Keith Frank New CD - Follow the Leader/Boot Up

Keith Frank put out a new double CD called Follow the Leader/Boot Up.  13 tunes on the Boot Up CD and 17 on the Follow the Leader. 

From the shear vast number of tracks you are guaranteed to find several to meet your Zydeco addiction.. 

A few of the favorite tracks I heard ... 

Oh Mamacita -
Zydeco 2-Step with a Mexican music style to it which is great.  He sings a bit of the tune Spanish and then English which works really well.

Lessons from the Master Boozoo Chavis -
This is a great vocal track of Boozoo-isums.  The late great Boozoo Chavis has a unique perspective which he often shared I often wish there was a little book of these so leave it up to Keith Frank to realize how special his words were and shared an actual audio clip of Boozoo sharing a few words of wisdom.

Don't Start No Sh** -
A great little duet of him and another singer with a huge low end bass playing that will shake any room it is played in... 

Still Zydeco for Me -
A happy Zydeco tune reflecting on keeping with the traditional sound of Zydeco in comparison to other newer Zydeco which has rap style influences.

Link to sample/listen to the tunes on the CD...
http://www.floydsrecordshop.com/Keith-Frank-Follow-the-Leader-2-CD-P2550.aspxhttp://www.floydsrecordshop.com/Keith-Frank-Follow-the-Leader-2-CD-P2550.aspx

Long Beach Bayou Festival

This year's Long Beach Bayou Festival has an incredible line up of Zydeco and Cajun artists.  I am consistently impressed each year with the artists they are able to book and this year they blew my Zydeco dance stomping mind!!.

Chris Ardoin, Geno Delafose, Joel Savoy, Jesse Lege, Lil Wayne, Kevin Naquin, J Paul Jr. just to name a few....



From this line up I can already see that I will be lucky if I can walk back to my car after dancing all weekend ;)..

Check out their web site at www.longbeachfestival.com and hope to see you on the dance floor! 

Zydeco Body Moves DVD by Erin Brandt

A new DVD was put out by Erin Brandt with Zydeco Body Moves. 

After reviewing it she does a great job of breaking down the ladies movements.  This is the only female specific DVD in the world that deals specifically with female movements in Zydeco.

Erin Brandt is a massage therapist so she really knows her stuff and how and what muscles are used to make your Body Move!

Give her a call at 619-520-1373 for price info and to get a copy.

www.erintherapy.com

Zydeco Cha Cha Line Dance Lesson

Here is lesson as well as a quick demo of the the Zydeco Cha Cha Line dance.

This dance is at Zydeco events often and the Cha Cha style tune is much slower than the typical Zydeco tempo's or waltz which are often played.

Here are a a few other video clips showing dancers at events dancing to the Zydeco Cha Cha line dance.

Gator By The Bay 2012 Lineup Announced...

The big head liners to keep your Cajun/Zydeco feet stomping has been announced for this years 2012 Gator By The Bay festival in San Diego.

Keith Frank
Steve Riley
Chubby Carrier
Bonsoir Catin

Of course there a many other bands that always make the party great but I just wanted to share the information on the big names coming out this year.

Rooms are booking up a little faster than in previous years so make sure and visit the web site for all the travel plans.

Gator By The Bay Web Site:
www.gatorbythebay.com

What does it take to make Zydeco mainstream?

Check out this quite an amazing and very professional music video from Cupid of the "Cupid Shuffle"... music is from Lil Nate & the Zydeco Big Timers.

You can hear a faint accordion in the background and there are short clips inside the video of a couple zydeco dancing...   

Quite an amazing video that not only shows line dancers dancing... but couple dancing...    

It is music like this that will help Zydeco become more mainstream and while some more traditionalists may say it's not "Zydeco"...  it's got Zydeco in there for sure...

Cajun OnStar - YouTube

If you have ever been around a few Cajun's or tried to get some directions when in Louisiana you will probably appreciate this YouTube video clip of a few kids in a car using OnStar to try and get some directions. Yea... they are messing with the OnStar guy really badly ... but as they say in Louisiana... "It's All Good"...

Great Melody... No Matter How You Play It !!!

New Article on Music and Dancing in Louisiana...

I came across this great little article on music and dance around "Zydeco & Cajun" country..

http://www.dailyyonder.com/36-hours-eunice-louisiana/2011/10/26/3574

Zydeco Line Dance

There is a growing amount of line dances you will see at any given dance or festival and thanks to the local dancers and folks sharing their video's it helps to spread the dances around the Zydeco dance community!  Here is a easy little line dance that you can do to any medium tempo Zydeco tune...

Video Clip:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHeacY7UOvo

New Festvials - Cajun/Zydeco

Many of the hard core Zydeco dancers head to Louisiana, East Coast or West Coast festivals to feed their Zydeco addictions but there are always new festivals that are well worth the trip to check out.  Here are a couple that are on my radar to check out...

Washington, DC - Dancing By The Bayou Fall Dance Festival - October 23rd Weekend
They have a hell of a good line up with Andre Thierry, Curley Taylor and Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Cha's as well as Bruce Daigrepont and Dennis Stroughmatt..
What I also love about this festival is you can spend a day or two in addition to go check out tourist stuff around Washington during a "nice" time of the year...
Here is their web site link for more details and hope to see you on the dance floor!http://mysite.verizon.net/vzev7054/dancingbythebayoufalldancefestival/index.html

Hollywood, FL - Florida Cajun Zydeco Festival - November 12th Weekend
If dancers remember the famous Ft. Lauderdale Crawfish festival that is no more, here is a festival in the next community of Hollywood Florida.  Their lineup is good with Geno as one of their main headliners.  Close by is Miami and Key West if you want to take a day or two more to do a little tourist stuff..
Festival Web Site:http://www.cajun-fest.com/site/

ZydecoOnline.com - Zydeco Resources on the Web

There are many resources on the web for Zydeco music and dance related informtion and I just wanted to share ZydecoOnline.com as it is a great resource for Zydeco related happenings, music and history...  

A big thanks to those who keep it live and interesting to us Zydeco fans...
http://www.zydecoonline.com/dev/index.php

Portland Zydeco & Blues Fesitval

Here is one image from last weekends Portland festival that happens each July 4th weekend. It's always a fun festival and one of the best aspects is the location which is right on the river and right downtown which makes it quite beautiful.

A good group of dancers made it from Seattle, Canada, San Francisco, Los Angeles and a few from San Diego including myself.
Corey Ledit canceled for the 2nd time in two years... amazing.. but Curley Taylor, Rosie Ledet, Steve Riley and Chubby Carrier did a great job... If your thinking of going check out the other post I did farther down on this blog from last year on details on what to do in Portland if you have some free time..
Here is a great little video clip from the festival...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2GBR5NpQdo

Simi Valley Zydeco and Blues Festival

Simi Valley Zydeco & Blues Festival Info... Festival Planner - May 28th-29th

The Simi Valley Festival this year has a good line up for Zydeco so I am planning on going and thougth others could benefit from a festival planner post..

First Step - Hotel:
Dates - Friday May 27th, Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th... (or just Saturday if you want to drive up Saturday and just spend one night)

There is another event in Simi the same weekend so book your room now if you think you maybe going and just cancel it if you change your mind. There are always rooms in the next community over in Chatsworth or San Fernando if Simi does fill up...

Cheap - Motel 6... this is right off the freeway and about 5 mintues from the festival. Very inexpensive rooms and many dancers often stay there. $70 rooms are a great price so grab them while they last !!
http://www.motel6.com/reservations/motel_detail.aspx?num=170

Extended Stay America Los Angeles-Simi Valley - $90 rooms
http://www.extendedstayamerica.com/hotels/los-angeles-simi-valley.html

Holiday Inn Express - Simi Valley - $110 rooms
http://www.hiexpress.com/hotels/us/en/simi-valley/laxsv/hoteldetail

Full list of Simi Valley Hotels
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g33093-Simi_Valley_California-Hotels.html

Friday Night Get Together
For those who want to connect up with other dancers and if they are coming up we can get together Friday night. The place and time will be worked out and shared but just wanted to throw out the option for those interested...

Saturday night Zydeco dance in Simi Valley
A Zydeco DJ party hosted by AJ and Greg Benusa. The party will be at the Grand Vista Hotel in Simi starting 9pm. Dinner and bar food available at the bar/club as well before 9pm. Here is a link to more information to share... the hotel asked if we could estimate the number so if you know your going it would be nice to click on the I'm going button at the web site..


Saturday night Event Web page:
http://www.meetup.com/zydecosandiego/events/17230274/

Saturday night free dance details: Lesson 9pm, Dance 9:30pm-12:30am, no cover. Dinner available before and during dance. Saturday May 28th, 2011
Location: Grand Vista Hotel / Arena Bar, 999 Enchanted Way, Simi Valley, 93065
Questions? email Greg at gbenusa@pacbell.net or call 619-857-8409

Monday - Memorial Day Fun...
There maybe a group of dancers heading to a local tourist attraction so I will post updates to the plans in case you want to attend.  Possibly Channel Island National Park which is close or other adventures...
http://www.islandpackers.com/

There will be dance lessons as well this year at Simi...
Myself, AJ, Karen Redding and others will be making it happen :)

Zydeco Band Lineup.....
Saturday, May 28
Swamp Critters
Andre Thierry
Parade
Buckwheat Zydeco
Lil Pookie

Sunday, May 29
Bayou Brothers
Lil Pookie
Parade
Buckwheat Zydeco
Andre Thierry

Blues...
The 44's
Los Fabulocos Feat Kid Ramos
Mikey Jr. & Stone Cold Blues
Arthur Adams
Ana Popovic
Mannish Boys Revue with various special guests
John Nemeth

Sunday - May 29, 2011
Cadillac Zack with Special Guests
Mitch Kashmar Band
Kirk Fletcher Band
Big Pete tribute to Lester Butler
Shawn Pittman
Elvin Bishop "Hell Raisin Review"
Maria Muldaur

Web Site Artists:
http://simicajun.org/2010/?page_id=6Festival Web Site:

Simi Festival Web Site:
http://www.cajun-blues.com/

Grammy Awards Kill the Cajun/Zydeco Category :(

It was fun while it lasted... which was four years but the Grammy's narrowed down the field from 109 categories to 78 currently.  I guess if there is a good spin on it they didn't just let only the Cajun/Zydeco go.  In the future they will be included in the Grammy's best regional roots.  See the following link for the whole scoop...
http://www.katc.com/news/grammys-drop-more-than-30-categories-including-cajun-and-zydeco/

Gator By The Bay Festival Planner 2011

Gator By The Bay Festival Planner...

It's coming up on festival season and Gator By The Bay is the biggie and here are a few thoughts / tips for the coming festival.... www.GatorByTheBay.com

Hotel:
If you or someone you know needs a hotel book NOW :)...
1. Sheraton - Next to festival ... they have two $109 rate rooms left... !!! 619-291-2900
2. West 500 Hotel - $40/night Downtown San Diego. 1 mile from festival..http://www.500westhotelsd.com
Best deal in San Diego... right downtown close to bay.. several dancers have stayed here...
3. Motel 6 - $70/night... it's a 1/2 mile from the festival... 619-232-8931

Friday Night Party !!
Don't forget that there was a Friday night entertainment added to the festival... Here is a link to Friday's lineup so far... Along with all the bands playing Friday it looks like a tribute DJ dance and showing films according to the web site..
http://www.gatorbythebay.com/friday.html

Cajun/Zydeco Entertainers:
Of corse Brian Jack will be headlining and there are many new bands of which I will just comment on a few out of town Cajun/Zydeco bands listed below. Here is a link to all the bands...
http://www.gatorbythebay.com/line_up.html

Ryan Brunet & the Malfecteurs .. Cajun high energy band that I have never seen before and looking forward to seeing them as their video clip on the Gator web site shows some great energy..
http://www.gatorbythebay.com/index.html

L'Angelus - Great fun Cajun youing Cajun band from Lafayette who recently moved to Nashville to try and make it in the big leagues..
http://www.gatorbythebay.com/index.html

Horace Trahan - I don't think Horace has played at Gator before that I remember .. danced to him up in LA and he will keep your feet-a-moving... the inside scoop... Horace was a very talented Zydeco artist who became famous for a song called "That Butt Thing"... he got so much attention for this song from what I have heard it really bugged him so he pulled out of Zydeco, found religion and didn't really play that much for a while. Then..thank goodness... he started playing again with more a crossover Cajun/Zydeco high energy style that we hear today..
http://www.gatorbythebay.com/index.html

Parking:
Just check the web site before you go for latest info..
http://www.gatorbythebay.com/map.html

Volunteer:
The festival would never happen if it wasn't for all the great volunteer's... click here for details..
http://www.gatorbythebay.com/volunteer.html

Dance Lessons:
Many of the great instructors will be back and a few new instructors as well.. I will be teaching a Intermediate/Advanced Zydeco class on Saturday as well.

Free Online Zydeco Lesson:
If you or anyone you know is new to Zydeco... here is a free online lesson www.ZydecoLesson.com

Zydeco DVD's:
If you want to learn a few moves at home check out the DVD's... DVD#4 was just released as well..
http://www.learnzydeco.com/. See the new moves covered at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axpzh5wCX_g

Food...
Of course there are a ton of places at the festival to eat at but for a little break or before the festival I have always loved walking around the marina in between the two Sheraton Hotel Towers to the little deli place on the water overlooking the boats called Papananis. Here is their web site and it's open early and late for a great little place to rest those dancing legs and enjoy the beauty of the marina.. It's a great place for a little breakfast as well...
http://www.papananis.com/

Web Site:
Gator's main web site is at www.gatorybythebay.com for reference...

Tickets:
You can get your tickets now at the link below... you can save $10 if you purchase a weekend pass. Considering how many hours of entertainment it's still a very good deal when you think of what other entertainment costs for a days activities :)
https://secure.bluehost.com/~sandiem2/tickets.html

Looking forward to another great year thanks to all those hard working Gator By The Bay folks, the Bon Temp's Social club and and volenteer's who make it happen!!!

New Zydeco Dance Instruction DVD released!

Greg Benusa has just released Zydeco Dance Instruction DVD #4 which covers mostly intermediate moves and a couple advanced.  It also does a Cajun Waltz line dance and basic review Zydeco for 10 minutes at the beginning of the DVD.  Click on the image below and the video clip shows some of the moves covered in the DVD as well as some video clip footage from festivals.  The DVD covers only dance instruction and there is not any footage of the festivals in the DVD but it's a good peek at some of the festival action...

This Intermeidate and Beginning DVD covers new moves not covered in any of the past DVD's in the series from http://www.learnzydeco.com/

Overview Video Clip


60 Minute Intermediate and Beginning DVD Includes:

Outside Turn, The Bump, She-He Turns, Gator Stomp, Lunges, Basic Zydeco Review, Lunges, Lifts, Side By Side, Hip Hold, Hip to Hip, Hip Push, Zydeco Whip, Lafayette Tap Slide By Side, Floating Slides with Lifts
Line Dance of Cajun Waltz

Features:● 60 MINUTES of dance instruction
● Practice music at slow & normal tempos
● 13 Intermediate Moves and Cajun Waltz Line Dance
● DVD Menu to go direct to any move
● Music by Nooney & the Zydeco Floaters

More Info:  http://www.zydecoach.com/ or call 619.857. 8409

Where to buy CD's??

You can find CD's through Ebay or other online options but for a concentrated store where there focus is on Cajun / Zydeco I normally direct people to www.FloydsRecordShop.com.  It's been around for ever and is located in Ville Platte, Louisiana...     The other option could be www.LouisianaMusicFactory.com which is in New Orleans.

The other reason why I like Floyds Record Shop as well as other sites is that you can play samples of the tunes before buying the CD.

Zydeco Tours - Magical Mystery of Zydeco tours

I wanted to put the word out to a great opportunity to do Zydeco tours.  Kay with the Magical Mystery of Zydeco will get you into those unique experiences with a group of fellow fans. Check out her web site and upcoming trips planned.  Her prices were also quite amazing considering what your getting. 

http://www.magicalmysteryofzydeco.com/

Zydeco CD Review - T-Lou "Doin' The Crabwalk"

Just got my hands on T-Lou's latest Zydeco CD called "Doin The Crabwalk". T-Lou is an inspiration since he is in his early 70's and still creating great new Zydeco tunes to keep the dancers addicted. His voice sounds like someone half his age and he really mixed up the album with a good variety of tunes and tempos. Of course my favorite tune is "Hitchhiking On The 405" as it's a story about a gal hitchhiking from Chicago to San Diego to hear some Zydeco...

In each community we are fortunate to have the local Cajun/Zydeco bands to give that live experience. My only request for all the artists is to try not make the tunes to long as at any given dance we can never dance with all the dancers and the longer the songs, the less dancers we get to dance with...
Loved the cover of the CD as well giving it a little happy California Zydeco feeling with the image of him with a beach in the background.
To listen and buy the CD just go to the following CD baby link..
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tlahshzb