Cajun Spotlight 

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

KREWE DE WALLEYE PRESENTS ...

On Saturday, November 13 the Minnesota Cajun and Zydeco Music and Dance Association (the Krewe de Walleye) will have a special First Anniversary Member Appreciation Dance. It will be at the Four Seasons Dance Studio near Loring Park and feature live music by JJ's Zydeco Paydirt. The evening starts with a potluck at 6 pm, followed by a dance lesson from 7 to 8 pm. This is a free event for members of the organization; non-members pay $10. There will be a fund-raising raffle with some great prizes and other surprises. The Four Seasons Dance Studio is at 1637 Hennepin Avenue; please use the alley entrance. 
 

ZYDECO DANCE LESSONS

Maurine McCort continues her popular zydeco dance lessons. They are held on Saturdays at the Oddfellows Lodge at 2382 Hampden in St. Paul from 4:30 to 6:00 pm (note new time). For more information call Maurine at (651) 488-6269. Cost of each series is $25. Here's the schedule for the remainder of the fall:
  • Zydeco X (eXtreme) : October 23,30, November 6
  • Zydeco Z (Advanced) : November 13,20, December 4 

MADISON CAJUN/ZYDECO DANCE PARTY

A Cajun/zydeco CD dance party in Madison, Wisconsin is set for November 20 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.
 

HALF TIME REC SOCIAL DANCES

The Sunday Night Social Dances at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul continue with a full schedule for November. Here's the lineup:
 
  • November 07 - The Buffalo Gals
  • November 14 - The New Riverside Ramblers
  • November 21 - ZoloGo
  • November 28 - The Swamp Sextet

CAJUN FESTIVAL ASKS FOR YOUR INPUT

The Third Annual Taste Louisiana Cajun Fest is scheduled next Memorial Day Weekend in Amana, Iowa. While the Treater Band and Curtis Coubello are already scheduled to return, the folks putting the festival on are interested in hearing suggestions for other performers from the readers of CAJUN SPOTLIGHT. If you would like to recommend your favorite Louisiana bands (Cajun and zydeco) as well as any Midwest bands you'd like to see send an email to swidmer@netins.net. This year the festival drew over 15,000 people!
 

CAJUN HOT SOLES

Two chances to catch The Cajun Hot Soles in November: 
  • 1) On Saturday, November 6 they play for a dance at the Playwright's Center at 2301 East Franklin in Minneapolis (just a block east of the Seward Cafe). There will be a dance lesson at 7:30 pm followed by dancing until 11 pm.
  • 2) On Friday, November 26 they play at the Dunn Bros/Freighthouse located at 2nd Street and 3rd Avenue South in downtown Minneapolis. This is located right next to the Milwaukee Depot station by the 3rd Avenue Bridge. Not a lot of dance room, but where there's a will there's a way...

ZOLOGO TO TAKE A BREAK

Because of the increasingly busy schedules of various members, ZoloGo has decided to take a break from the music scene. Their final public gig is Sunday, November 21 at the Half Time Rec in Saint Paul. They're moving up their annual potluck to that date, so bring a dish to share and look for some great gumbo! ZoloGo wants to thank everyone for their support and encouragement over the past years and hopes everyone will support the local bands playing Louisiana music. We at CAJUN SPOTLIGHT wish the members of  ZoloGo much success in future endeavors and thank them for helping to keep the local Cajun/zydeco scene jumping.
 

FESTIVAL AT ARDENWOOD FARMS

In late September our staff spent some time around San Francisco Bay. We were fortunate that our trip coincided with the 3rd Annual Cajun/Zydeco Festival at Ardenwood Historic Farm. Located in the East Bay, Ardenwood is a 205-acre site that lets visitors experience farm life as it was a century ago. It's a great location for the festival, which was a two day event last year but due to weather-related losses was cut to just one day this time around. Performers were Frog Legs, Zydeco Magic, California Cajun Orchestra, Zydeco Flames, Cajun Classics and D. L. Menard. Sound was excellent, and a great wooden dance floor was set up in front of the portable stage. 

Regrettably we missed two of the early acts, but got there midway through D. L.'s set which was spirited and well-received. The California Cajun Orchestra was without regular member Danny Poullard, but the accordionist filling in (whose name I have forgotten) did a great job. The Zydeco Flames were great, and finishing off the day as the sun set through a grove of eucalyptus trees was the Cajun Classics. All the reports of a great Cajun and zydeco music scene in California are true: the dancers are numerous, skilled and friendly and there are lots of opportunities to dance. I met some folks from the California Friends of Louisiana French Music, an organization sponsoring jams, festivals and other events, including a cruise next June. It was like meeting family you never knew you had but want to visit again soon!
 

JAM AT SUNRISE

Sunrise, Minnesota is a small town on the Sunrise River about an hour north of the Twin Cities. The Riverbank Bar is located on the river (and was once a bank!). Regular jams are now held there on first and third Tuesdays starting around 8:00 pm. Expect blues, old time and country music as well as friendly folks and the occasional request from bar patrons. For more information call Ken at (651) 674-2208.
 

THIRD TUESDAY OLD TIME DANCE

A new dance series started in October at the Oddfellows Lodge in Saint Paul. The Third Tuesday Old Time Dance starts at 8:00 pm includes live music and calling by various folks. If you're interested in playing or calling contact (651) 644-9549 or tanby@aol.com. Brings snacks and liquids; paper products will be provided. A small donation is asked to cover expenses. The next dance is Tuesday, November 16; the December dance is Tuesday the 21st. The Oddfellows Lodge is located at Raymond and Hampden in Saint Paul.
 

THE RENDEZVOUS BALLROOM IS BACK

The Rendezvous is back! Its new location is 2524 Nicollet Avenue in south Minneapolis. The space is on ground level, has 2000 square feet of maple floor and high ceilings. The schedule for the months ahead include both dances with live music and classes. For more information call (612) 728-3792. Here are the some of the dances scheduled in November and December:
  • November 12 - Swing Dance with Swing Train
  • November 13 - Swing, Tango and more with Cafe Accordion Orchestra
  • November 26 - Swing Dance with The Senders
  • December 4 - Cajun dance with The New Riverside Ramblers
  • December 11 - Swing dance with the Senders

UPCOMING CAJUN AND ZYDECO EVENTS

  • November 06 - The Cajun Hot Soles : PLAYWRIGHT'S CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS
  • November 07 - The Buffalo Gals : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • November 13 - Beausoleil : IOWA STATE CENTER, AMES, IA
  • November 13 - Krewe de Walleye Anniversary w/ JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : FOUR SEASONS, MPLS
  • November 13 - The Midway Ramblers : CLUB ZYDECO, FRANKLIN PARK, IL (9:00 PM)
  • November 14 - New Riverside Ramblers : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • November 14 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band : STAR PLAZA, MERRILLVILLE, IN
  • November 17 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band : MARK OF THE QUAD CITIES, MOLINE, IL
  • November 18 - C. J. Chenier/Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown : OSCAR MAYER THEATRE, MADISON, WI
  • November 19 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band : WEIDNER CENTER, GREEN BAY, WI
  • November 20 - Cajun/Zydeco CD Dance Party : ORCHARD RIDGE UCC, MADISON, WI
  • November 20 - C. J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band : HEMMENS AUDITORIUM, ELGIN, IL
  • November 21 - ZoloGo : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • November 24 - The Swamp Sextet : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • November 26 - The Cajun Hot Soles : DUNN BROS /THE FREIGHTHOUSE, DOWNTOWN MPLS (8:30 PM)
  • November 26 - The Midway Ramblers : TERRA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, CHICAGO, IL (5:00 PM)
  • November 27 - Upriver Fais Do Do w/ Steve Riley : MEDINA ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
  • November 28 - The Swamp Sextet : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 04 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MPLS 
  • December 04 - New Riverside Ramblers : RENDEZVOUS BALLROOM, MINNEAPOLIS
  • December 05 - The Cajun Hot Soles : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 12 - The Swamp Sextet : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 18 - New Riverside Ramblers : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • December 19 - JJ's Zydeco Paydirt : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • December 22 - The Swamp Sextet : CEDAR CULTURAL CENTRE, MINNEAPOLIS
  • January 27 - Beausoleil : PABST THEATER, MILWAUKEE, WI
  • January 29 - Beausoleil : A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION, ST. PAUL
  • January 30 - New Riverside Ramblers : HALF TIME REC, ST. PAUL
  • February 23 - Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie : KOHLER ARTS CENTER, SHEBOYGAN, WI
  • March 25 - Balfa Toujours, Geno Delafose : HEMMENS AUDITORIUM, ELGIN, IL
  • May 06 - The Cajun Hot Soles : BOTHY FOLK CLUB, MANKATO, MN (8:00 PM)

SOMETHIN'S COOKIN' IN THE KITCHEN...

Summer being over, those who are mindful about such things will store the barbecue grill away for the winter and move the cooking back to the kitchen. The word barbecue, by the way, comes from a Spanish word meaning a framework of sticks (used to smoke, dry or cook meat). The word came into Spanish from the language of the Taino, a now-vanished Caribbean people who spoke a tongue belonging to the Arawakan family of languages. But let us return to the kitchen, which in the months ahead will be a scene of much activity as large meals are prepared, cookies and other treats are baked and friends and families catch up on news. The theme of this month's quiz is all about what's happening in the kitchen. 
 
01) STIR IT UP a) Cream
02) COME ON IN MY KITCHEN b) The Skillet Lickers
03) HUNGRY HASH HOUSE c) Bob Marley
04) MACK THE KNIFE  d) Ed Ames
05) SUGAR, SUGAR e) Robert Johnson
06) MOLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON  f) The Monkees
07) KEEP MY SKILLET GOOD AND GREASY g) The Archies
08) SPOONFUL h) Bobby Darin
09) MY CUP RUNNETH OVER i) Uncle Dave Macon
10) TAPIOCA TUNDRA j) Charlie Poole & the NC Ramblers

Cajun Spotlight, Part 2 11/99

Friends,
In converting the November Cajun Spotlight from printed format to email, an IMPORTANT article was inadvertently omitted. Here it is; hope to see you there:

THE 10TH ANNUAL UPRIVER FAIS DO-DO 

with Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys and the Swamp Sextet

Don't miss Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys! The 10th Annual Upriver Fais Do-Do will be held Saturday, November 27th 1999 at the Medina Entertainment Center.

The Upriver Fais Do-Do is the largest Cajun dance party upriver from Louisiana, presenting Louisiana's hottest Cajun bands to enthusiastic crowds of Twin Cities' dancers since 1990. Back by popular demand are Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Louisiana's premier Cajun dance band - ôthe best of the genre's past, present, and futureö (Musician magazine). As skilled interpreters of traditional Cajun music and as innovators expanding the boundaries of the genre, they've thrilled audiences at home and across three continents.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., an hour-long introductory Cajun dance workshop is available before the dance, taught by Millie Ortego and, from Breaux Bridge, Don Brasseaux. The workshop will teach the traditional Cajun two-step and waltz, for an $8 fee.

Local favorites The Swamp Sextet will start off the evening with an opening set of Louisiana blues, zydeco and swamp pop, from 8 - 9:30 p.m. As lagniappe, Millie and Don will present a brief introduction to the blues one-step. (Lagniappe is the Cajun French term for 'a little something extra'!) Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys will take the stage at 10 p.m. and play until 1 a.m. So mark your calendars, dig out your dancing shoes, and get ready to 'laissez les bon temps rouler!'

Admission to the dance is $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Advance tickets are available through November 26 at the Medina, (612) 478-6661. The Medina Entertainment Center is located west of Minneapolis on Hwy 55. The adjacent Medina Inn has rooms available at reasonable rates for people looking for accommodations (Inn (612) 478-9770). This event is presented by Tedego Productions. For more information, call Millie or Lee at (612) 378-0117.

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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.