Report from Dancing in the Streets

September 1st, 2013

Beaucoup folks enjoyed themselves in downtown Ann Arbor, MI, on Sunday, September 1, for Dancing in the Streets. The morning weather looked like it wanted to rain, and while I was contra dancing around 2:30 pm I felt a couple of rain drops. But after that the weather cleared and the sun shined through the clouds. It wasn’t too hot, but was very humid.

The humidity was perfect for the Cajun and zydeco music of Creole du Nord from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. I was able to pass a good time dancing with some folks then. Saw some folks I hadn’t seen in a while, like Ken and Lois, who you can see at many Michigan CZ dance events.

Creole du Nord at Dancing in the Streets

Creole du Nord plays on North Main St. at Dancing in the Streets 2013

Susan Filipiak gave some Cajun and zydeco dance lessons, and while the lessons were generally good, I wish she wouldn’t have taught folks to zig-zag from side to side while two-stepping as it makes it harder to pass slower folks who continually zig in front of you when the dance floor (or in this case, the dance street) gets crowded. She also taught something she called the “crooked two-step” that some of us knew as the “Mamou Two-Step.” For those who don’t know, the Mamou Two-Step is a variant where you lead with two steps to one side but only one step on the other side. Basically, the leaders will lead with two steps with their left foot and only one on their right, while followers will lead with two steps with the right foot and only one with their left foot. It’s easier to see and dance than it is to write about it.

Zydeco dancing at Dancing in the Streets

Zydeco dancing at Dancing in the Streets

I was pleased that I was able to do a lot of dancing at this year’s Dancing in the Streets. I danced the entire contra dance from 2 to 3 pm, then did a waltz workshop from 3 to 4 pm. Tried to dance to some English Country Dancing, but I was beginning to wilt from the heat so took a break to sit down and cool off by drinking a quantity of water. Then managed to dance most of the CZ dancing, too.

Maybe we’ll see the rest of y’all at next year’s Dancing in the Streets!

–Bayou Joe

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Creole du Nord at Thumbfest, August 31

August 30th, 2013

I just found out that Creole du Nord is playing at Thumbfest in Lexington, MI, on Saturday, August 31. They are playing from 12:15 to 1:00 pm on the Virginia McNabb Realtor stage (outside the Lion’s Hall at Huron & Washington), From 3:00 to 3:45 pm at the Marty & Ruth Habalewsky Workshop area (on the north side of Huron between Washington and Dallas), and from 5:45 to 6:30pm on the Lexington DDA Harbor Stage (George Stewart Stage at the Harbor in Tierney Park). Go and check it out!

–Bayou Joe

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Two CZ events for the Labor Day weekend

August 29th, 2013

Aiyeeee!!! You can actually get to dance to Cajun/zydeco music in the southeast Michigan area twice this Labor Day 2013 weekend. On Saturday, August 31, Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats play at 11:15am (until around 12:30pm) on the FirstMerit Bank International Stage at the Arts Beats & Eats festival in Royal Oak, Michigan. There is a $3 fee to enter the festival before 3pm, plus you most likely will have to pay to park. Do NOT park where you’re not supposed to, or else expect a $50 ticket! You also can not bring in chairs or your own food or beverages. (What!? Dancers can’t bring their own water bottles?) It’s also sort of amusing that the festival puts a zydeco band on the “international” stage. Um, haven’t the Arts Beats & Eats folks heard that zydeco music is from Louisiana, and Louisiana is a part of the United States? Although, if you’ve ever visited southern Louisiana, it can almost seem sometimes like it is a different country.

Then on Sunday, September 1, head over to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for their annual Dancing in the Streets. The city of Ann Arbor shuts down S. Main St. around Washington and Liberty Streets between 2pm and 7pm, and there are several areas where you can try out different kinds of dancing. There’ll be swing, contra, folk, waltz, English Country dancing (no, it’s nothing like “American” country dancing), even some Polynesian dancing and a Charleston workshop. And for folks like me, there is the pièce de résistance with Creole du Nord playing Cajun and zydeco music on Main St. between 5:30 and 6:30pm. Susan Filipiak will be giving some Cajun dancing lessons, also. Dancing in the Streets is free, parking in downtown Ann Arbor is free on Sundays, and you can bring your own chairs and water, although you probably won’t need the chair because you’ll be dancing, right? Check out the DITS schedule at http://aactmad.org/dits/.

Bayou Joe

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I’m/we’re back

June 23rd, 2013

OK, so I haven’t posted anything here since October 2011. Well, it’s like this… In October of 2011, I had a knee replaced due to its deterioration from past athletic injuries. Then, after the surgery, I had about 7 months of heavy-duty physical therapy in order to get the new knee joint to bend again. It took 14 months to wean myself off narcotic pain-killers. I had to slowly reduce the dosage to avoid some unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. While I was on the narcotics, I found it impossible to learn to play any new tunes for most of that time, whether on accordion or piano. It was also difficult to play tunes I already knew. I also took three months off work, and during that time I was either using a walker or crutches, so I didn’t feel like picking up any accordions. When I did try to play piano, I had to sit sideways, like Jerry Lee Lewis, because of the difficulty I had bending my knee.

About six months after the surgery, I began to tentatively dance a little. Irish Ceili dancing was too hard, as I couldn’t move my replaced knee fast enough, and that leg had trouble going behind the other leg to dance Irish “sevens.” I could do some contra dancing, though, and that helped my mind a lot. But for some reason I just couldn’t bring myself to write in this blog. Maybe it was a sort of “sour grapes” feeling I had, where if I couldn’t really participate in playing music or dancing then I didn’t want to write about it.

Well, anyway, I’m back now. So is my Cajun/zydeco band, Maison Bleue. We have a gig playing at Ann Arbor, Michigan’s Top of the Park on Wednesday, June 26. We play from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. We also hope to have Cyndy and Gail teaching some Cajun dance lessons starting around 6:30 pm. The Top of the Park stage is on E. Washington St., between Thayer and Fletcher Streets. There is a parking deck on Fletcher right at the end of E. Washington St. There is a fee to park, but the music and dancing is free! You can dance in the street, so wear some good shoes. There are also some food booths from local restaurants, plus there is a special seating area where you can purchase adult beverages if you are of a certain age.

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Oktoberfest with Creole du Nord at the Local Pub & Brewery, October 7 & 8

October 6th, 2011

The Local Pub & Brewery (local to Jackson, Michigan, that is) is having an Oktoberfest party on October 7 to 9. And since an Oktoberfest party is a lot like a Cajun Fais Do Do, they’ve got Creole du Nord to play on Friday and Saturday. Friday has Creole du Nord play from 7-10 pm, Saturday it’s “La Petite” Creole du Nord from 3-5:30 pm. All of the music and dancing takes place outside under a tent, and good (warm) weather is forecast for this weekend, so head on out and check it out! While you’re at the pub, you can also fill up on food and beverages. The Local Pub & Brewery is at 6020 Ann Arbor Road, in Jackson, MI. Make sure you go to Ann Arbor Road in Jackson and not in Ann Arbor nor Plymouth nor even in Jackson, Mississippi!

Creole du Nord is also celebrating a CD release party. Although I haven’t heard their CD, if it is as good as their live music, you’ll want to buy one of those CDs! The CD is entitled “Snow Swamp,” and they’re $10 each.

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Get out and (zydeco) dance on October 1

September 27th, 2011

First, let me apologize for not posting much recently. I have finally reached the stage where I need one of my knees replaced and will have that surgery soon. I wore it out from playing lots of sports, and also from lots of dancing in my past years. I’m hoping I can make a full recovery so I can join y’all on the dance floors of the future, but in the meantime I haven’t been as motivated to write about music and dancing as I could have been.

Anyhow, this Saturday, October 1, you’ve got a choice of three different Cajun/zydeco bands playing in three different cities to choose from. First, if you’re near Detroit, Monsieur Guillaume and His Zydeco Hepcats play at Kelly’s Bar & Grill in Hamtramck (at 2403 Holbrook–across from the big Kowalski sausage sign). They crank it up starting at 9:30 pm. The Hepcats also recommend getting there earlier and having dinner. There’s no cover charge (I could have just said “no cover” like the Mardi Gras picture about this event on their homepage). Call Kelly’s at 313-872-0387 if you need more info.

Or, if you’re in south-central (lower peninsula) Michigan, you could head over to the Black Sheep Tavern (at 115 E. Main St., Manchester) to hear Cracklin. Definitely go hungry to this event as the Tavern has some good food! But, quel dommage! there’s no room for dancing. More info at 734-428-8972.

Finally, if you’re in the Traverse City/Cadillac area, check out K. Jones and the Benzie Playboys at the Gopherwood Dance. It’s at the Elks Club at 122 S. Mitchell St. in Cadillac. There is an admission fee ($10 in advance, kids less), and while the Gopherwood series is promoted as concerts, they will have a dance floor available. More info at 231-775-2813.

As always, if you attend one of these events, please post a comment about the event (or email me a report, hopefully also with a picture or two)!

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CZ Events, Sunday, September 4

September 4th, 2011

If the weather holds out, and if you don’t mind a lot of driving, you can dance to two different CZ bands on Sunday, September 4!

First, Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats play on the International Stage at Arts, Beats & Eats in Royal Oak, MI, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. That stage is near W. 6th & S. Lafayette streets in Royal Oak. There’s a $3 admission fee to get into the festival, plus you’ll most likely have to pay to park. There are also lots of food vendors there (that’s the “Eats” part of the festival title)–maybe Howe’s Bayou or Fishbones will have a food booth there?

Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats at the Marine City Festival 2011

Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats at the Marine City Festival 2011 (photo shamelessly borrowed from the Hepcats website)

Next, you can hurry out to downtown Ann Arbor, MI, for their annual Dancing in the Streets where Creole du Nord plays from 5:15-6:30 pm on S. Main St between Huron and Washington Sts. The overall event runs from 2:00-6:30 pm, and there are several stages with different kinds of music for dancing. In particular, you can do a lot of contra and swing dancing. This event is free, and parking is free in downtown Ann Arbor on Sundays.

Creole du Nord at Dancing in the Streets 2010

Creole du Nord at Dancing in the Streets 2010

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Dancing In The Streets!

September 2nd, 2011

Sunday, September 4th
Ann Arbor, MI

Dancing In The Streets (Schedule)
2:00PM-6:30PM – Free admission
Intersection of Main & Washington, downtown

Cajun dancing, Swing dancing, Contra dancing

Posted by Alan

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Excellent Website for Cajun, Zydeco, Creole Dances

August 21st, 2011

A dedicated Cajun music fan, Arn B has set up and maintained this website for many years. Go to his home page http://www.ArnB.org and under the “Schedules” tab, select “Central” (Michigan is considered “Central” to the guys in Jersey).

Then click on the Preferences soft button, and put in your town, and how many miles you’re willing to drive to go Cajun dancing. Arn B will let you know all the stuff going on in your part of Michigan. Most of the posts I make to Garry’s Michigumbo Blog come from Arn B’s site.

Enjoy!

Posted by Alan

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Wheatland Music Festival

August 14th, 2011

38th Annual Wheatland Music Festival

http://www.wheatlandmusic.org/

September 9th, 10th, & 11th (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

Performers to include:
Lafayette Rhythm Devils ~ The Freight Hoppers
Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band ~ Ray Bonneville
The Laws ~ Grey Larsen & Cindy Kallet
Rhythmic Circus ~ Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith
Abigail Washburn & the Village ~ Wayne ‘The Train’ Hancock
Black Jake and The Carnies ~ Los TesManiacs
Craver, Hicks, Watson & Newberry ~ Starlight Six
Michigan Songwriters ~ Kirby, Susan Harrison, Karisa Wilson, J.Oscar Bittinger
Nic Gareiss & Jessie Nieves ~ Old Foresters ~ Rick Thum and Friends
The Red Sea Pedestrians ~ An Dro ~ Blue Water Ramblers
Jive At Five ~ The Rhythm Billies

The Lafayette Rhythm Devils

Posted by Alan

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