For any other Showmees , check out link one, July 11-13 at Stone Hill Winery. Ed Gary and the Louisiana Cajun Aces from Louisiana provide three days of toe-tappin' Bayou music. Plenty of cajun food available. Call 1-800-909-9463. I (hopefully) will be there showing off my new Black Walnut Acadian in C , the cajun concert on the hill has been going on for years and has great dancing great food and great music.

Ehren

So, the website for Grove's Cajun Fest says "Vendors and Musicians welcome." Does that mean there are jam sessions, etc. throughout the day? In other words, should I bring my box?

JtO

Hey Jude,
I have been there twice, and I have not notice a open jam before, unless they just started one, if they have had them in the past, I did not notice them, the facilty where they have all of this, Grove Civic Center, is a big place. Give them a call if they got a number posted and ask them, when you find us drop us a line on this board, we could form a jam if they allow it, myself, I can play simple guitar and bass, Brave Jamey is coming, he can sing and play plus he is bringing at least one of his band member along.
Later
MarkS

I'm bringing both diatonic and piano key accordions, percussion instruments, and my fiddle and rubboard players are supposed to be coming. I hope Mark and Jude will bring their accordions. I can't exactly (i.e., at all) jam with the diatonic, but maybe we can share knowledge (i.e., y'all can show me stuff).

See ya there!

Well, I guess I'll bring the ol' box along. May even have my boy bring his fiddle. And I have a triangle somewhere, too.

JtO

Had a great time, got in lots of dancing, and thoroughly enjoyed Chris and his band. I got in a lesson and some visiting with Chris the night before, both of which were excellent. Also got to hear Steve the guitarist sing "In the Pines" from a swing by the pool at the hotel, while he strummed and Chris played, and that was wonderful. Is there any better way to enjoy good music?

The next day I got to dance to Chris and his excellent band. I hunger so much for the dance that I don't spend the time I should observing the accordionist (or the other dancers), I know, but it's just so dang much fun! I got to finally meet jolly good fellow Braves Mark Sponer and Jude Meche and their families, and Mark, Jude & his son Gabe, and I joined Chris onstage for two songs. 6 year old Gabe sang J'ai passe devant ta porte, and of course all of us loved it. Mark, Jude, and I at least managed to avoid melt-down, and nobody threw anything at us, though we might have to wait another year for Grammy nominations.

Chris is an amazing musician, folks. He not only has that knack for playing any instrument he picks up and playing it with excellence and great feeling, he has another great gift: he is thoughtful and articulate about what he does. Now throw in that he's a good-hearted soul. It's a blessing for us all that he uses this singular combination of gifts and qualities to be a teacher. I enjoyed learning from him, and just plain enjoyed being around him.

So thank you and your band very much, Chris. I hope y'all make this Festival a regular yearly stop. And y'know, the Arkansas Ozarks is a great place to live, or even relocate . . .

But did you pose the "Fastest" way from Mamou to Ville Platte Brain teaser? Being a Cajun, he un-doutedly got that right off the bat! N'est pas?!

Just wanted to echo what Jamey said about the Grove Cajun Fest. We had a great time.

You know, I'm not at all sure why a small Oklahoma town decided to devote their 4th of July celebration to a group of French-speaking xenophobes from over 600 miles away whose patriotism is sometimes questionable since they still use the term "Américain" as a derogatory. None of that makes sense to me, but I'm glad they did it.

Chris Miller was a great representative of the music and culture, and he's one brave dude for taking the risk of putting us rank amateurs on the stage with him.

Plus, it was great meeting Jamey and Mark, jamming with them, and joking around.

JtO

Man, I must've told that story 500 times now, onstage a couple of times, and I know I did at dinner to a dozen other Festival goers last night, but I don't think I told Chris. Dang!

Charlie, I will be forever grateful for that story; but please, don't ever post it! I want the chance to tell everyone in person.

Cary and Christine Guidry-Law both got their new Bon Temps last week, BTW. I talked to Christine and Sheila last night once they'd finished packing for Balfa Camp. There's still time for you, me, and Cary to go if one of us can hit the lottery. I bought tickets in Oklahoma yesterday, so I'll be watching tonight!

Best to you brother, Jamey