Are you looking for something new in the way of music and dance? Then try Cajun and Zydeco! I've started a regular Cajun/Zydeco dance series in Ann Arbor, mostly on the third Friday of each month (it's on the 2nd Saturday in May). I've also formed a local band to play CZ, and we're called "Maison Bleue." The dances are at the Pittsfield Grange, 3337 Ann Arbor- Saline Road (about 1/2 mile south of I-94). We even offer dance lessons before the dances. I'm also looking to hire out-of-town CZ bands to add some variety to the program. Admission to dances should be between $6 and $10 depending on which band is playing. And for musicians, I have Cajun/Zydeco jam sessions, usually on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, from 2-5pm, also at the Pittsfield Grange. The jams are free. The CZ Ann Arbor web page is at http://acs.munet.edu/~kaluzny/cajun. More info on other CZ nearby events can be found on Kristin's Zydeco Calendar at http://www-personal.umich.edu/~kdziczek/zydeco.html. Check it out! The next dance at the Grange is Friday, March 16.5 responses total.
Sounds tempting, espcially the jam sessions. How are you fixed for bass players usually?
Oh, interesting. Caitlin and I have been meaning to make it out to one of those dances (she's from Louisiana, and I'm a bit of a folk dance nut these days, so it's a bit of a compromise).
I'm leaving for New Orleans tomorrow to visit my sister and check out Mardi Gras. Last time I was down there (post-Mardi Gras) we stumbled across a fais do do in progress when we stopped at a bar in the middle of nowhere on our way back from a swamp hike. This time I've made her promise that we're going to catch Zydeco night at the Rock'n'Bowl in her neighborhood, which is reputed to have great live music.. I know very little about the region's music, but what I've heard I've enjoyed..
I have no idea what Zydeco is, if it's anything different from Cajun; but whatever the nature of the band I heard live in Lafayette LA in 1988, it was lively and catchy, and I bought their tape, which I must still have ... somewhere.
I've already been in touch with Scott about having him bring his bass to a jam. And of course y'all are invited to attend a dance at the Pittsfield Grange. More info is on my CZAA web page at http:// acs.munet.edu/~kaluzny/cajun. My band, Maison Bleue, is playing at Madonna University on Mardi Gras (Feb 27) from 7 to 9pm. It's free, although the Take Five Lounge where we're playing is carpeted (it builds strong leg and ankle muscles that way!). And judging from some of the other comments above... yes, the first time I heard Cajun and Zydeco music I thought they were lively and catchy, and I couldn't help but dance. The other thing I can offer at my dances at the Grange is an alcohol free and smoke free environment. Although I love listening to live music of all sorts, I prefer not to do it in a smoky environment.
You have several choices: