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Swing
Inter.Net
Last
Updated 16th October 2004
Britain's
Top 10
Swingin'
Bands
(A
personal selection)
1.
The Fat Cats
With
the entire band in their early 20's these guys are often described
as the boy band with b*****cks! Swing, Boogie Woogie, Jump Blues, Ska
& Rock 'n' Roll.
A GREAT SHOW!
2.
Big
Boy Bloater & his Southside Stompers.
Early
50's style rockin' Rhythm & Blues in the style of Big Joe
Turner, Wynonie Harris and Roy Brown. An absolute dance floor filler
and a favourite for a number of years.
3.
The
Hep Chaps
Echoes
of Slim Gaillard, The Spirits of Rhythm and the small group swinging
sounds of the 1940s. Featuring the Ben Webster-esque sound of saxophone
aestro
John Wallace (The Stargazers).
4.
Blue
Harlem
This
band are sounding better and better. Led by sax supremo Al Nichols
with great vocals from Imelda
Clabby.
5.
West Weston's Big Rhythm
This
band are mind blowingly good. Probably one of the the finest bands
ever to grace The 100 Club. We would have put them at No 1 in this
list but they are a new band with only a couple of gigs under their
belt. Rockin' Blues, New Orleans R&B and a rhythm section that
swings like f**k.
6.
Mike
Sanchez
He's
the ex-lead singer of The Big Town Playboys and he ain't a band, but
any he contributes to must surely
feature in any Top Ten. What
a voice, what a pianist and he drives those women wild. Touring at
the moment with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings where he's stealing the show.
7.
The
Ray Gelato Giants
Almost
a legend over here and in the US!
Louis Prima style jump and swing. Not always the most dancable beats
and tempos but hell you can sit, listen and appreciate the talent.
8.
Danny
Edwards & the City Shakers
Yeh
we know this is blues band but these guys can sure rock any dance
floor. Dripping with 1950's authenticity, the shakers, play in the
style of Slim Harpo, Howlin' Wolf etc. A solis blast!
9.
The
Stargazers
The
forerunner of The Big Six. This band almost charted back in the
early eighties and have reformed and are back gigging with pretty
well the original line-up. We saw them recently and the band blew us
away with their mix of Big Beat, Swing and Rock'n' Roll.
10.
Sticky
Wicket's Little Big Band
We
are always underwhelmed by British attempts at the big band sound,
but this band really can swing it. Led by ex- Chris Barber/Van
Morrison drummer. Even the drum solos are great - honest!
This
list is a personal selection and you will notice it is not a list
purely of swing bands, but of bands that swing. Our experience has
been that many bands pose as swing bands but either rhythmically fail
to swing or simply play Big Band Jazz. Often it is those bands that
play Rhythm & Blues & even early Rock 'n' Roll that seem
embued with the spirit of swing!
We
want bands that get our toes tapping and our spirits lifting - not
gloified lift musak! |
OUR
DANCE REGULAR VENUES
SWING
CATS CORNER - Weekly
DADDY-O'S
- Monthly
|
 The
Hottest Dancing,
The
Coolest Swinging Sounds,
Right
in the Beating Heart of London.
EVERY
TUESDAY
Doors 7.00pm
Warm-Up
Swing Class: 7.15pm, Hot Jumping Swing Class: 8.00pm
(Classes
are taught by Lindy Hop Champions Robert & Claire)
Dancing
from: 8.45pm - 11.00pm
(with
Britain’s leading female swing DJ, Voodoo Doll)
THE
MUSIC ROOM
(Upstairs
at O’Neill’s)
3-77
Euston Road, London NW1
(Opposite
The British Library & a stone’s throw from St. Pancras,
Kings Cross and Euston Stations)
Admission:
£7 (Including Classes), Club Only: £5 (After 8.45pm)
Student
Discount (with current card) £5 for the whole evening. |
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DATES
FOR 2004
Friday
8th October, Friday 19th November,
Friday
10th December (XMAS PARTY).
The
Classes 7.30pm - 9.00pm
Authentic
Hollywood Style Lindy Hop & Jitterbug from 1940’s Los Angeles
7.30pm -
8.10pm Beginners/Intermediate
Six
Count Jitterbug - Just like in the movies!
8.20pm -
9.00pm Intermediate/Advanced Lindy
8
count, 6 count, 10 count - if you can count we got it!
Authentic
1940’s Lindy Hop - Dean Collins Style!
The
Club 9.00pm - Midnight
ALL
SWING, JITTERBUG, LINDY JIVE STYLES WELCOME
Licenced
Bar & Large Dance Floor
Resident
DJ: VOODOO DOLL
MUSIC
POLICY - Strictly Vintage!
Real
Swing and Jumpin’ Jive - No Later than 1955!
No
Lift Music & No DJs wearing baseball caps!
DRESS
CODE - Vintage/Retro Attire Welcome
It’s
Friday night so put your glad rags on!
ADMISSION:
£8 (including classes) / £7 after 9pm
THE
ST. ALOYSIUS SOCIAL CLUB,
20
PHOENIX ROAD, LONDON NW1
(Easy
Parking, Tub Euston/Mornington Crescent)
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