2. UPCOMING DANCES & EVENTS (Seattle) top

Sunday, June 28 - Sunday, July 5 • Fiddle Tunes (Port Townsend)
Fiddle Tunes featuring the Red Stick Ramblers and Jesse Legé among others, with a Cajun dance on July 3 at Fort Warden in Port Townsend. More info: centrum.org.

Monday, July 6 • Red Stick Ramblers (Vashon Island)
Red Stick Ramblers straight from Louisiana at the Village Green (an outdoor stage in the town of Vashon), 6:30pm, free!

Saturday, July 11 • Folichon
Folichon at the Highliner Tavern (Fisherman's Terminal in Magnolia, 3909 18th Ave W, 206.283.2233), 8-11pm, $12. Plenty of friendly people and ample free parking. The Highliner has full food service as well as beer & wine. Over 21 only.

Sunday, July 12 • Swing Classes Begin at Swedish Club
Swing 2: Whip It! (4:00pm) and Swing 1 (5:05pm) classes start today with Sean “Gator Boy” Donovan & partner, Swedish Cultural Center (1920 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle). Details: nwdance.net/classes.html or call 206.781.1238. Brought to you by Northwest Dance Network.

Sunday, July 12 • (cancelled) Donna Angelle (cancelled)
Donna Angelle & the Zydeco Posse has cancelled at the Highway 99 Blues Club. due to Donna's recent heart bypass surgery. Please send your healing thoughts and prayers to this amazingly lovely and talented woman for her speedy recovery.

Friday, July 17 • Big Sam's Funky Nation
Big Sam's Funky Nation live from Louisiana at the Highway 99 Blues Club (1414 Alaskan Way, 206.382.2171), 9pm, $15. The Club says: "Presiding over his Funky Nation is Big Sam, formerly the trombonist for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, who blows the funk out of his trombone and refuses to let the audience sit still. Between solos and trombone riffs, Big Sam second-lines (a uniquely New Orleans style of street-dance) and gets the crowd going both in movement and in replies to his call-and-response MC-style. A talented group of jazz-trained musicians makes up the Funky Nation, bringing with them the improv-style associated with jazz and the horn-heavy front section that's the hallmark of big band funk. Theirs, and Big Sam's, exuberant dancing and playing, afford them a rare opportunity to let loose. Big Sam's Funky Nation has undeniable personality, as well as masterful chops."

Saturday, July 18 • Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band
Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band live from Louisiana (!) at the Highway 99 Blues Club (1414 Alaskan Way, 206.382.2171), 9pm, $20. Another rollicking evening of great Louisiana fun brought to you by the Highway 99 Blues Club and your Cajun/Zydeco Events Team.

Sunday, July 19 • Folichon
Folichon with guest fiddler Wayne Clark at the Summer Sunday concert series in Village Green Park (Fairhaven, Bellingham, right near the top of Chuckanut Drive in a lovely little urban park behind Village Books), 3-6 pm, free.

Thursday, July 23 • Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble
Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble live from Louisiana (!) at the Highway 99 Blues Club (1414 Alaskan Way, 206.382.2171), $15. Another rollicking evening of great Louisiana fun brought to you by the Highway 99 Blues Club and your Cajun/Zydeco Events Team.

Saturday, August 1 • Seattle Bayou Festival
Seattle Bayou Festival at Magnuson Park (Kite Hill) with The Wild Magnolias, Chris Thomas King and David Grisman. Check back for more details soon, or to purchase tickets and view updates directly, visit www.seattlebayoufest.com. This event is the inaugural fundraiser for Parkview Services, a local 40 year old non-profit which provides housing and housing related assistance to low-income individuals and families with disabilities.

Friday, August 7 • Dikki Du & the Zydeco Krewe (Port Townsend)
Dikki Du & the Zydeco Krewe at the Upstage Restaurant (923 Washington, Port Townsend, WA 98368, 360.385.2216), 8pm, $15.

Saturday, August 8 • Swamp Soul (unconfirmed)
Swamp Soul Band at the Highliner Tavern (Fisherman's Terminal in Magnolia, 3909 18th Ave W, 206.283.2233), 8-11pm, $12. Traditional and contemporary Cajun, Creole, and zydeco dance music from Louisiana. Click for band photo and music samples. Plenty of friendly people and ample free parking. The Highliner has full food service as well as beer & wine. Over 21 only.

Friday, August 14 • Folichon
Folichon at Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park Towne Centre, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park), 7:30-10pm, free. One of the great family-friendly places for a fais do-do! Room to dance, a good sound system, food court with variety of good choices.

Friday, August 21 • Beach Blanket Bingo! with DJ Gator
nwdance.net presents...Beach Blanket Bingo! at the Mt. Baker Community Club (2811 Mt. Rainier Drive South, Seattle 98144), 8-11pm, $10, everyone welcome, with DJ Sean “Gator Boy” Donovan. Swing, rock and swelter through the 50s, 60s and 70s with super groovy, bikini-shakin’ hits! Beach attire admired but not required, all ages welcome. Dance workshop, 7pm, $2: Beach Blanket Boogie with Jodi Fleischman & Sean Donovan. More info: nwdance.net or 206.781.1238.

Thursday, August 27 • Dance in the Park with DJ Gator!
Dancing 'Til Dusk with DJ Sean "Gator Boy" Donovan spinning tunes, 7-9pm, free. Zydeco dance lesson with Lilli Ann Carey & Sean Donovan, 6pm, free also.

Friday, September 4 • Cajun/Zydeco Kickoff Bash
Mark your calendars and watch for details on this super-sized party with the hordes of Louisiana faithful surrounding the opening day LSU/UW matchup.

Sunday, September 20 • Zydeco Locals
Capt. Leroy & the Zydeco Locals at the Mercer Island Community Center, details TBA.

Saturday, September 26 • Gumbo Arts Festival with band TBA
Gumbo Arts Festival with live zydeco in Columbia City, Seattle, details TBA. For more info, contact Laura Taylor, 206-230-4213 (press only), ladynwlagniappe at aol dot com.

Sunday, September 27 • Zydeco Sunday with band TBA
Zydeco Sundays with live zydeco at the Highway 99 Blues Club (1414 Alaskan Way, 206.382.2171), details TBA. For more info, contact Laura Taylor, 206-230-4213 (press only), ladynwlagniappe at aol dot com.