The FloridaCajunZydeco.com Website, your source for Florida Cajun and zydeco dance events, has some great dance events posted for November. Not the least of these is Bobby Rodriguez's three-day Cajun-Zydeco Festival in Hollywood, Florida November 9-11.

Some other events you won't want to miss, particularly if you are in the Tampa Bay area, will be the "Swing Dance" evening of the Suncoast Jazz Classic in Clearwater on November 16 which will feature a San Francisco Bay area Cajun band which doesn't usually travel much, Tom Rigney & Flambeau. An interesting side note about Tom Rigney is that he looks a lot like Clint Eastwood, and when he had an opportunity to briefly meet him, Eastwood commented, "Jeez, the family is bigger than I thought." One other event you might want to consider is Lipbone Redding, appearing at Ace's Lounge in Bradenton on Sunday, December 2. Lipbone's signature song which is played by the deejays at all of the west coast swing dance competitions is "16 Tons" where Lipbone mimics the sound of the trombone with just his lips --- hence, the name Lipbone. If you can imagine Glenn Miller-meets-Jack Johnson, you kind of get an idea of what this band is about. The music is fun and very danceable.

As on the Website, I am identifying each event by region. Region 1 is Florida Panhandle; Region 2 is Northern Florida; Region 3 is West Central Florida; Region 4 is East Central Florida; and Region 5 is South Florida. If a dance event is within your region, it is likely within an hour's drive. 

Regards, Jim Hance
Publisher, FloridaCajunZydeco.com

The Florida Cajun-Zydeco Festival will be November 9-11 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood, Florida 33314. Information Toll Free: (800) 373-6337.

This year's bands include Savoy Family Cajun Band, C'est Bon Cajun Band, Feufollet, Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble, Chubby Carrier, Geno Delafose, and Grammy-nominated Lisa Haley & The Zydekats! There will also be Cajun cooking exhibitions by Louisiana chef, Patrick Mould, and Cajun and zydeco dance lessons during the band breaks. Tickets are $20 per person per day, or $35 for all three days.  For additional information, visit the Website.

A fundraiser in honor of deceased blues singer Pat Ramsey on Saturday, November 3 at Bradfordville Blues Club will benefit Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee. The hospice has provided care for people living with life-threatening illness since 1983, and Pat Ramsey was one of those people. BBC has put together a lineup of 17 bands who appreciate the work of the hospice, and who have each donated their time to put on a great event. JB's Zydeco Zoo is one of the bands, and will be playing on the outdoor stage at 8 p.m. Stop in, make a donation, and enjoy some great music if you can. Benefit Concert Webpage.

4 p.m. to 8 p.m. "A Sunset Cajun Dance and Picnic." Members of the Gulfport Ramblers Cajun Band play for your dancing enjoyment under the big pavilion on the beach in Gulfport, FL. From 4 to 5 p.m. enjoy a bring-your-own-everything picnic at Gulfport Beach under the big pavilion. Then, from 5 to 8 p.m. dance to live and recorded music. No charge, but tips for the band appreciated. Gulfport Beach Pavilion #6, 5664 Shore Blvd. South, Gulfport, FL. Last month the weather was perfect for an outdoor dance with a breeze off the bay from a passing storm. Contact Larry or Maureen at le_mk@yahoo.com or George at 845-242-7452 for more information.

We have three opportunities to catch Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble this month. En route to Florida Cajun-Zydeco Festival, Curley is making stops in Tallahassee and Treasure Island.

Region 1 --- Wednesday, November 7, 8:30 p.m.
Curley Taylor at Bradfordville Blues Club, 7152 Moses Lane, Tallahassee, FL, 32309. Tickets $10/$12. BBC Website.  

Region 3 --- Thursday, November 8, 6-9 p.m.
Open dancing to Curley Taylor 6-9 p.m. ($20). Dance Lesson with Sharon Stern 5-6 p.m. ($5, or free with admission to dance).  Gator's Cafe & Saloon, 12754 Kingfish Drive, Treasure Island, FL 33706. Phone: 727-367-8951. Gator's Website.

Region 5 --- Florida Cajun-Zydeco Festival
Curley Taylor plays the following times: Friday, Nov. 9, 10-11:40 p.m. / Saturday, Nov. 10, 2:20-3:45 p.m. Day pass is $20, 3-day pass is $35. Festival Website.

10:00 p.m. Band legends with whom Beth McKee has shared the stage and recorded includes Jimmy Buffett, Buckwheat Zydeco, the subdudes, Bo Diddley, The Bellamys, Earl King, Lester Chambers, The Neville Brothers, BeauSoleil, Marcia Ball, The Radiators and many more. Piano player, singer, accordion player, band leader, former member of the Cajun band Evangeline, Beth McKee has performed professionally for most of her life. She will certianly bring a musically rich and diverse performance to BBC. Tickets: $13/$15. BBC Website.

Ask any touring Cajun or zydeco band: they really know their Louisiana music in the San Francisco Bay Area. Somewhere in the Bay Area is at least one dance a week featuring a touring band from Louisiana, with lots of recorded music dances too. And their local talent is as good as any Louisiana-style bands anywhere: Kenny Menard. Andre Thierry. Mark St. Mary. Tom Rigney. Some of the very best! 

Not pure Cajun, Tom Rigney blends Cajun music with jazz and blues. In fact, he's more of a regular on the jazz circuit than the Cajun-zydeco circuit. Tom Rigney cites Vassar Clements (father of "Hillbilly Jazz" who apprenticed with bluegrass originator Bill Munroe) as one of his influences and that influence can be heard in Rigney’s music. Rigney possesses a light touch similar to Clements' and his music incorporates everything from country to blues and jazz. Look on his schedule. It seems he only leaves town to play jazz events, but he definitely keeps a good Cajun beat.

So we're indeed fortunate to have an opportunity to dance to Tom Rigney's band, Flambeau, at the Suncoast Jazz Classic "Swing Dance" on Friday, November 16 at the Marriott Sand Key in Clearwater. Buy your ticket online for only $12 and you get to dance to five bands: 6:15 -- Bill Allred Classic Jazz; 7:30 -- Wally's Waifs; 8:45 -- Cornet Chop Suey; 10:00 -- Carolyn Martin's Swing Band; and 11:15 p.m. -- Tom Rigney & Flambeau.

These two videos will give you a taste of what's to come: 
Hounded
House of the Rising Sun

I suggest you buy your tickets now so you don't forget!

7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Enjoy dancing to JB's Zydeco Zoo as well as a Cajun dinner of crawfish cornbread, Creole roast pork, red beans and rice, and jambalaya for just $15. Band plays 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Cajun Cafe on the Bayou is at 8101 Park Blvd., Pinellas Park, FL 33781. Cajun Cafe Website.

5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Gumbo Boogie plays Ace's Lounge. No cover charge. Great Italian food! Enjoy Chef Ron's all-you-can-eat buffet at 6 p.m. Ace's Lounge, 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., Bradenton, FL (941) 795-3886. Ace's Live Music Website.

5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lipbone Redding Band plays Ace's Lounge. No cover charge. Lipbone's signature song which is played by the deejays at all of the west coast swing dance competitions is "16 Tons" where Lipbone mimics the sound of the trombone with just his lips --- hence, the name Lipbone. If you can imagine Glenn Miller-meets-Jack Johnson, you kind of get an idea of what this band is about. The music is fun and very danceable. Great Italian food! Enjoy Chef Ron's all-you-can-eat buffet at 6 p.m. Ace's Lounge, 4343 Palma Sola Blvd., Bradenton, FL (941) 795-3886. Ace's Live Music Website.

Southern California Cajun and zydeco bands such as Theo & The Zydeco Patrol, Bayou Brothers (with Sista Judy), San Diego Cajun Playboys, and Billy Lee and The Swamp Critters will be taking the Bon Temps Social Club stage in front of the Museum of Fine Art in Balboa Park for the 35th consecutive year of holiday festivities in Balboa Park. The event will draw a huge crowd on Friday, December 7, 5-10 p.m., and Saturday, December 8, noon-10 p.m. There will be no available parking in the park, so check the Website for free shuttles. All museums and museum gift shops are open late. If you're in the area, stop in. Balboa Park Website. Bon Temps Social Club Website. 

Jim Hance, Publisher