A newsletter for fans of Cajun and zydeco music!

The calendar section of www.floridacajunzydeco.com has been updated, and here are some events from the calendar of general interest. Check the Website for more information on Cajun and Zydeco music and cultural events.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Region 1 (Florida Panhandle):
Friday, April 6
Beth McKee
at Bradfordville Blues Club, 7152 Moses Lane, Tallahassee, FL, 32309, telephone 850- 906-0766. Bradfordville Website

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Region 3 (Tampa Bay):
Friday through Saturday, March 30-April 1, 2012
Cajun Cafe's 15th Annual Crawfish Festival
featuring Pine Leaf Boys, Lil Brian and Zydeco Travelers, Donna Angelle & Zydeco Posse, JB's Zydeco Zoo, and Ramblegrass Band. Cajun Cafe on the Bayou, 8101 Park Blvd, Pinellas Park, Florida 33781. Telephone 727-546-6732. Email: cajuncafeonthebayou@tampabay.rr.com.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Region 3 (Tampa Bay):
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Lil Brian and the Zydeco Travelers
9 p.m. Cover charge is $10 ($8 online at Ace's Website). Ace's Lounge is located behind the 7-Eleven at Cortez Rd. and 86th Street West. Address is 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., Bradenton, FL (941) 795-3886. Lil Brian's Webpage. Ace's Website

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Region 4 (Orlando and East Coastal)
April 8, 2012
Porchdogs
at Flagler County Fair (Bunnell, FL).
Band plays 2-5 p.m. at Flagler County Fair, 150 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell, FL 32110. Gate opens 1:00 p.m. close 7:00 p.m., $3 admission ($20 for admission to all fair rides). Website

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Region 3 (Tampa Bay):
Friday, April 13, 2012
Gulfport Ramblers
Dance lesson at 7 p.m., open dancing to the Gulfport Ramblers 8-11 p.m. at Pinellas Park Auditorium, 7690 59th Street North, Pinellas Park, FL Features Cajun dance instructor Eddie Bourque from Louisiana. $10 admission.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

OUTSIDE FLORIDA --- New Iberia, Louisiana:
April 12-15, 2012
Louisiana Hot Sauce Festival
at Sugarena At Acadiana Fairgrounds, 713 Highway 3212, New Iberia, LA 70560. Features Jr. Flores and the Bayou Boys, Cajun Throw Down, Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band, and Geno Delafose and French Rockin Boogie. Website

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

OUTSIDE FLORIDA --- Southern California:
May 11 through 13
Gator By The Bay Zydeco, Blues & Crawfish Festival
in San Diego, now "presented by the State of Louisiana," is one of the largest Cajun-zydeco festivals attracting 20,000. Six stages featuring continuous live music from 11 am to late in the evening including Cajun, zydeco, blues, country and world beat artists. This year features Chubby Carrier, Steve Riley, Commander Cody, Bonsoir Catin, Keith Frank, Bill Magee, Horace Trahan, Ryan Brunet, L'Angelus, Bayou Brothers, Theo & The Zydeco Patrol, Maria Muldaur, Elvin Bishop, and Sue Palmer. Mile-long Spanish Landing park venue is directly across Harbor Drive from San Diego International Airport. Website. (Same weekend as SwingDiego. Catch both events!)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NEWSLETTER FOR TAMPA BAY DANCERS
Jerry Carrier's Cajun and Zydeco Newsletter will keep you up to date with bands in the Tampa area. Email Jerry at jerry.carrier@verizon.net to request to be added to his mailing list.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

GAINESVILLE DANCERS
Joyce Thompson says there are monthly dances in Gainesville, and their old dance club still maintains a Website at http://www.hogtownzydeco.com/.Contact Joyce at the link on the Website for more information on the monthly dances.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TALLAHASSEE DANCERS
Tallahassee Area Zydeco & Cajun Association (TAZACA) has a Website at http://www.tzca.org/home.htm which may not be up to date, but you can email Jan DeCosmo at the link on the site to find out what's happening.

There is a Cajun and zydeco music scene in Florida, and it is growing. Check out my Website at www.floridacajunzydeco.com for additional information on these and other Cajun and zydeco events with a focus on the state of Florida. Send me an email if you like what you've read, and would like to read more.

And see you out dancing!

--- Jim Hance, March 30, 2012