Hello again!

The FloridaCajunZydeco.com Website, your source for Florida Cajun and zydeco dance events, has new information on the home page in "What's Hot and Happening," "How-To Video on Zydeco Dancing," "Festival-O-Rama," "Recent Dance Video" and  "For The Love of Hustle." I describe some of the major dance opportunities coming up in November and December

Be sure to check out the Dance Calendar on the navigation bar. The calendar now features photos of the bands listed.

Individual tickets went on sale November 1st for the Swing Dance on Friday, November 22 at Suncoast Jazz Classic (November 22-24) at two resorts on Clearwater Beach.

Cajun dance enthusiasts will have two opportunities to dance to Tom Rigney and Flambeau (6:15 to 7:15 p.m. and 10 to 11 p.m.), as well as five other great swing dance bands throughout the evening. Rigney is entering his second decade at the helm of Flambeau, a band that showcases his passionate, virtuoso fiddling, his commanding stage presence, his range, depth, and originality as a composer, and of course, those notorious red boots. His bandmates are veterans of the great bands of Charles Brown, Queen Ida, Clifton Chenier, and others, and together they generate enough heat and energy to ignite a dance floor or lift an audience to its feet. Flambeau specializes in fiery Cajun and zydeco two-steps, low-down blues, funky New Orleans grooves, and heartbreakingly beautiful ballads and waltzes. Their high energy live show features tight ensemble playing, deeply infectious grooves, and spectacular soloing. Rigney is playing at the Sheraton Sand Key.

Across the street at the Marriott hotel five superb swing bands are playing in the Sand Key Ballroom. Cornet Chop Suey from St. Louis is playing 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Dave Bennett and The Memphis Boys from Detroit are playing 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bill Allred's Classic Jazz Band from Orlando play 8:45 to 9:45 p.m. Kelly/Scott Sextet of Jacksonville play 10 to 11 p.m. And Wally's Warehouse Waifs from Michigan play 11:15 to 12:15 a.m.

Tickets for the "Swing Dance" featuring all of these bands on Friday are $22 online and listed at $25 at the door. However, tickets may be limited, so buying online is recommended. Get more information and purchase your tickets at http://tampalindy.com/.

For additional cost, the Tampa Bay Lindy Exchange website also offers tickets to late night dancing to the Rebecca Zapen Trio until 4:30 a.m., and seven other related dance events throughout this weekend which can be attended with purchase of a weekend pass or ala carte individual tickets. 

Porchdogs play 7 to 10 p.m. on the patio!

Ricky P's Orleans Bistro is the place for great authentic Louisiana food, southern hospitality and the third necessary ingredient: a great band!  For the occasion, Ricky P's is hosting is second annual Gumbo Cookoff to sample and vote on. All of their dishes are great, but may I recommend a shrimp po' boy and a Magic Hat beer? Come on down. Ricky P's, 1113 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 727-821-4061. No cover, tips appreciated.

Southern Hospitality rocks Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa at 8 p.m.

Damon Fowler, Victor Wainwright, and JP Soars are Southern Hospitality. Their album Easy Livin' showcases their unique style and fresh translation of the great Southern soul, blues, and rock music that came before them. Together, their mutual chemistry, high energy and musical talents create a cohesive vision, with echoes of Muscle Shoals and Macon, that organically flows together into an entirely original and dynamic form of Americana and Southern soul roots music with a modern sensibility. Produced by Tab Benoit and recorded at Benoit’s “Whiskey Bayou Studio” in Louisiana the record’s journey stays on a southern musical trail. The CD’s heart felt lyrics and the melding of the styles of Damon, Victor, and JP who are three top virtuosos on today’s roots music scene created a great soulful harmony that flows beyond the music as it enlightens the listener and separates the band and its music from anything out there today. Jerry Carrier says this is a Skippers concert not to be missed. Interviews with the Band. | Southern Hospitality Band Website. |  Skipper's Webside.

Celebrating its 51st anniversary, the Halifax Art Festival is the 2nd oldest continual art festival in the state of Florida. The festival attracts approximately 45,000 visitors to view the works of over 200 fine artists and artisans from all over the country. Offering live entertainment, a student art competition, children’s activities, fine dining in many local restaurants and cafes, the Halifax Art Festival is a premier annual event in Central Florida. More information is available at the Halifax Art Festival Website.

Lipbone Redding appeared in Fort Myers and St. Pete in October. We enjoyed another great performance by Lipbone at The Ale and The Witch. Check him out next year!

7-9 p.m. Mark Trichka and Lisa Brande perform at Zydeco Grille.

Mark and Lisa will be doing their mix of rootsy zydeco, Cajun, rhythm and blues, and Americana music. Mary Morella will accompany Easy Street Duo on rubboard and percussion. Zydeco Grille, 8501 Placida Rd., Englewood, FL 34224. (941) 828-1472. Lisa says "We have a couple senior folks who come and dance zydeco there to us pretty regularly. Its a restaurant, so not really set up for dancing but if a few couples were there, they could fit in to dance by the bar."  Zydeco Grille Website.

Region 3 | BETH MCKEE BAND at Ace's Lounge in Bradenton, FL on Friday, November 15th at 8 p.m.

Region 5 | BETH MCKEE BAND at Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton on Saturday, November 16th at 9:30 p.m.

Regkon 4 | BETH MCKEE BAND at Deland Fall Festival of the Arts on Sunday, November 24th at 1:30 p.m.

A former member of the popular New Orleans country-cajun group Evangeline, Beth played blues on the chitlin' circuit from steamy juke joints to muddy hog farms, and ultimately emerged as a respected player on the New Orleans, Austin and Nashville music scenes.  She is also at the helm of a group of over 2,000 women who answer to the moniker "Swamp Sistas" and host gatherings called La Las all over the south. The Swamp Sista La Las are celebrations of regional music, food and culture and raise awareness and money for community issues and organizations that are important to the group. www.bethmckee.com  Danceable music!

Gather round, all ye faithful of the Herd. Party starts at 8 p.m.

A New Year's celebration bursting with zydeco, jamming, folk-rock, country rock, reggae and bluegrass. Donna the Buffalo's music is often sociopolitical in nature, calling for peace and justice, balanced by other songs that touch on timeless themes such as love, birth and death. Over the years Donna the Buffalo has had the opportunity to collaborate and/or record with musicians such as Jim Lauderdale, Preston and Keith Frank, Bela Fleck, Mamadou Diabate, Claire Lynch, David Hidalgo, and The Duhks, to name but a few. Donna The Buffalo Website. $35/$40 cover includes party favors, champagne toast and breakfast buffet. Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa 33613. Skipper's Website.

SAN DIEGO | December 6 & 7 -- Balboa Park's December Nights Features Zydeco and Blues Bands and a dance floor sponsored by the Bon Temps Social Club.

Balboa Park December Nights, San Diego, CA. The nation’s premier holiday festival, will take place for the 35th consecutive year on Friday, Dec. 6, 3-11 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 7, noon-11 p.m.. As always, the event brings families and friends together to spread holiday joy, learn more about the cultural value of Balboa Park and kick-off the “most wonderful time of the year.” San Diego's Bon Temps Social Club hosts the Plaza de Panama stage with a great lineup of Southern California Cajun and zydeco bands and the area's top dance instructors. Website.

REGION 3 | December 7 -- Bradenton Blues Festival

Bradenton Blues Festival features Shemekia Copeland, Eddie Shaw & The Wolfgang, Trampled Underfoot, Anthony Gomes, John Nemeth, Johnny Rawls, Albert Castiglia, Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones with Dennis Gruenling.  Location: Riverwalk overlooking the Manatee River. Festival Website.

Congratulations to one of my favorite dance bands, Bayou Brothers, named "San Diego's Favorite Blues Band" at the 2013 San Diego Music Awards. This is the first time a zydeco band has been voted in for this honor. The band has been one of San Diego's most active dance bands over the past 20 years, and has even added an annual European tour to their busy schedule. Band Website.

Check out video "Hustle Heaven Tea Dance on August 18, 2013"

Check out video "Hustle Rib Check Spin Move" by Michael Khiem, his Dance Tip Video Clip #58. Subscribe to Michael's videos at his YouTube page.

Let me know if your favorite Cajun or zydeco band is coming to town and I will be sure to post that information on the calendar.

Also, a special THANK YOU to Jerry Carrier for his support of this website, and his tireless efforts to keep Cajun and zydeco alive in Florida with his email CZ NEWSLETTER. If you would like to receive Jerry's newsletter, send him an email requesting to be added to his email list to jerry.carrier@verizon.net. In addition to his listing www.floridacajunzydeco.com each issue, I find his newsletter to be an excellent source of information to add to my Dance Calendar page. Jerry is awesome!

Check out each of the new features I have reviewed above at www.FloridaCajunZydeco.com, and I hope to see you on the dance floor soon!

Regards. Jim Hance
Publisher

FloridaCajunZydeco.com