Posts Tagged ‘Monsieur Guillaume and His Zydeco Hepcats’

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Zydeco Hepcats in action, Sept. 20-21

Friday, September 20th, 2013

Bonjour, y’all. Y’all have two chances to see Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats the weekend of September 20-21, 2013. On Friday, Sept. 20, they play at the American Legion Hall at 2079 W. 12 Mile Rd. in Berkley, MI. There is a “Zydeco Steak Out” at 5:00 pm, the Hepcats play starting at 8:00 pm. I’m sure there is a cover/food/beverage charge. Call 248-542-7668 for more info.

Then the Hepcats play at Westland, Michigan’s “Blues Brews and Barbeque” on Saturday, Sept. 21. The Hepcats play from 8:00 to 9:30 pm, other (non-CZ) bands also play starting at noon. This event actually starts on Friday, Sept. 20, but the Hepcats only play there on the 21st.

Blues Brews and Barbeques is at the Westland City Hall Grounds, 36601 Ford Road.

–Bayou Joe

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Two CZ events for the Labor Day weekend

Thursday, 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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Get out and (zydeco) dance on October 1

Tuesday, 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

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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SE michigan CZ events, April 2-3

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

Michigan is settling back to its usual “not very often” Cajun/zydeco music scene, but there are still opportunities to listen to good local Cajun and zydeco music.

This Saturday, April 2, Monsieur Guillaume and His Zydeco Hepcats play at the Bayou Grill, 404 Main St., in Belleville, MI. You can’t miss the huge alligator on the roof! The Hepcats play starting at 9:00 pm. It appears the Bayou Grill is trying a regular Saturday night live music thing again–good for them! Not all of it is Cajun/zydeco music, but it is still live music! And check out the Hepcats new web page. I like it so much better than their old MySpace page. :-) Call the Bayou Grill at 734-697-2300 for more info. Oh, did I mention it’s a Cajun restaurant and you can get good things to eat there?

Then on Sunday, April 3, Cracklin plays at Cleary’s Pub, 113 S. Main St., Chelsea, MI (734-475-1922). Cracklin plays from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Don’t know much more than that, though. Someone go and check it out and send me a report!

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Mardi Gras! live music in the Detroit area, March 8

Monday, March 7th, 2011

Mardi Gras is upon us! March 8 in 2011. If you’re looking for some LIVE Cajun/zydeco/New Orleans/swamp pop music in Michigan, you’re in luck!

Maison Bleue plays for a Mardi Gras party in Dearborn at the Dearborn Hills Golf Course banquet hall at 1300 S. Telegraph Rd. The party is from 3:30 to 9:00 pm, Maison Bleue plays from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. There is also a student band playing from 3:30 to 4:45 pm. This party is a fundraiser for the Dearborn Education Foundation. Tix are $25 at the door. Info at 313-827-8790. Also included with your admission ticket is a very tasty Cajun buffet. It’s all I can do to get the band back playing instead of going back for more chow!

If you’re on the east side of Detroit (or even if you aren’t), you may want to check out Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats as they play at the Cadieux Cafe at 4300 Cadieux Road in Detroit. That party starts at 8:00 pm or thereabouts. No cover charge, and no reservations needed, although the Cafe does say that if you have a party of 8 or more folks, please do call and make a reservation. Call 313-882-8560 for reservations or more info. Presumably, one could make it to both the Dearborn and Detroit Mardi Gras gigs if one were so inclined! If you do make it to the Cadieux Cafe, remind them that it’s spelled “Zydeco Hepcats” instead of “Zydaco Hepcats” as they have on their online schedule!

Also, although it’s not near Detroit but up in Elk Rapids (north of Traverse City) in Michigan’s lower peninsula, one could catch the Saucecats at a Mardi Gras party at Pearl’s New Orleans Kitchen. It’s at 617 Ames St. in Elk Rapids. No cover charge, no reservations needed. Call 231-264-0530 for more info.

Alan previously posted info about the MG party with Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas and Creolization at The B.O.B. in Grand Rapids, so scroll down for that info.

Posted by Garry

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It’s almost Mardi Gras time!

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

Mardi Gras is Tuesday, March 8, this year, but you can get a head start on Mardi Gras this weekend. Friday, March 4, sees Creole du Nord take to the stage at the Dream Nite Club in Ann Arbor for an MG party. $10 admission (ladies $5 until 10:00 pm), live music by CdN begins at 10:00 pm. The Dream Nite Club is at 314 S. Fourth Ave. in downtown Ann Arbor, MI. Call 734-222-4522 for more info.

Then on Saturday, March 5, Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats play a Mardi Gras party at the Bayou Grill in Belleville, MI. Party time is 8:00 pm. You want to attend this event with an empty stomach so you can fill up on some Cajun food there! The Bayou Grill is at 404 E. Main St. in downtown Belleville. More info at 734-697-2300. For a landmark, look for the huge alligator on the roof of the Bayou Grill.

And if that’s not enough CZ music for you in one weekend, you can catch Creole du Nord again on Sunday, March 6, as they play their regular  6-8 pm Sunday gig at the Passport Restaurant & Lounge at 3776 S. State St. in Ann Arbor. Info: 734-222-1111.

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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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C.J. Chenier (plus Monsieur Guillaume) at Callahan’s, January 30

Friday, January 28th, 2011

Aiyeeee!!!! If you don’t get enough zydeco dancing to C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band at CMU’s “A Night of Louisiana” on Saturday night, head on over to Auburn Hills, MI, on Sunday, January 30 when C.J. plays at Callahan’s Music Hall. Callahan’s is at 2105 South Boulevard, and their phone is 248-858-9508. Callahan’s is billing this as a “Mardi Gras Tune Up Party.”

Doors open at 6:30 pm, tix are $13 to $15 (not sure of what the difference is), and show time is 8:00 pm.

As a special bonus, the local Detroit-area band Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats open for monsieur Chenier. The Hepcats take the stage at 8 pm, so don’t be late!

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C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band at Callahan’s in Auburn Hills

Tuesday, September 14th, 2010

Hé toi! C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band play at Callahan’s Bar & Grill, 2105 South Blvd, Auburn Hills, MI, this Thursday, September 16.
Local band Monsieur Guillaume & His Zydeco Hepcats open for C.J. starting at 8:00 pm. For any nostalgia freaks out there, Callahan’s is in the building that was formerly Chuck’s on the Boulevard, a place where you could get some tasty Creole cooking. $10 at the door, although I heard a rumor they may have cut the price to $5. Call 248-858-9508 for more info.

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