Cajun Dance Lessons • Friday • 6:30 p.m.           

Instructors from ACME – the Association of Cajun Music Enthusiasts, based here in Birmingham – will give festivalgoers a lesson in Cajun dance fundamentals. The organization hosts monthly dances in the Magic City, so newcomers will have plenty more chances to dance after the Kevin Naquin performance that gets things started at the Dance Depot. 

Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys • Friday •  7 p.m.           

Kevin Naquin & the Ossun Playboys perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, June 19.

This five-man band from Ossun, Lousiana, is all about playing traditional Cajun music with decidedly youthful exuberance — the outfit specializes in a driving, energetic playing style that’s just right for dancing. If you’re not familiar with Cajun music, Naquin’s band can provide an excellent primer: In addition to playing a spate of old-school songs from Acadiana (including a few written by Naquin’s grandfather), they do a lot of noteworthy new songs of their own. Request “Ayou mon tennis shoe?” and be sure to show up shod for the occasion. 

Kids Got the Disco with Nastique & DJ Charles III • Friday • 10:45 p.m.

The fact that Kids Got the Disco is happening at the Dance Depot means there’s at least one set of local 20- and 30-somethings who are ready to make City Stages a permanent fixture in Birmingham’s future. Not to say that you’ve got to be in your 20s to dig Kids Got the Disco, but the group does like to boast, “Kids Got the Disco is better than your grandmother’s dance party!” KGTD is the brainchild of DJs Nastique and Charles III and it’s simply scintillating wherever and whenever it’s held. Bottletree, WorkPlay and Matthew’s Bar & Grill have all been home to KGTD since the parties started in 2007. As far as we know, City Stages 2009 marks the first time it’s happened under the stars, and that alone makes the festival worth the price of admission.