Paxton
04) DIDN'T HE RAMBLE d) Silly Wizard
05) THE RAMBLING BOY e) Bob Seger System
06) RAMBLIN' ON MY MIND f) Rolling Stones
07) MY RAMBLIN' BOY g) Allman Brothers Band
08) THE RAMBLIN' ROVER h) Merle Haggard
09) MIDNIGHT RAMBLER i) Carter Family
10) RAMBLIN' FEVER j) Charlie Poole & the North Carolina Ramblers

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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.