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"Fat Tuesday" Mardi Gras Party with Aux Cajunals and Billy, Willie, & Lloyd

  • Ashkenaz Music & Dance Community Center 1317 San Pablo Avenue Berkeley, CA, 94702 United States (map)

Doors at 7pm ~ Dance lesson at 7:30 pm ~ Show at 8pm

Celebrate Fat Tuesday by dancing to Cajun and zydeco music!

Costumes, masks, Mardi Gras beads encouraged, or just wear your most sparkly, brightest party clothes.

The Aux Cajunals is led by fiddler Suzy Thompson, co-founder (with the late Danny Poullard) of the California Cajun Orchestra, who apprenticed in Louisiana with Cajun fiddle legend Dewey Balfa and also was mentored by Dennis McGee and Cheese Read. Suzy learned to play accordion from Danny Poullard. Agi Ban (of the Midnite Ramblers) and Karen Celia Heil (formerly of the Creole Belles) join Suzy on fiddles. Eric Thompson, another co-founder of the California Cajun Orchestra, plays guitar. He and Suzy have performed with many Cajun greats including DL Menard, Beausoleil, Marc and Ann Savoy, Ed Poullard, Jesse Lege & Joel Savoy, and David Greely. Their daughter Allegra (of the Midnite Ramblers) plays upright bass.

Billy, Willie, and Lloyd

As the backbone of Bay Area favorites Motordude Zydeco, Billy Wilson, Willie Jordan and Lloyd Meadows play the music of South Louisiana with soul, grit, and Funky-in-your-face style.

In a special Mardi Gras three-piece arrangement they bring the real deal Zydeco sound to Ashkenaz's celebration of the holiday!

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February 19

Soul Sanctuary

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February 22

Ashkenaz Grateful Dead Night with Matt Hartle & Friends