Newsletter - October 08'

September is over, and it was a month of ups and downs, personal funk, family issues, hurricane damage, and many lost gigs. But, football started and the teams are starting off about as expected. Oh, and I saw Marc Cohn at Tipitina’s - one of my favorites - whose music has been of great comfort to me, in many quiet times, under beach umbrellas and in my car. It was a joy, and part of a good birthday celebration with my buddy, Bill Stafford. Sorry I missed Amos Lee, with Selena – on the same night! Most of the local music scene was there too, I heard.

Happy birthday to Ellie Lou you-know-who. Also, Happy 6th Anniversary to Spanky’s Daiquiris in Prairieville. The celebration is Oct. 4, with music by Skip Painter and 5 Card Charlie, and Spank the Monkey. There will be all kinds of free food and fun. We had scheduled this for Aug. 31, but Gustav was on its way here.

I always tell ya’ll about Oktoberfest at this time of year. With all my private parties and gigs, I hope I can squeeze in one or two days for finding a place to gather around German pints, bratwurst and potatoes, weiner schnitzel, and chicken dancing! The Lamar Dixon event, which began in Ponchatoula, is no longer in existence. Here are some spots:

http://www.deutscheshaus.org/ - Every weekend in October.
http://www.robertscovegermanfest.com/ - Oct. 4 and 5
http://www.heinerbrau.com/dynamic.php?pg=OKTOBERFEST - Oct. 3 and 4

I’m gonna try to list some festivals in October. It is huge, friends – just one of the best times of year, with football going – I absolutely love fall!

Let me name a few events:

There are parish fairs in Beauregard, Jefferson Davis, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Vernon, Winn, Livingston, Rapides, Cal-Cam, West Carroll, and Washington Parishes – this last one I’ve attended a few times with local boy, Stafford. The www.StateFairofLouisiana.com is up in Shreveport. The Greater Baton Rouge State Fair – www.gbrsf.com - is at the end of the month.

Gretna Heritage Festival, Gretna  – Oct. 3 – 5 http://www.gretnafest.com/index.php

Fall for Art, Covington – Oct. 11 (played this last year) – www.sttammanyartassociation.org

Gumbo Cookoff, New Iberia – Oct. 11 – 12  http://www.tabasco.com/taste_tent/festivals/oct_gumbo_cookoff.cfm

Gumbo Festival, Bridge City – Oct. 10 – 12 http://hgaparish.org/gumbofestival.htm

Tamale Fiesta, Zwolla – Oct. 9 – 12 http://www.zwollela.net/tamale.asp

Festival Acadiens, Lafayette – Oct. 10 – 12 http://www.festivalsacadiens.com/

Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival, New Orleans – Oct. 18 – 19 http://www.jazzandheritage.org/bluesfest/

Pepper Festival, St. Martinville – Oct. 19 http://www.stmartinkiwanis.org/pepperfest.htm

Oak Alley Arts & Crafts Festival, Vacherie – Oct. 18 – 19 http://www.oakalleyplantation.com/

Wooden Boat Festival, Madisonville – Oct. 18 – 19 http://www.woodenboatfest.org/

Swamp Pop Festival, Bourg (where the hell is this?) – Oct. 17 – 19

Rice Festival, Crowley – Oct. 17 – 19 http://www.ricefestival.com/

Cajun Oktoberfest, Sorrento – Oct. 25 – 26

Voodoo Music Experience, New Orleans – Oct. 24 – 26 www.voodoomusicfest.com

French Food Festival, LaRose – Oct. 24 – 26 http://www.bayoucivicclub.org/festivals.htm

Andouille Festival, LaPlace (I know the queen!) – Oct. 24 – 26 http://www.stjohnla.us/andouillefestival.asp

So, I’m back to doing a lot of Sundays at Spanky’s in P’ville.  Needed to make up for losses in September.  It has not been bad – trying to get it back to the nice crowds we had a few years back.  I’m enjoying gigs at George’s, off Jones Creek; and I head back to Monjuni’s this month, where it outta be beautiful weather on the patio, at both these shows.  Just an update, Onezia gigs no longer have a cover charge, and I have 2 of those this month.  Check the calendar, as it changes quite a lot, especially at this time of year. 

Abita Fall Fest is out!  Samuel Adams Oktoberfest is out, and Richard Abbott gave me a case of it!  It’s beer, friends.  Just part of the time of year.  Not this year, but someday, a visit to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver must happen.  I also recommend you check Martin Wine Cellar’s website, where many wine tasting events are listed.  Am I a hedonist or what, with all these food fests and libations?  Hehe…. Life is worth living! 

What will everyone do on Halloween, without Southdowns?  Let me know what you hear…

Thanks to everyone for all you do for me.  Great friends all around makes life so much nicer.  Sorry I can't always sit and visit and give you all the time you deserve, but playing music is a lot easier with you all there  It’s gonna be a fantastic end to the year!  Enjoy this Louisiana fall.  Geaux Tigers!! and Who Dat say day gonna beat dem Saints? Who Dat? Who Dat?!!

HIKE!

K