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Somers Cajun Street Dance

By Beacon Staff

When you think of Montana, Cajun and zydeco music are probably not the first things that come to mind. And that certainly makes the annual Somers Cajun Street Dance all the more unique.

Once again, the town of Somers at the northern end of Flathead Lake will host its Cajun Street Dance on July 20.

Authentic Cajun, zydeco and bluegrass musicians will perform throughout the event. And this year’s headliner is Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble.

Taylor is a native of Louisiana and raised on zydeco and Louisiana blues. His impressive accordion skills bear traces of the musical lineage of Buckwheat Zydeco and C.J. Chenier – with whom Taylor toured and played with as a teenager.

And the event isn’t just for dancing in the streets, it’s for good cause as well.

Proceeds from the event are donated to various organizations in Somers, such as the Somers Volunteer Fire Department. Proceeds will also be donated to help preserve an S2 steam switch engine, an icon of Somers’ railroading past.

And the event isn’t just about celebrating a unique genre of music and dance; the entire town is abuzz. Aside from the food and beverage vendors, most of the established businesses in town take part in one way or another. And folks young and old enjoy themselves dancing, watching, or just sharing the good-vibe energy.

And despite the huge crowds, the event is quite family-friendly, and boasts some of the most polite and courteous party-goers around.

All the fun and food aside, what makes the event perhaps even better is that the hundreds of people who attend and are dancing and having fun in the streets of an historic town.

Somers was originally the company town of the Somers Lumber Company that provided railroad ties for the Great Northern Railway. Somers remained a company town until 1948 – a time when imagining a Cajun street party would be nothing less than inconceivable.

Yet the connection to Cajun dance music may not be so far off, especially considering that there was likely some Irish and Norwegian hardanger fiddle dance music played occasionally by the Irish and Norwegian immigrants who worked and lived in Somers.

So if you’re looking for good times supporting a good cause – and enjoy Cajun music and food – then be sure to take part in the Somers Cajun Street Party on July 20.

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Del’s Bar, Sliter’s Hardware stores, and Somers Bay Cafe in Somers.