
SFBAYou.com
Providing Cajun & Zydeco information on the Web
since 1995
©Andrea D. Rubinstein,
1995-2007
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my new Amazon Store for Cajun,
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This website is created and maintained by Andrea Rubinstein.

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I've been taking
Juice Plus+ since 1996.

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SFBAYou.com started
providing Cajun and zydeco music and dance information on the Web in 1995.
When this site got started, hardly anyone I knew had an email address, let
alone internet access. Things have changed a lot since then, including the
focus of this website. In 2004 I moved from San Francisco to
Southwest Louisiana, and my articles now originate from ground-zero of this
wonderful culture.
Please help support my website by visiting
my Amazon Store, where you can find my
recommendations for Cajun, Creole and Zydeco Books, Music and Videos
Here's what you can find on SFBAYou.com:
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The latest updates are always below.
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 | SF Bay Area information:
ALL
calendar information should be sent to Ellen
Papper
( epapper@sbcglobal.net) who maintains the
Bay Area Calendar
of Cajun-Zydeco Dances.
I have not maintained this information since I moved to Louisiana and will
not respond to calendar requests. |
 | The
Bay Area Information page covers lots more: dance instructors,
directions to venues, supporting Bay Area organizations , etc.
Follow this
link to Bay Area Clubs.
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 | Original writing and photographs
relating to Cajun, Creole and zydeco music and culture and Southwest
Louisiana, mostly originating from the San Francisco Bay Area and Southwest
Louisiana. The Journal index
lists articles dating back to 1996. |
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News and reviews
about Cajun, Creole and zydeco culture, including
CDs,
books, videos and films
on the subject. |
 | Annotated Lists of Web Resources.
A selected listing of the most informative Cajun-zydeco related websites I
have found on the web, covering Louisiana, national and regional
information, calendars, newsletters, etc. Start at
National Information and explore.
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Please help
support my website by visiting
my Amazon Store, where you can find my recommendations for Cajun,
Creole and Zydeco Books, Music and Videos
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Old-Time
meets Cajun- The
(Almost)
Lost
Recordings
By
Dennis
McGee
and
Sady
Courville
by Jack Bond (Maryland)
There is a happy ending to this saga. These
historic recordings have just been released on CD by The Field Recorders'
Collective. Website:
www.fieldrecorder.com
Dennis McGee & Sadie Courville (From the collection
of Jack Bond) $15 per disc. Dennis
McGee (1893-1989) and Sady Courville (1905-1988) formed the musical
bedrock for Cajun fiddling. As Roger Weiss described their complex twin
fiddling styles; "a less-beautiful form of musicノrawノimpassioned." Dennis
and Sady recorded eight tunes for Vocalion in 1929. Afterwards, Dennis
recorded additional songs with Ernest Frugè Amedè Ardoin, and Angelas Le
Jeunne. In July 1972, after Dennis and Sady performed at the National
Folk Festival, they traveled to Joe Bussardユs home to be recorded by
Charles Faurot for the first time since 1929 for Richard Nevins' now rare
Morning Star LP #16001. This CD includes the LP's twelve songs plus
sixteen previously unreleased tunes from that recording session. - Jack
Bond
Also available by the collective are
some early Dewey Balfa recordings:
Dewey Balfa with Friends & Family (From the
collection of the Brandwine Friends of Old Time Music) $15 per disc.
Fiddler Dewey Balfa was born on March 20, 1927 near Mamou, Louisiana, one
of nine children in a family of sharecroppers. He learned to play the
fiddle from his father, taking early inspiration from the music of Leo
Soileau, Harry Choates and Bob Wills. During World War II, he continued
playing music, sitting in with a variety of western swing bands. By the
late 1940s, Dewey returned home to Louisiana, where he teamed with his
siblings Rodney, Will, Harry and Burkeman to play local parties and
dances as The Musical Brothers. In 1964, Dewey led a group of Cajun
musicians at the Newport Folk Festival, ending in a standing ovation from
the 17,000-plus attendees, providing concrete proof that Cajun music
could find a wide audience. With Rodney and Will, daughter Nelda and
accordionist Hadley Fontenot, Dewey officially formed The Balfa Brothers
band in 1965, and with them returned to Newport in 1967 to similar
acclaim. Deweyユs worked closely with the Council for the Development of
French in Louisiana to increase studies of the French language in state
schools; he also campaigned successfully for a Cajun music festival.
Tragedy struck in 1979, when Will and Rodney were both killed in an auto
accident and in 1980, Deweyユs wife Hilda died as well. Dewey re-formed
The Balfa Brothers with daughter Christine and nephew Tony. In 1982, he
was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor given folk
artists by the National Endowment of the Arts. After a long battle with
cancer, Dewey Balfa died on June 17, 1992. - Brandywine Friends of Old
Time Music
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Easing Type A Personalities into a Type B Culture:
The 2007 Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week
(April 24, 2007) This year I
attended the first half of Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week, and
had a fabulous time. The weather was perfect, the mosquito
population was barely noticeable, and the music, dances, workshops, jams
and classes were inspiring. If you are looking for a way to
immerse yourself into Cajun and Creole culture for a week, I can't think
of a better way to do this.
Under the direction of its recently appointed
Executive Director, Todd Mouton, this year Balfa camp had a new
philosophy: introducing spontaneity and fluidity into what had previously
been a more tightly defined program (and registration process). Even
though the camp had sold out and was at full capacity, I felt fortunate
that at the last minute I was able to sign up for less than a full week of
classes to fit my schedule, and I met other campers who were only
attending morning sessions.
This year's program was rich in its variety. Here's
a partial list of what was going on: various levels of music
instruction in fiddle (Jonno Frishberg, Hadley Castille, Courtney Granger,
Al Berard, and Jeffrey Broussard), accordion (Dirk Powell, Kristi Guillary,
Ray Abshire, Corey 'Lil Pop' Ledet) and guitar (Christine Balfa, Sam
Broussard & Gina Forsyth); cooking lessons with Chef Pat Mould and
local notables; language and vocals with Jan Boney, Jane Vidrine, Ann
Savoy; Band Lab, organized by Instructor Coordinater, Peter Schwarz;
and Master Presentations by D.L. Menard, Jimmy Breaux, Nolton
Simian, Michael Doucet & Mitch Reed, and the Savoy family. Private
music lessons were also available and during my day-and-a-half of camp
attendance, I was fortunate to get time in with Sam Broussard, Courtney
Granger & Christine Balfa.
If you'd been to Balfa camp before, the morning
schedule (intensive classes in the instrument of your choice, followed by
either Band Lab, vocals, cooking lesson or a cultural event), then lunch
and a Masters Presentation remained basically the same, but the afternoon
Lapniappe sessions were partially planned and partially determined by the
instructors, campers and the 'professional' musicians who were also in
attendance. A lot of Balfa camp had this ad-lib quality to it,
to the point that Todd joked that that one of the objectives of the camp
was to teach Louisiana's Type B attitude to the many Type A folks in
attendance. The key to each afternoon was to keep an eye on
the white board that listed that day's events, as they evolved.
Evenings at camp included nightly dances (with Balfa Toujours, the Creole
Cowboys, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, the Pine Leaf Boys,
Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, & Ray Abshire, to name a few), followed by
late night jam sessions, either at the large group camp or as improvised
by fellow campers.
For the last several years, Balfa camp has been held
at a gorgeous location in Lake Chicot state park. This year the park
had completed construction on beautiful new cabins literally sitting on
piers over the lake (with cathedral ceilings, a full kitchen and
fireplaces) and we had some lovely jams sitting in their screened in
porches.
I had a great time and learned a lot at Balfa camp
and highly recommend the experience to anyone interested in immersing
themselves in the Cajun-Creole culture.
Here's a link to my Balfa camp photo album
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The 1st Annual Blackpot
Festival
This festival was created by members of the
Lafayette roots music community as an unprecedented gathering of south
Louisiana’s hottest roots bands. From Cajun & Zydeco, to Creole, Swing,
Hot Jazz, Blues, Bluegrass, Americana, Irish & Old-Time, this festival had
something for everyone including an old-fashioned blackpot cookoff, an
accordion contest, square dancing, music workshops, and activities for
children. It was all held in beautiful Acadian Village, which was lit up
at night for the holidays.
Held on November 10 & 11th, the bands included Jay Unger & Molly Mason,
the Lafayette Rhythm Devils, Feufollet, Lost Bayou Ramblers, The Racines,
the Pine Leaf Boys, Corey Ledet, Bonsoir Catin, The Figgs, Louisiana
Purchase Bluegrass Band, Ann Savoy & Her Sleepless Knights, Red Stick
Ramblers, Preston Frank and Drew Landry.
Here's a link to my photo album from the festival.
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CFLFM is being dissolved on 12/31/06. I have
fond memories of this organization....[more] |
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My first visit back to the Bay Area in 18 months.
[link
to photos from my trip]
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Richard's Club in Lawtell, LA has closed its
doors...
http://www.dailyworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006605100310
As an 'outsider' who moved to Lafayette a few years ago
from San Francisco, in large part for the uniqueness of its music and
culture, there were certain special things that had me and
many of my friends around the country returning
to SW LA regularly and compulsively; to name a few:
Hamilton's
Club (gone), Richards Club (almost gone),
Slims Y Ki-Ki (hangin on'), Festival
Acadians,
Grant Street (closed), Vermillionville
(attendance way down after the hurricanes), El Sidos
(hangin' on), La Poussiere, Whiskey River, Mulate's,
Liberty Theatre, Plaisance Zydeco Festival,
jams at the Savoy Music Shop and Louisiana Heritage & Gifts.,
the Blue Moon. These cultural
places
and events are special and need to be supported
and preserved before it is too late.
Hamilton's Club closed last year and
Richard's Club closed in May. The Archives for Cajun & Creole
Folklore is in trouble in part because its state funding was redirected to
hurricane relief. (see below how you can help the Archives). A note
to the Louisiana Office of Tourism might help focus attention on saving
these old wooden dancehalls and supporting those other historical and
cultural landmarks and events. |
Au Secours!: Help Save the Archives
Once again, the Archives of Cajun and Creole Folklore
is asking for help from Cajun & Creole music
fans, scholars and
everyone invested in preserving Louisiana's rich
cultural
heritage.....
[continued] |
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Help Save Louisiana
Heritage and Gifts
Update: 1/8/07: LA Heritage & Gifts will
be closing permanently after Mardi Gras 2007.
Louisiana Heritage & Gifts is the 'glue' that keeps the traditional Cajun
and Creole music community together in contemporary Acadiana. Along
with the Blue Moon Saloon and Louisiana Folk Roots, it represents a key
component at the living breathing center of music related activities in
Southwest Louisiana. Mitch Reed & Steve Riley hold regular music lessons
there and every Saturday there are Cajun jams with visitors from all over
the world joining the locals. You never know who will turn up to play
music or just hang out on a Saturday. It is also the best place around
Lafayette to find Cajun, Creole, zydeco and swamp pop CDs. I
encourage you to help support the cause in any way you can and help keep
the culture alive. For those of you from out of town, the Pine Leaf
Boys' website has a Paypal link where you can make a donation to Louisiana
Heritage & Gifts.
Visit
http://www.pineleafboys.com/savethemusic.html for more info.
Read the article online from the Times of
Acadiana at
http://timesofacadiana.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060308/NEWS0102/603080301/1051
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Mardi Gras 2006

link to more photos
It was a great party as usual. I went to two
rural towns (Mermentau and Hathaway) where we were the only out-of-towners
watching traditional celebrations, urban parades in Lafayette, small
town parades in Church Point, celebrations in T-Mamou (Iota) and
house parties in Eunice and Breaux Bridge. Plus jamming on the swamp
tour boat and at Mitch & Lisa Reed's store, house parties with
Curley Taylor, dances featuring Balfa Toujours, the Pine Leaf Boys,
Red Stick Ramblers, Lost Bayou Ramblers, and Rosie Ledet, amoung others,
and great meals with crawfish, boiled shrimp and gumbo. It was
exhausting and fabulous and filled with lots of local friends and visitors
from out of town.
Here's a link to my
photos.
Hurricane
Katrina - Update from Lafayette
-including information on how to help
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9/15/05
New York Times article about Lafayette, LA: Where
Musical Refugees Can Thicken the Gumbo
9/14/05
Where to Begin: Some Personal
Impressions of Hurricane Katrina from Lafayette, LA
9/13/05
A Place of One's Own - Baton Rouge:
PRI Radio show on how the estimated 200,000 residents of
Baton Rouge, effectively doubling its size, may affect that city
9/12/05
Article in the Los Angeles Times:
"Not
Bourbon St., but it'll do "
Creative types who were forced to flee New Orleans are regrouping and
reconnecting in laid-back Lafayette, La.
By Reed Johnson and Steven Barrie-Anthony Times Staff Writers
LAFAYETTE, La.: Like those of so many
artists and musicians, Peter Nu's life was scattered to the four winds
when Hurricane Katrina ripped up the Gulf Coast two weeks ago. He's still
not sure when he'll be able to go home to New Orleans, and what sort of
job prospects may greet him once he gets there.
The complete article can be viewed here
9/5/05
NPR - Weekend Edition
recorded a program from Zydeco Breakfast at Cafe des Amis this morning
(recorded yesterday).
NPR
: Troubles Ease a Bit at the Zydeco Cafe
There was another story of local interest about
Baton Rouge, which is about 60 miles away from Lafayette:
NPR
: Baton Rouge, a Hurricane Boom Town
The headlines in today's paper quotes the mayor as
saying evacuees could add 40,000 to Lafayette's population (currently
about 100,000). Mayor Durel also announced that Festivals Acadians
is still on for Sept. 15: "We still need our festivals to offer
these people some relief and entertainment".
9/3/05
Info from
Geno Delafose's Email Newsletter, including a story by Michael
Tisserand about evacuating from New Orleans
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Hamilton's Place holds its Last
Dance
On Sunday, June 19, Hamilton's Place in Lafayette, LA more
commonly known as The Hamilton Club held its last dance and closed its
doors for good. Mr. William Hamilton (photo left by
Philip Gould) cited personal health problems and dwindling
crowds as the reasons for closing. Hamilton's, open since
1956, is/was one of the last remaining roadhouse zydeco clubs, a
raised building with wooden floors that literally shook, bounced and
vibrated when the dancing and music got good and loud.
Dwindling crowds were not a problem on closing night, when Geno Delafose
and Keith Frank played their final shows there. The doors opened at
6pm and by 9 that evening over 800 people had paid admission (200 over the
club limit but, as I heard someone say, what were the local authorities
going to do at that point, close them down?).
There are no definite plans for the club right now,
except however that Mr. Hamilton would like to sell the building and have
it moved from the family property on Verot School Road. I've
heard there is a group in Northern Louisiana that would like to move it
there and turn it into a zydeco music. Another idea, that has
been supported by an editorial in the local newspaper, is to have
the club moved to either Vermillionville or Acadian Village to sit with
examples of other traditional Southwest Louisiana architecture in these
living history museums.
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Article about
Acadiana Jam Sessions (with a quote from ME!!) in the Baton Rouge
Advocate 4/16/04
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Louisiana
Folk Roots' Fall 2003 Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Week
- a wonderful cultural
immersion program
Steve Riley &
Jeffery Broussard demonstrating Cajun and zydeco accordion styles
Information on the
Spring 2004 weekend now
available!!
A great article on Fall camp by Rob Krumm:
Cajun/Creole ‘Band Camp’ for a Noisy Gator |
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This year's festival was dedicated
to Adam Hebert (left) |
The End of Summer
Sean Ardoin put on a great show of traditional and modern zydeco.....
I
hung around to see the Lost Bayou Ramblers make their Bay Area debut at
The Pizza Company.

And I stopped at the Cadillac Ranch off old Route 66
on the drive back back to Louisiana.... |
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I found this article on Gary Hayman's
Zyd-e-zine so interesting, I asked Jack for permission to republish it
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The Savoy-Doucet Band at Ashkenaz, Aug 2003
Some photos from a wonderful evening of traditional Cajun songs
performed from the heart by three amazing musicians.

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LaFleur et Basile Band,
July 03 |
Transitioning
Back to the Bay Area- Summer
2003(July 12,2003) I’ve been back in the
SF Bay Area for little over a month now, after spending the winter in
Lafayette, LA and while, it’s true, I can’t go out EVERY night of the week
to listen and dance to Cajun or zydeco music here, there have been so many
great bands traveling through over the last few weekends, that I haven’t
had that much opportunity to be too homesick, at least musically speaking,
for my life in Louisiana. ......
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For more articles, go to the Bay Area Journal
page. |
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C/Z books
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Zydeco!
Photographs by Rick Olivier; text by
Ben Sandmel (University Press of Mississippi)
Click here for a review
or here to order from
from Amazon.com |
The Kingdom of Zydeco
by Michael Tisserand
This is a must read book for any zydeco fan. It
will open your eyes, keep you up at night and have you running to the CD
store for the soundtrack to put on as background music as you read the first
person accounts in this absorbing history. Click here for a
review or here to order
from Amazon.com.
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Let
the Good Times Roll, A Guide to Cajun and Zydeco Music
by Pat Nyhan, Brian Rollins and David Babb. Click here for
review
or
click here to order (from Amazon.com)
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For more books and book reviews, go to the
Book page |

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