Florida Cajun Zydeco Update! Newsletter
 
No Images? Click here

Welcome to ISSUE #37 of FloridaCajunZydeco.com Update!

This newsletter showcases dance events from the FloridaCajunZydeco.com website as well as articles not on the website pages. The feature story this month is MARDI GRAS.

EVERY FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAY in St. Petersburg you can find us dancing at EDGE OF 9 to some of the best Cajun and zydeco tunes DJ Jim has been able to uncover. Enjoy your own adventure in good music at each Zydeco Dance at Edge of 9 with new tunes and discovered gems from the past.

NEW AND IMPROVED on FloridaCajunZydeco.com is the “Stories” page. It contains archives of THIS NEWSLETTER, and each issue has a photo representing the artist featured in the main article. Check out some of the archived newsletters at www.FloridaCajunZydeco.com/stories.

Also, we're on FACEBOOK in Groups (Florida Cajun Zydeco Dancers) and with our own Page (Florida Cajun Zydeco). Check us out and "Like" us to see the posts and reminders throughout the week. This is a good way to get your zydeco fix between newsletters.

FloridaCajunZydeco.com loves to travel and fits neatly in your pocket on your smart phone. Check the website for dance information wherever you may travel.

Regards, Jim Hance
Publisher, FloridaCajunZydeco.com

 

Mardi Gras Time!

Mardi Gras celebrations go back several hundred years. The term “Mardi Gras” means “Fat Tuesday” and refers to the day before Ash Wednesday --- the first of the forty days of lent preceding Easter. Christians on the time customarily gave up meat and other indulgences during lent, thus “carneval” or “farewell to meat” --- became “Carnival”, a festive period when over-indulgence was in order.
 
The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, gold, and green. However, Krewes (secret groups that make up the cast of characters in Mardi Gras) selected their own colors to brandish during Carnival. Kings and Queens and courts of these krewes are selected with utmost secrecy. Beads, doubloons, and other trinkets are tossed to spectators along the Mardi Gras route as “throws” --- the traditional souvenirs of every Mardi Gras.
 
The essence of Mardi Gras is in participation and is best explained in the words of Robert Tallant: “Mardi Gras is s spirit….an immortal one….as immortal as man’s ability to make believe, to escape the dreariness of everyday life that is most of men’s portion, to have fun, laugh, and to play…Mardi Gras is very old, but it is also very young. It belongs to the past, yet also to the present and the future. It will exist in other forms, in other times, in other places. It would be wonderful if the clown in the grinning mask should appear on all the Main Streets of the world, if there could be a season, or at least a day, devoted to laughter.”

A list of Mardi Gras events occurring the first two weeks of February follows. Websites and some other information can be found on the "Calendar" page of www.FloridaCajunZydeco.com.

 

Thurs., Feb. 4 --- Porchdogs at Mardi Gras (The Villages)
5 p.m. at Town Square. Mardi Gras Festival is 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Spanish Springs Town Square. Address: Alonzo Ave, Lady Lake, FL 32159.
 
Thurs., Feb. 4, 2016 --- Mardi Gras 2016 (Jacksonville)
Our annual Mardi Gras event features authentic Cajun food*, an Oyster Bar, hors d’oeuvres, King Cake, open beer and wine bars, featuring Intuition Ale Works. This festive party takes place on the river under the oaks with live music performed by Mondo Mike and the Po Boys with Spice. This year we are introducing our Bourbon Street tasting and City Park Cigar sampling. Festive masks encouraged! 327 E Duval St, 32202 Jacksonville.
 
Fri., Feb. 5th --- Ricky P’s (St. Petersburg)
Louisiana Crawfish Boil. Brian L. performs. Ricky P’s Orleans Bistro, 1113 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33705. Phone 727-821-4061.
http://www.rickyps.com
 
Feb. 5, 2016, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. --- Winter Garden Downtown Square featuring The Porchdogs
Information: rockerguy45@hotmail.com
 
Feb 5 & 6, 2016 --- Mardi Gras (Downtown Lake Wales)
10 a.m. to 11 p.m. / Parade at 3 p.m.
Grand Marshal: Kathryn Gates-Skipper. Pageantry. Parades. Exotic Floats. Outrageous Costumes. Masked Crowds. Carnival Royalty. High-stepping. Strutters moving to the rhythms of Dixieland Jazz. Uninhibited Merry-making. MARDI GRAS! 2016 marks the 32nd anniversary of the event. Celebrate Mardi Gras in Lake Wales with live music, food, craft vendors, a beer garden, kids activities and a parade that will take place at 3:00 p.m. Mardi Gras is celebrated in various cultures around the world costumes and music vary according to location. Lake Wales has incorporated traditions from many of them including feathered costumes from Rio, Dixieland Jazz, Blues and Zydeco music, Cajun food and mask from New Orleans. Another tradition adapted from New Orleans is the Krewe of Rex as the lead Krewe in the parade escorting the Queen of Carnival and Prince of Wailes (our version of rex, King of Carnival). The Prince of Wailes is selected from the members of the Krewe of Rex. The Queen of the Carnival is selected by the hiding of the “Golden Bead” in the ceremonial “King Cake” which will be served to all the ladies present – she who finds the golden bead will take her place beside the King of Carnival. Information: 863-676-2455, email at info@lwmardigras.com

Feb. 5-7, 2016 --- Sarasota Music and Food Festival
Big Top Party, New Orlean’s delicacies, family fun zone, live musical performances (zydeco, Creole, dixieland, jazz).
Fri. Feb. 5, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Mark Serio and the All Stars
Sat. Feb. 6
1:00pm - White Leather Hoodoo Voodoo
3:00pm - Steve Arvey's Crawfish Fiesta
5:00pm - Kid Red and the Pontchartrain All stars
7:30pm - Gumbo Boogie Band
Sun. Feb. 7
1 p.m. Nawlins Po Boyz
3:45 p.m. Waylon Thibodeaux (headliner)
http://www.sarasotamardigras.com

Sat., Feb. 6 --- Ricky P’s (St. Petersburg)
Second Line Parade
Costume Contest
Party Tent in the Parking Lot

The T-Bone Hamilton Band performs. Ricky P’s Orleans Bistro, 1113 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33705. Phone 727-821-4061.
http://www.rickyps.com

Sat. Feb. 6, 2016 --- Mardi Gras Trolley (Cape Coral)
7:00 p.m. to 11:00: The South Cape Hospitality and Entertainment Associations present “MARDI GRAS TROLLEY 2016”. Guests will travel around the South Cape hospitality zone on a special fleet of trolleys – stopping at 14 participating establishments to relax with a specialty $2.50 drink offered only to the trolley guests. Tickets are only $10.00 in advance and $15.00 on the day of the event. Ticket price Includes Passport to all Locations, a different specialty drink for only $2.50 at each location, Mardi Gras beads at check-in, eligable to win a basket filled with Basil Haydens Bourbon, bar accessories, beads and masks and the Trolley Shuttle to all locations.

Sat., Feb. 6, 2016 --- Hunter Hayes at Universal Orlando (Orlando)
Universal Studios Florida proclaims “Florida’s biggest party”.  14 concerts including Hunter Hayes on Sat. Feb. 6, and  Adam Lambert, Kool & The Gang, The Fray, Shawn Mendex, 3 Doors Down, REO Speedwagon, T-Pain, Beth McKee, Big Easy Playboys, Gravy, Rockin Jake and Diana Ross on other nights. Mardi Gras parade “every event night” at 7:45 p.m., “Little Jester’s Parade” for children, French Quarter Courtyard featuring Cajun and Creole food and bands from New Orleans.

Sat., Feb. 6 --- Waylon Thibodeaux (Panama City Beach)
Noon to 1:15 p.m. at Panama City Beach Mardi Gras and Music Festival, Pier Park, 600 Pier Park Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32413. Set will include special guest Jo-El Sonnier. 

Sat., Feb. 6, 2016 --- Pensacola’s Grand Mardi Gras Parade
2 p.m. Pensacola’s Grand Mardi Gras Parade is the largest annual event in downtown Pensacola. Residents and visitors often totaling over 100,000 enjoy the pageantry and excitement of a parade with over 6,000 participants and over 250 entries.

Sat., Feb. 6, 2016 --- Mardi Gras at Ricky P's (St. Pete)
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Porchdogs at Ricky P's. Also, T-Bone Hamilton Band. Party tent in the parking lot, second line parade. Ricky P's, 1113 Central Avenue, Saint Petersburg, FL 33705. 

Sat. Feb. 6 --- Easy Street Duo (Englewood)
7-9 p.m. Vermont's Easy Street Duo with Mary Morella at Zydeco Grille, 8501 Placida Rd. (Cape Haze Plaza), Englewood, FL 33946, Phone 941-828-1472.

Sun., Feb. 7 --- Ricky P’s (St. Petersburg)
Sunday Jazz Brunch. Live Music. FREE BEIGNET! Ricky P’s Orleans Bistro, 1113 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33705. Phone 727-821-4061.

Sun. Feb. 7 --- Waylon Thibodeaux (Sarasota)
Sarasota 50th Annual Super Bowl Party, 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Payne Park, U.S. 301, Sarasota, FL 34237.  Payne Park web page: https://www.scgov.net/parks/pages/paynepark.aspx

Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 --- Ricky P’s (St. Petersburg)
Drink & Food Specials All Day. FREE KING CAKE. Joe Ferren performs at 6 p.m.
Ricky P’s Orleans Bistro, 1113 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33705. Phone 727-821-4061.

Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 --- Easy Street Duo (Englewood, FL)
Mardi Gras Celebration at Zydeco Grille with Easy Street Duo.
Vermont's Easy Street Duo with Mary Morella at Zydeco Grille, 8501 Placida Rd. (Cape Haze Plaza), Englewood, FL 33946, Phone 941-828-1472.

Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 --- Fat Tuesday Party at Fodder and Shine (Tampa)
5p.m.-midnight. Seminole Height's Fat Tuesday party hosted by Kimberly Overman! There will be Big Brass! Cajun Food! Zydeco! King's Cake! Hurricanes! Abita! and a whole lot more! Fodder and Shine, 5910 N. Florida Avenue., Tampa 33604. https://www.facebook.com/FodderAndShine/

Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 --- Waylon Thibodeaux at Mardi Gras (Dunedin)
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Dunedin Mardi Gras, Pioneer Park Stage, Douglas Avenue at Main Street, Dunedin. Official website: http://www.dunedinmardigras.com/

Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 --- House of Blues Mardi Gras (Orlando)
7 p.m. Porchdogs. Join us for a Mardi Gras celebration featuring Louisiana-style cuisine like our Jambalaya and bourbon bread pudding and complimentary beads and masks! Happy Hour from 3pm – 5pm and live music in the courtyard from 4pm – 10pm! House of Blues Orlando, 1490 East Lake Buena Vista Dr., Orlando, FL 32830.

Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 --- Fat Tuesday Key West
Duval Street is already the southernmost party central, so when it comes to Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday, there’s no reason to miss it. Music, beads and drinks will be plenty, just bring the best of your partying spirits. And talking about spirits, there’s no Mardi Gras without one of the signature frozen drinks like the classic margarita, the banana banshee (grain alcohol and creamy banana mix) or the dirty monkey (combination of the Kahlua mudslide and banana banshee). 305 Duval St., Key West, FL 33040 (305) 296-9373
www.fattuesdaykeywest.com

Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 --- The Fish House (Miami)
10000 S.W. 56th St., Miami, FL 33165, (305) 595-8453
Located in the heart of Kendall and far away from the coastline, The Fish House has simple décor and an unassuming façade, however the food is startlingly delicious and reminiscent of all the best southern traditions. Live music in what is called the Backroom Live offers a groovy atmosphere, warm dimmed lights and jazz performed at night. The annual Mardi Gras event promises fresh crawfish from the Gulf, king cakes, beads and music played live beginning as early as 3 p.m.

Fat Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 --- Rosey Baby Crawfish & Cajun House
4587 N. University Drive, Lauderhill, FL 33351, (954) 749-5627
Jeff, owner of Rosey Baby, looks forward to the big Mardi Gras celebration every year, booking the live band that will join patrons starting at 7 p.m. and offering the whole nine yards of crawfish boil, king cakes, beads, po’boys. Crawfish gets shipped fresh weekly from Louisiana and boiled alive in the signature Babe’s spice mixture. Two-for-one cocktails during happy hour and ice cold beers are the best accompaniments to the event.

Fri./Sat. Feb. 12 & 13 --- Waylon Thibodeaux (Orlando)
House of Blues Orlando. All day, House of Blues Orlando, 1490 Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. House of Blues website: http://www.houseofblues.com/orlando/

 

Image from U.S.S. Zydecoldsmobile video

First and Third Tuesdays in St. Pete ---
Cajun-Zydeco Dance Edge of 9

TUESDAY, FEB. 2 AND TUESDAY FEB. 16 CAJUN-ZYDECO DANCES:  Join us 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Edge of 9, 900 Central Avenue #25B, St. Pete 33705. We meet to dance here on the FIRST AND THIRD TUESDAYS each month. The music will be played softly from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. for socializing and dance lesson. The music volume goes up at 7 p.m. No cover charge, parking lot, painted cement dance floor, NO SMOKING. Hungry? You're welcome to bring food in from sandwich shop or restaurants. Check out the venue at facebook.com/edgeof9. Questions and requests: Jim Hance, (813) 465-8165, j-hance@wowpromotions.com.

On the playlist at the next Tuesday Cajun-Zydeco Dance: "U.S.S. Zydecoldsmobile" by Sonny Landreth. Landreth is known as "the King of Slydeco" and plays with a strong zydeco influence. Landreth first played in Clifton Chenier's Red Hot Louisiana Band as the only white member of the band. After Chenier's death, Landreth played in John Hiatt's band, and with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Guitarist Eric Clapton has said that Landreth is one of the most advanced guitarists in the world and one of the most under-appreciated. Landreth is best known for his slide guitar playing, having developed a technique where he also frets notes and plays chords and chord fragments by fretting behind the slide while he plays. Landreth plays with the slide on his little finger, so that his other fingers have more room to fret behind the slide. He is also known for his right-hand technique, which involves tapping, slapping, and picking strings, using all of the fingers on his right hand. He wears a special thumb pick/flat pick hybrid on his thumb so that he can bear down on a pick while simultaneously using his finger-style technique for slide.

Enjoy this video of "U.S.S. Zydecoldsmobile" by Sonny Landreth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZxDSN1LS7A

 

The Sauce Boss at Bradfordville Blues Club in Tallahassee on Friday, January 29

Bill 'The Sauce Boss' Wharton brings his high energy, gumbo stirring, swamp funk to the Bradfordville Blues Club on Friday. For those who don’t know about the Sauce Boss, he brings his own hot sauce to the gig, and he cooks gumbo while smoking his slide guitar. At the end of the show, everyone gets a bowl. Now he's added some new flavors to the “stew”. Sauce Boss not only plays slide, sings his tamales off, makes gumbo, and feeds everybody… he will also be playing a drum kit with his feet. “You take that 53 Telecaster, pump it through that 48 Fender amp, add a bass rig, mix in some drums, all simmered down over some funky swamp blues, and smothered with gumbo, and you got a recipe for the largest one-man band on the planet.
Tickets and info at http://www.bradfordvilleblues.com

 

Photo courtesy David Simpson

Dwayne Dopsie and Zydeco Hellraisers in Punta Gorda and Fort Myers This Weekend!

On Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016 Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers bring their fast and lively brand of zydeco to the Chili Challenge in Punta Gorda. Charlotte Harbor Chili Challenge, Blues and Beer Festival takes place noon to 6 p.m. at Laishley Park, 100 Nesbit Street, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. $3 gate admission.
12 noon - Chili Sampling and Craft Beer Tent Open!
2:30pm - Live on stage - Deb & the Dynamics
3:00pm - Live on stage - Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers
4:00pm - People's Choice voting ends
5:00pm - Awards Ceremony on Main stage
Information: http://www.puntagordachilifest.com

On Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016 Dwayne Dopsie headlines the 14th Annual Gumbo Fest at Shell Factory in Fort Myers. The Gumbo Fest takes place 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Live bands include Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers and Florida favorite Porchdogs. Festival food, great gumbo, hurricanes. Children free in The Nature Park with paid adult admission. Nature park is a 4.5 acre petting zoo with 400 animals from alligators to zebra. Eco Lab includes native and exotic snakes and reptiles and insects. Touch Center is open three times daily for hands on geckos, dragons and sea life to see up close. Fun Park includes paddle boats, miniature golf, water wars, trampolines, rock climbing. Information: http://www.shellfactory.com.

 
 

Photo by Jim Hance

Easy Street Bayou Band at Fogartyville
March 11 (Sarasota)

8 p.m. Easy Street Bayou Band featuring Mark Trichka, Lisa Brande, Mary Morella and guest drummer George Gabriel

It's party time! Part-time Louisiana and Florida residents Mark Trichka and Lisa Brande have played the NOLA Jazzfest stage, toured with zydeco and Cajun bands and now, along with percussionist Mary Morella, and guest drummer George Gabriel, bring a Mardi Gras state of mind to the Fogartyville stage. Come dance, or just enjoy, an evening of great Louisiana roots music (including Zydeco, Cajun, and Swamp Pop) by "Easy Street Bayou". Come early (7:15pm) for a dance lesson with Jerry Carrier. Tickets are available for $8 in advance on the WSLR.org website (click on the "Events" button).

 

Photo by Jim Hance

CrawDebauchery III Will Feature
Savoy Family Band

The third annual CrawDebauchery Food & Music Festival will take place April 2-3 at the Pompano Beach Amphitheater Field. Featuring New Orleans crawfish and music, the festival has expanded to two days after a significant jump in attendance last year. “We had over two thousand people show up at our first festival and then we increased attendance last year by quite a bit,” said event founder/organizer Don Matthews. “That was the motivator to create a two-day event. We’re confident CrawDebauchery 2016 will be our best yet.”
 
In addition to a massive crawfish boil, food and art vendors, Matthews has booked top tier musicians for this year’s event. Zydeco bands will include Chubby Carrier and The Bayou Swamp Band, Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers, and Geno Delafose and French Rockin Boogie.

Added to the band list is Savoy Family Band. Family patriarch Marc Savoy on accordion builds custom accordions for many of the top Louisiana artists, and in so doing has influenced how Cajun music is played today.  Accordions tuned to different keys change the music and expand the instrument’s range, which has profoundly changed the music being recorded today. Ann Savoy on guitar is an author and noted authority on Cajun culture and music. Wilson Savoy on fiddle and keyboards is a member of a Cajun band nominated four times for a Grammy. And Joel Savoy on fiddle is founder of Valcour Records. Members of the band have recorded with a variety of artists including Linda Ronstadt, Steve Miller, T-Bone Burnett and Allison Krauss.

Tickets and information at www.CrawDebauchery.com

 

Photo courtesy David Simpson

Waylon Thibodeaux, Louisiana’s Rockin Fiddler, Visits The Sunshine State

Cajun fiddler Waylon Thibodeaux was born and raised in Louisiana's Bayou Country, where he began playing music at the age of eight. At 16, he was named the state's fiddle champion, his live performances going on to become an institution of New Orleans' Bourbon Street area. Thibodeaux earned his first wide exposure when he landed three tracks on the 1995 compilation “Margaritaville Café New Orleans -- Late Night Gumbo” for Mardi Gras Records. Thibodeaux has made a half dozen albums since, and he has become a staple at  festivals, clubs and other special events throughout the United States, Canada, France, Central and South America. His rollicking, crowd-pleasing performance on stage never fails to serve up a good helping of spicy, high-energy Louisiana and Cajun/Zydeco music.

His unique musical style is best described by Thibodeaux himself: "It's a mixture -- it's Cajun, but not too traditional, it's Zydeco with a pinch of New Orleans' sound, a small pinch of South Louisiana 'Swamp Pop', a taste of Country and a little Rock n' Roll, that's sure to get you on your feet and dancing."

Having played for years to filled-to-capacity crowds on New Orleans' famous Bourbon Street, Thibodeaux has literally entertained people from all over the world. Fiercely proud of his Acadian heritage, he keeps his home base in southeast Louisiana, always striving to perfect his style of music. A versatile entertainer, Thibodeaux can charm his audiences in French and/or English. His is always a "must see" performance.

“Papa Thibodeaux” and “In Jackson Square” albums are both mixtures of Cajun, country, zydeco and New Orleans style music that Waylon sings in both English, and French. Blues guitarist Tab Benoit and harmonica virtuoso Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone join Waylon on the toe-tapping cut ”Be For Sure”. His recordings give listeners a real taste of good high-energy Louisiana music. Thibodeaux released an independent acoustic album with Gina Forsythe, entitled “Dans La Louisiana”, a collection of traditional Cajun French songs, which won the 1996 Offbeat Magazine’s Best of the Beat Award for Best Cajun album.

Waylon performs as a member of the Voice Of The Wetlands All-Stars (Dr. John, Cyril Neville, Tab Benoit, Jumpin’ Johnny Sansone, George Porter, Jr., Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Anders Osborne, Johnny Vidacovich and Waylon Thibodeaux). The group performs throughout the country to raise awareness of the erosion of the Gulf Coast Wetlands.

Having played for years to capacity crowds on New Orleans’ famous Bourbon Street, Thibodeaux has entertained people from all over the world. Fiercely proud of his style of music, Thibodeaux can charm his audiences in French and English. His is always a ”must see” performance.

 

The Festival-O-Rama page of FloridaCajunZydeco.com features events throughout the United States and Europe.

February 18-21, 2016 --- Virginia Key Grassroots Festival (Miami)
Grassroots Festival features Keith Frank and his dad, Preston Frank, Donna the Buffalo, Applebutter Express, Jim Lauderdale, and a wide variety of ethnic bands February 18-21 near Miami. A “culture camp” provides an opportunity to get a closer look at some of the artists and explore workshops Feb. 14-17 before the festival. http://virginiakeygrassroots.com
 
Culture Camp at Virginia Key Grassroots Festival
Feb. 14-17: Come early and immerse yourself in instrument, dance, movement & cooking workshops with some of the most talented artists in the GrassRoots community! For $25/day you can attend workshops, indulge in a fabulous dinner and attend a nightly dance.  You can attend as many or as few workshops per day as you like; your admission fee includes as many as you want to attend.  Registration for specific workshops will be Sunday afternoon, followed by dinner & dance. http://virginiakeygrassroots.com
 
February 26-28, 2016 --- Annual Riverwalk Blues & Music Festival
(Ft. Lauderdale)

The 26th Riverwalk Blues and Music Festival will count with performances by: Twelve time Blues Music Award Nomimnee Jhonny Rawls, Grammy Award, and Blues Music Award Winner Jason Ricci, BMA Nominee & Blues Blast Award Winner Chris O’Leary, BMA Nominee Albert Castiglia, Rock N Roll and Roots sensation Nikki Hill, Joey Gilmore, Joel Dasilva and Midnight Howel, Josh Rowand and Pitbull of blues, Kat Riggins, Juke, Mark Telesca, Slip and the Spinouts. http://www.riverwalkblues.com
 
March 3-5, 2016 --- 7th Annual Aura Music and Arts Festival (Live Oak)
Performing at AURA are live electronica pioneers The Disco Biscuits, Bay area feel-good rock band ALO, high-energy funk quintet The Main Squeeze, The Heavy Pets with a special tribute to the ‘80s featuring Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman, hybrid tribute fusion masters Pink Talking Fish, nine-piece power funk army Turkuaz, Tom Hamilton’s American Babies, the southern psychedelia of Bright Light Social Hour and many others!  http://www.auramusicfestival.com

March 12, 2016 --- Cajun Festival (Rockledge, FL)
Clayton's Crab Company's 4th Annual Cajun Festival is on March 12, 2016. There will be a live Cajun Band playing, (The Porch Dogs), kids area, lots of food vendors, lots of arts and crafts vendors, and so much more. If you have any questions please call us at 321-639-0161. This event is sponsored in part by Pineda Crossing, Yellow Dog Cafe, Austin's Chophouse, and Hometown News.

March 17-20, 2016 --- Suwannee Springfest (Live Oak, FL)
Artists include Donna the Buffalo, John Prine, Brandi Carlile, Railroad Earth, Del McCoury Band, Keller Williams Grateful Grass, and many others. http://www.suwanneespringfest.com/
 
April 2 & 3, 2016 --- Crawdebauchery Festival (Pompano Beach)
Tentatively, bands will be Chubby Carrier & Bayou Swamp Band, Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, Dwayne Dopsie & Zydeco Hellraisers, Bruce Daigrepont, and a variety of other New Orleans talent. New Orleans has always stood as one of the most unique cities in the U.S., seamlessly blending native culture with French, Latin, and Creole influences. Musically, the Big Easy is known as the birthplace of jazz. Come on out and celebrate the city and this cultural heritage at the inaugural CrawDebauchery Festival. Enjoy an unconstrained burst of vitality, where music fans will come together to hear live performances from acclaimed national and regional musicians, whose genres range from jazz to bluegrass, Cajun to rock. Taking place on two stages. alongside musical groups, festival-goers can feast on local traditional New Orleans cuisine like beignets, jambalaya, and po-boys, while browsing arts and craft, and enjoy a taste of the bayou right here in Florida.
Website: http://crawdebauchery.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crawdebaucherymusicfestival/?fref=ts.

April 9-11, 2016 — Tampa Bay Blues Festival (St. Petersburg)
Bands include Tommy Castro & The Pain Killers, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Curtis Salgado, Aaron Neville, Walter Trout, Biscuit Miller, and Sugar Ray & The Bluestones. Not interested in the outdoor event? After Shows at the Palladium are just $20 featuring bands from the festival. Tickets for festival and After Shows available online at http://www.tampabaybluesfest.com/buy-tickets.php.

 
 
 
 
 

Atlanta Dances

Atlanta Cajun-Zydeco Association will be hosting the following bands over the next several months:
February 13 --- Tardi Gras dance with Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys
March 12 --- Lil’ Malcolm & the House Rockers
March 19 --- Pot luck & House Party at the Kwashas 5-9 PM
April 9 --- ACZA Anniversary party with Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp

Additional information: http://aczadance.org

 
 
 
 
 

Still Free…

and worth every penny! I hope you have enjoyed this issue of FloridaCajunZydeco Update!

Please forward to friends who are interested in Cajun and zydeco music and dancing…or just reading about it!

 
 

Please click on our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Florida-Cajun-Zydeco/362375913950779 and HIT THE LIKE BUTTON. If you "Like" us you can see more of our news postings on all things Cajun and zydeco in the state of Florida --- and elsewhere too! Enjoy good music.

Regards, Jim Hance
j-hance@wowpromotions.com