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Your current Cajun and Zydeco events schedule collected and compiled by Monica Vachlon and published on the ZydE-Magic WEB site. For regular E-mail copies of this list contact Monica Vachlon

Upcoming Cajun & Zydeco Events in Chicagoland Area 2008 Upcoming Cajun & Zydeco   **= bands from Louisiana Thursday, June 5th **Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band playing some kick ass Zydeco at Bluesfest, downtown Chicago.  Playing on the Louisiana Bayou Station stage from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. http://www.cityofchicago.org http://www.keithfrank.com     Friday, June 6th **Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band playing some kick ass Zydeco at Bluesfest, downtown Chicago.  Playing on the U.S. Cellular Front Porch stage from 11:00 to 12:00 p.m. http://www.cityofchicago.org http://www.keithfrank.com     Saturday, June 7th **Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band playing some kick ass Zydeco at Bluesfest, downtown Chicago.  Playing on the Gibson Guitar’s Crossroads stage from noon to 1:15 p.m. http://www.keithfrank.com   **Buckwheat Zydeco playing at the annual BluesFest in Grant Park, downtown Chicago.  Playing on the main Petrillo Music Shell stage from 8:35 to 9:30 p.m. http://www.cityofchicago.org http://www.buckwheatzydeco.com     Sunday, June 8th The Midway Ramblers playing at Rolling Meadows Library, 3110 Martin Lane, Rolling Meadows, IL.  2:00 to 3:15 p.m. 847-259-6050. http://www.midwayramblers.com     Thursday, June 12th The Midway Ramblers playing at the Summit Public Library, 6233 Archer Road, Summit, IL.  5:00 to 6:00 p.m. 708-458-1545 http://www.midwayramblers.com     Saturday, June 21st Midway Ramblers playing downtown Oak Park’s ‘Celebrate Fashion & Shopping’ from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. http://www.midwayramblers.com     Thursday, June 26th **Jesse Lége, **Joel Savoy and Charlie Terr will bring the taste of traditional southwest Louisiana Cajun music to the Chicago Botanic Garden’s ‘Hot Summer Nights’ series which features music and dance on the Esplanade.  Dance lesson prior to the dance.  1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL.  Event is free, parking is $15 per car (think car pool!).  You can picnic on the lawn and also purchase light fare and beverages (including beer, wine and margaritas).  6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  This is a great chance for those who live in the northern suburbs and have a harder time getting downtown to hear Jesse, Joel and Charlie play – come on out for an evening of fantastic music in a beautiful setting. http://www.jesselege.com http://www.valcourrecords.com http://www.chicagobotanic.org     Friday, June 27th **Jesse Lége and **Joel Savoy will bring their most wonderful, traditional Cajun music and joie de vivre to SummerDance!!  SummerDance is a FREE music and dance series held in the beautiful Spirit of Music Garden on Michigan Avenue between Balbo and Harrison in downtown Chicago.  There is a free Cajun dance lesson with Monica Vachlon & Louie Stallone from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by Jesse & Joel playing at 7:30 p.m.  Great dance floor area, concessions near by, gorgeous downtown setting, lots of happy people.  Best to take public transportation but parking garages all around as well.  Come on out and enjoy a wonderful evening of dancing to these well regarded, highly talented musicians who also happen to be able to kick it hard!  See you there! http://www.jesselege.com http://www.valcourrecords.com     Saturday, June 28th **Jesse Lege and **Joel Savoy and friends playing The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia (between Throop and Elston) in Chicago.  We are sooooooo excited to finally have broken the ice with The Hideout (a billion thanks go out to Carlos from SummerDance for making this happen) by having them book some Cajun musicians.  Let’s get EVERYONE out to this venue and show them how cool this music is and how much we support it so that they will consider booking Cajun and/or Zydeco in the future.  The Hideout is a crazy, funky little roadhouse style bar smack dab in the middle of the industrial area off of Elston.  Pull down the gravel road on Wabansia.  The Hideout is very hip and cool and features all sorts of different styles of music.  They have a very informative website http://www.hideoutchicago.com) you can peruse.  So put this event on your calendar (a great wrap up to Thursday and Friday) and come out to have a hell of a good time w/Jesse and Joel at The Hideout.  Will post time and cost when info available. http://www.hideoutchicago.com http://www.jesselege.com http://www.valcourrecords.com http://www.savoymusiccenter.com     Wednesday, July 2nd **Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie playing at the annual American Music Festival at Fitzgerald’s Night Club, 6615 Roosevelt, Berwyn, IL.  Will post time and cost when available.  Check their website for other great non-Cajun/Zydeco bands as well. http://www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com     Friday, July 4th The Midway Ramblers playing after the parade at the Elgin Downtown Celebration.  Between 1:00 and 4:00.  847-488-1456 http://www.midwayramblers.com     Wednesday, July 9th **Bluerunners playing at Martyrs, 3855 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.  Will post time and cost when info available.  This is a really terrific band that plays a mix of styles as well as traditional Cajun.  They are really energetic and loads of fun.  Celebrate hump-day by coming out to dance! http://www.bluerunners.com http://www.martyrs.com     Friday, July 11th **Lafayette Rhythm Devils playing high energy Cajun music at SummerDance!!  SummerDance is a FREE music and dance series held in the beautiful Spirit of Music Garden on Michigan Avenue between Balbo and Harrison in downtown Chicago.  There is a free Cajun dance lesson with Stacey Huval Morrow & Robert Morrow from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by the Devils playing 7:30 p.m.  Great dance floor area, concessions near by, gorgeous downtown setting, lots of happy people.  Best to take public transportation but parking garages all around as well.  A lot of you enjoyed this band in February at the U of C Folk Festival Cajun dance.  Here’s a second chance to have a fantastic time dancing to this wonderful Louisiana band!  http://www.lafayetterhythmdevils.com     Saturday, July 12th **Rosie Ledet, Zydeco’s Sweetheart, playing some kickin’ Zydeco at SummerDance!!  SummerDance is a FREE music and dance series held in the beautiful Spirit of Music Garden on Michigan Avenue between Balbo and Harrison in downtown Chicago.  There is a free Zydeco dance lesson with Buddy Bates & Rebecca Unger from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by Rosie playing 7:30 p.m.  Great dance floor area, concessions near by, gorgeous downtown setting, lots of happy people.  Best to take public transportation but parking garages all around as well.  Come on out and dance your socks off to some high energy Zydeco!  http://www.rosieledet.com     Saturday, July 12th & Sunday, July 13th **Lafayette Rhythm Devils playing from 4:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and **Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble playing from 5:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 12th at the annual Folk & Roots Festival sponsored by the Old Town School of Folk Music.  Held in Welles Park, north side of Chicago.  Both bands playing in the dance tent on the 12th and both have a dance lesson prior to the dance – a Cajun dance lesson 3:35 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and a Zydeco dance lesson 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. w/Louie Stallone.  Welles Park is located between Western Avenue and Lincoln Avenues on the west and east and Sunnyside and Montrose on the north and south.  Check the website for other bands playing at this festival.  Suggested donation to attend fest is $7 for adults, $3 for seniors and kids. http://www.oldtownschool.org http://www.lafayetterhythmdevils.com     Thursday, July 17th The Midway Ramblers playing the Gazebo Concert on Spring Road, Elmhurst, IL.  Playing from 7 to 9 p.m. http://www.springroad.com http://www.midwayramblers.com     Saturday, July 19th **Feufollet playing at the Ethnic Arts Festival in Dawes Park (Sheridan and Church), Evanston, IL .  Will post info when it becomes available.  847-448-8260 http://www.cityofevanston.org/arts http://www.feufollet.com     Thursday, July 24th The Chicago Cajun Aces playing at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s ‘Hot Summer Nights’ series which features music and dance on the Esplanade.  Dance lesson prior to the dance.  1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL.  Event is free, parking is $15 per car.  You can picnic on the lawn and also purchase light fare and beverages (including beer, wine and margaritas).  6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. http://www.chicagobotanic.org     Thursday, August 28th The Chicago Cajun Aces playing at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s ‘Hot Summer Nights’ series which features music and dance on the Esplanade.  Dance lesson prior to the dance.  1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL.  Event is free, parking is $15 per car.  You can picnic on the lawn and also purchase light fare and beverages (including beer, wine and margaritas).  6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. http://www.chicagobotanic.org     Tuesday, July 29th The Midway Ramblers playing the Elmhurst Concert in the Park in Wilder Park, 175 Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. 630-993-8900 http://www.midwayramblers.com     Saturday, August 2nd The Midway Ramblers playing a Cajun dance at Good Templar Park, Geneva, IL.  Sponsored by the Swedish Cultural Society in America, Chicago Chapter.  Dance is open to the general public. http://www.midwayramblers.com     Sunday, August 3rd The Midway Ramblers playing at the Taste of Orland Park on the Main Stage, 14700 S. Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park, IL 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. 708-403-6277 http://www.midwayramblers.com     Friday, August 15th The Midway Ramblers playing Sunshine Serenades, Founders Gazebo, 101 Fairfield Way, Bloomingdale, IL 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. 630-529-3120 http://www.midwayramblers.com     Thursday, August 28th The Chicago Cajun Aces playing at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s ‘Hot Summer Nights’ series which features music and dance on the Esplanade.  Dance lesson prior to the dance.  1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL.  Event is free, parking is $15 per car (think car pool!).  You can picnic on the lawn and also purchase light fare and beverages (including beer, wine and margaritas).  6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. http://www.chicagobotanic.org     September 5th Midway Ramblers playing the Woodridge Cultural Fest from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. http://www.midwayramblers.com     Sunday, September 14th **Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys playing at The Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.  Check the school’s website for date that tix go on sale and I’ll also post when info is available.  Love this band and it’s been quite a while since they’ve been up here – this will be a GREAT time!! www.oldtownschool.org www.mamouplayboys.com     Sunday, October 16th ** Pine Leaf Boys playing at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.  Don’t miss this youthful, energetic, kick ass band!  Check the school’s website for date that tix go on sale and I’ll also post when info is available. http://www.oldtownschool.org http://www.pineleafboys.com     Did you know? Check out the New Orleans Music Hour radio show hosted by Tom Jackson on WLUW, 88.7 fm.  Some Zydeco/ Cajun/Creole played from time to time as well as lots of diverse, regional New Orleans and Louisiana music.