Posts Tagged ‘Cajun’

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CZ Events, Sunday, September 4

Sunday, 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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Zydeco (& Cajun) music in SE Michigan, February 25-27

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Tonnerre mes chiens! It’s zydeco and Cajun music feast time in southeastern Michigan the weekend of February 25/27.

Friday, February 25 gives dancers (or just listeners) a choice. If you’re near Ann Arbor (or maybe not so near) go and check out local band Creole du Nord as they play at The Ark. It’s a benefit for BreakFast 2011, for the St. Andrews Church breakfast program. The Ark is at 316 S. Main St. in downtown Ann Arbor. Tix are $30, doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. There are other (non-CZ) acts appearing, too. Info: 734-761-1800 (days), 734-761-1818 (evenings).

Or, maybe you’re closer to Hamtramck on the 25th. If so, head on over to Kelly’s Bar & Grille at 2403 Holbrook St for a Mardi Gras party with Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats. Showtime is 9:30 pm, and there’s no cover charge. Traditional New Orleans style food is on the menu for his party, not to mention party favors and dancing! Info: 313-872-0387.

Then on Saturday, February 26, it’s time to head on over to Ann Arbor for sure as C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band rocks zydecos (or would it be zydecoes?) the Dream Nite Club at 314 S. Fourth Ave. in downtown Ann Arbor. Tix are $25 at the door (rumor is they may only be $20, the advance ticket price, at the door), and doors open at 8:30 pm. Local band Maison Bleue (humorously renamed Maison Bleue–the Ice Cold Michigan Band just for this gig due to the recent cold & snowy weather in southeast Michigan) open with a 30-minute set at 9:30 pm. Large dance floor. Info: 734-222-4522.

Frottoirists Mary & Clifford Alexander

Frottoirists Mary (Maison Bleue) & Clifford Alexander (Red Hot Louisiana Band)

Finally, on Sunday, February 27 you can go and catch Creole du Nord at the Passport Restaurant & Lounge at 3776 S. State St. in Ann Arbor. CdN plays from 6 to 8 pm, a great time to do some dancing along with eating dinner. They’re also playing at the Passport on March 6, 13, 20, & 27, and on April 17. The Passport seems to be trying to promote lots of different kinds of dancing, so keep encouraging them in that direction!

Mardi Gras beads

Answer to previous trivia question: Both Buckwheat Zydeco (aka Stanley Dural, Jr.) and C.J. Chenier played in Clifton Chenier’s Red Hot Louisiana Band, although at different times. Kip provided a few more details with his comment to that particular post in which that trivia question was posed.

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A Night of Louisiana at Central Michigan University, January 29

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Hé toi! This Saturday, January 29 marks the 20th Anniversary of Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, MI’s “A Night of Louisiana.” CMU always has a Cajun and a zydeco band to celebrate the “night.” This year they’ve got C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band (zydeco) and the Lost Bayou Ramblers (Cajun) to play for your dancing pleasure.

It’s $20 admission, doors open at 6 pm, show starts at 7 pm, and tickets are available at the door. You can pre-order a Cajun dinner for $9.95. The event is in Finch Fieldhouse on the CMU campus. BTW, there is a large dance floor! (Obviously, it’s in the fieldhouse!)

In case you don’t know, C.J. Chenier (extra points for anyone who knows what the “C.J.” stands for without having to look it up) is one of the top zydeco performers of the modern time. He’s following in the footsteps of his father, Clifton, who was known as the “King of Zydeco.” C.J. started playing saxophone in his father’s band in the early 1980s, then took over on the accordion when Clifton’s health started to fail.

The Lost Bayou Ramblers are a bunch of young guys from Louisiana who sound like an old-timey Cajun band from 50 or more years ago. They play straight, traditional Cajun music.

The bottom line is, if you can’t dance to either of these bands, you’re either really, really drunk, or really, really dead!

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Creole du Nord at Passport Restaurant, Ann Arbor, January 23

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

I just received an email from Mark Palms of Creole du Nord. His band (Creole du Nord) is playing at the Passport Restaurant and Lounge at 3776 S. State St. in Arbor, MI, on Sunday, January 23. Go and check it out! This is what the email said:

COME DANCE TO THE HAPPIEST MUSIC ON EARTH with “Mark Palms & Creole du Nord”! CAJUN, ZYDECO, SWING, LINE DANCE w/instruction. SUNDAY, JANUARY 23 (6-8pm) at the Passport Restaurant & Lounge, 3776 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI, 48108.

Fun! Fun! Fun! Great exercise! Make new friends! Singles welcome! All ages welcome! “I’ve never danced before” welcome!

I must confess to never having been to the Passport Restaurant, but from their web page it looks like they specialize in international cuisine. It also appears they’re trying to have some regular dance events. So go and check it out and send me a report on the event! (I’m still under the weather and so won’t be able to attend.)

Also, just to mark your calendars, Creole du Nord is playing at The Ark in Ann Arbor on Friday, February 25.

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Morris Ardoin & Dennis Stroughmatt in Chicago, December 5

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

I mentioned previously that the Midway Ramblers were ending their regular “First Friday” Cajun dances in Chicago. Alas, their final “First Friday” dance is this Sunday, December 5, with special guests the Morris Ardoin Creole Quartet with special guest Dennis Stroughmatt. (There is no dance on Friday, December 3.)

The dance is at the usual location, at the Irish American Heritage Center at 4626 N. Knox in Chicago, IL. Dance instruction is offered from 5:15 to 6:00 pm, followed by the actual dance from 6:00 to 9:00 pm (Chicago time, of course). Admission is $12. For more info call 630-833-3515 or email info@midwayramblers.com.

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Louisiana Dance Party–Report

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

Well, 18 folks paid to get in to the Louisiana Dance Party on November 19 at the Pittsfield Grange, so I covered the hall rent, although it didn’t fully cover the cost of refreshments. Quel dommage! It seems most folks had fun dancing, though.

Dancers at the Louisiana Dance Party

Dancers at the Louisiana Dance Party, November 19

Cyndy Cleveland was kind enough to drop by and give some basic Cajun two-step and waltz dance lessons, and we even had special guests Chuck and Lorraine (formerly of Chuck’s on the Boulevard) drop by to say hi. Even better, and unexpectedly, Chuck and Lorraine brought a pot of jambalaya to share with everyone! Lagniappe!

Lorraine plays the frottoir

Lorraine plays the frottoir

Chuck, at home in the Grange's kitchen

Chuck, at home in the Grange's kitchen

I had promised cake in celebration of 10 years of Maison Bleue being together as a band, and it was a very nice marble cake from Heritage Bakery of Livonia, MI. We also had ice cream, and had a toast of 10 years down, and many more to come. Oh, yeah, did I mention Chuck and Lorraine’s delicious jambalaya? I should probably plug their excellent cookbook, n’est-pas!?

Maison Bleue's cake

Maison Bleue's 10th anniversary cake

After the intermission, we let Jeff Boerger’s “other” band, Cracklin’, take over on stage. Jeff plays guitar and fiddle in Maison Bleue, he also plays those and accordion in Cracklin’.

Crackln'

Cracklin' plays at the Pittsfield Grange

Of course. with Cracklin’ playing the music, some members of Maison Bleue (and Cyndy) were able to “get down” with playing Maison Bleue’s extra “noise-maker” instruments.

Noisemakers

Kip, Cyndy, Bill, and Nina make some noise

All in all, it was a fun time. Although it is a lot of work putting on a dance at the Grange, it was nice to see several faces of folks who used to come to the Louisiana Dance Parties when we held them monthly in the early 2000s. A few of those folks admitted they missed the regular dances, so I said I will try to have them annually, perhaps every November.

(All pictures by Patricia F. Anderson. See all her pix from the Louisiana Dance Party.)

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Return of the Louisiana Dance Party, November 19!

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Aiyeeeeeeee! A few folks may remember when Maison Bleue played for a monthly “Louisiana Dance Party” at the Pittsfield Union Grange Hall just south of Ann Arbor, Michigan, in the early 2000s. Well, in honor of the fact that Maison Bleue played their first Cajun/zydeco dance at the Grange in November of 2000, they deemed it necessary to celebrate that 10th anniversary with another Louisiana Dance Party!

Maison Bleue from 2001

Maison Bleue plays at the Pittsfield Grange on January 19, 2001

The dance is Friday, November 19 (2010), with dance lessons starting at 7:00 pm (we’ll teach you how to do a basic Cajun two-step and waltz, and a basic zydeco step–it’s easy and fun!), then Maison Bleue will play live music starting at 8:00 pm. The event runs until 11:00 pm or so. Watch for other guest musicians (and maybe local bands) to also play during the evening. There will be an intermission around 9:30 pm with (non-alcoholic) refreshments served, and yes, there will be cake! (Hopefully, with 10 candles on it.)

Fake alligators

Pet Maison Bleue's pet 'gators!

The Pittsfield Union Grange Hall is at 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, about 1/2 mile south of I-94. Heading south from I-94, when you cross Oak Valley Drive, the road you’re on will narrow down to two lanes. The Grange is immediately on your left. It looks sort of like an old-fashioned school house. Once you pass Oak Valley Drive, if you seem to be in open country, you’ve probably gone past it. Try to find a driveway to turn around, then head back to the Grange. (Note: The Pittsfield Grange Hall is NOT to be confused with the Pittsfield Township Hall, in case you’re looking it up online!)

Garry lying down on the job

Garry at the last Louisiana Dance Party on April 16, 2004

To celebrate the 10 years of being together as a band, Maison Bleue is charging admission based on the prices from 2000. They are $6 for adults (20 years and older), $3 for teens (ages 13 to 19), and kids 12 and younger are free when accompanied by an adult. Please bring clean soft-soled shoes to change into for dancing to help protect the nice wooden dance floor from grit that gets tracked in with street shoes. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and prepare to have fun!

Get the flyer.

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Swamperella – Cajun music in Toronto, November 13

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Perhaps you’re somewhere near Toronto, Ontario, this coming Saturday night, November 13. Why not go and check out Swamperella at the Silver Dollar Room? Swamperella plays solid traditional Cajun music, primarily from the fiddle of Soozi Schlanger and the squeezebox of Peter Jellard. They play starting at 7:00 pm, and the Silver Dollar is at 486 Spadina Ave. in Toronto. There is a $10 cover.

As I used to say when I DJed the old Michigumbo show, check out Swamperella‘s web site to see the best picture of a dancing couple ever! The guy has an alligator head, and the gal has a crawfish head. Gee, I sure hope that was a Photoshop job! :-)

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First Friday Cajun Dance with the Midway Ramblers

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

OK, so it’s in Chicago! While I am trying to keep the Michigumbo blog focused on Cajun and zydeco dance and music events in the state of Michigan, occasionally it can stray outside of the Wolverine state. Chicago does have a fairly active CZ community, and the Midway Ramblers are part of that community. The Midway Ramblers usually have a “First Friday” Cajun dance every month (October through May) and so their dances are on October 1, November 5, and December 3 through the end of 2010.

Those dances are at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox (at Wilson), usually in the Schanachie Room on the 1st floor. Admission is $8 (12 years and younger free). The dances run from 8:00 to 11:00 pm (Central time, of course), and they take a break for some dance instruction around 9:00 pm. They even have a number to call for more info: 630-833-3515. BTW, there is free parking at the venue, and there is an Irish pub on the premises where you can even get something to eat before the dance.

Garry playing squeezebox with the Midway Ramblers

Garry playing squeezebox with the Midway Ramblers in 2003

One of these days I’m going to get back to a Midway Ramblers dance in Chicago!

The Midway Ramblers are fairly active. Check out their online schedule. Also check out Monica Vachlon’s “Monica’s List” about Chicago area CZ events.

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Cajun/zydeco music online

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010

Maybe you’re new to listening to Cajun and zydeco music; you don’t know what it is and want to find out. Or maybe you’re a long time fan and just want to listen to it online (since it’s rare you’ll ever hear any played on any broadcast radio stations local to you). Well, here are a couple of places to start listening.

KRVS Radio Acadie is a public broadcasting station at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, LA. They play a lot of different music besides CZ. You can check out their schedule for shows such as Bonjour Louisiane (Mon-Fri 5-7 am), Born on the Bayou (Sat 3-4 pm), Dimanche Matin, Dirty Rice (Wed 12-1 pm; Sat 8:30-10 pm), Lacouture Lagniappe (Tue 1-2 pm; Wed 3-4 am), Le Bal de Dimanche Apres-Midi (Sun 12-3 pm), Lousiana B Sides (Wed 1-2 am), Rendez-Vous des Cajuns (Sat 6-7:30 pm), Swamp Stomp (Sat 10-11 pm; Sun 3-4 pm), Zydeco Est Pas Sale (Sat 7 am-12 pm), and Zydeco Stomp (Sat 12-3pm). Remember that all these times are Central Time (not Eastern Time) so you may have to adjust your listening schedule! Also note that the schedule is subject to change at any time in the future.

Also, I checked the “Radio” selection under “Library” in iTunes, and then in the “Blues” section there’s a Stream called “Cajun Fest” with the Comment “Cajun, Zydeco & Bayou favorites.” Excellent! Crank it up! Better yet, find a partner and two-step and zydeco dance around your kitchen! Yes, they do play some commercials, but those are mercifully brief, and there’s no babbling DJ to listen to.

KBON 101.1 FM in Eunice, LA, is also online, but sadly now you have to join their KBON Club for $6/month (or $60/year) if you want to listen. :-( Quel dommage!

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