The weekend will feature some of the finest bands and callers in the region. Tracy Schwarz & The Cajuneers will lead off on Friday night at 8 pm. Tracy is one of the most highly respected interpreters of music of southwest Louisiana. He will be on accordion, fiddle and vocals. In addition to Tracy, the band features Bob Smakula on fiddle, Dave Dutzik on guitar, and Kate Thomes on triangle and vocals. It's hard to imagine a finer dance floor for these masters of Cajun music! The evening will also include a Cajun dance workshop with Susan Waggoner and Rosemary Nulton who have been dancing to, and playing, Cajun music for over 10 years. Their dance instruction is designed to get you on the floor and traveling in the traditional waltz and two-step styles done in Southwest Louisiana.

On Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the dances will feature the return of the fabulous Hotpoint Stringband from Ohio. Hotpoint is, of course, a great dance band, characterized by their own brand of sizzling hot contra-dance tunes, high energy squares, and string swing. They play an eclectic mix of original and traditional old-time and Celtic fiddle tunes. Start with the incomparable Mark Hellenberg on percussion and banjo uke. Add Nick Weiland laying down solid and tasteful bass, working closely with compelling piano from Marlene Shostak. Top it all off with monster clawhammer banjo from Hilarie Burhans and swinging, driving fiddling from Mark Burhans. It’s the recipe for a wall of rhythm, and that’s what the Hotpoint Stringband is known for. Hotpoint has three critically acclaimed recordings on the Make ‘Em Go Wooo label.

The caller for the weekend will be Gaye Fifer. Gaye is an accomplished contra caller from Charlottesville, Virginia. An active dancer herself, she understands the subtleties of making contra dances particularly satisfying for dancers. Gaye, along with Wayne Albright, will offer contra-style American folk waltz workshops. Each of them can both lead and follow, making them very effective instructors. They believe that waltzing is not just about fancy moves and twirls, but primarily about connecting with both the music and a partner.

Other musicians will also be displaying their talents this weekend and offering a variety of dance workshops and jam sessions. See our website, www.randolpharts.org, for updates.