********************************************************************** Swing News, Tuesday 6/30/98, Issue #10 Send submissions to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send addition/deletion/address-change requests to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send all other e-mail to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Greetings! Looking over this week's line-up, I have to say that Saturday's 4th of July "Swing Spectacular" at the Sugar Palm is a standout. Swingerhead, the big band from Orlando, promises to deliver a great performance like they did last month. Myself, I'm looking forward to those free ice-cream treats they've promised. Friday, in addition to the Sugar Palm's swing night in Tampa, The Heritage in St Pete is having a swing night of their own with Dan Electro and the Silvertones. This is a first for them, but if successful, they plan to hold other swing nights on the first Friday of every month. The Swing News has now hit a major milestone, its 10th official issue! Congratulations to those who helped start out this SwinGang network -- you know who you are! Also, special thanks to the following people for their ongoing work: Stephanie Ford for maintaining the swing list, Michelle Gilbert for her networking and other organizing, Sherrie Gill for arranging workshops, and all who've given us something interesting to say by sending submissions to this newsletter. Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS FRIDAY (July 3) Friday swing nights continue at the Sugar Palm, with Swing DJ Belinda Montgomery and a fresh dance contest (winners advance to the July 31 finals). Free beginner's dance lessons run from 9:30 to 10:30pm. Admission is $5 and doors open at 9pm. The Sugar Palm Ballroom has a large dance floor, is nonsmoking (with adjacent rooms provided for smokers), and is located at the corner of Palm Ave and 15th St in Ybor City. Phone 248-5549. The Heritage Holiday Inn in downtown St Petersburg will hold their first swing night, 7:00-11:30pm, at the Heritage Grille, 234 3rd Av N. Dan Electro and the Silvertones will play 8:00-11:30pm, and Arleene Norman will provide free beginner's lessons from 7:00-8:00pm. There's a decent-size dance floor and it's smoke-free. Tickets are $6 either in advance or at the door. Full-service bar. Phone 822-4814. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS SATURDAY (July 4) * Swingerhead, the band, returns to the Sugar Palm! * Free Ice-Cream Treats and other fun stuff * Prizes for the best patriotic swing get-ups * Sidewalk Sparkler Strut * Swing DJ during breaks * Free Beginner's Dance Lessons 9:30-10:30pm * Admission $7 * Doors Open at 9pm The Sugar Palm Ballroom has a large floating-wood dance floor, is nonsmoking (with adjacent rooms provided for smokers), and is located at the corner of Palm Ave and 15th St in Ybor City. Phone 248-5549. Directions: Take I-4 to Exit 1, go south about 2 blocks, turn right on Palm Ave, and go to 15th St. The Sugar Palm's on the left. Turn left and pay to park or turn right and park on the street. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ALSO THIS WEEK The Swingin' Mooks play on Thursday (7/2) at Club More, 703 Franklin Street in downtown Clearwater. The club has a good-size floorboard dancefloor and allows smoking. Phone 466-6673. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NEXT WEEK AND BEYOND Fri Jul 10: Dan Electro and the Silvertones at Sugar Palm; 248-5549 Lindy Hop Introductory Workshop 8-10pm, by Lee Holton: "The REAL Big Band Swing"; Info: 935-7458 or 933-0946 Fri Jul 10: Johnny Cool & The Mobster Swing Band at Largo Cultural Center; 587-6793 Sat Jul 11: Dan Electro and the Silvertones at Sugar Palm; 248-5549 Fri Jul 17: 42nd St Big Band at Sugar Palm; 248-5549 Fancy Turns & Spins Workshop 8-10pm, Instructor TBA. Fri Jul 17: New Morty Show at State Theater; 895-3045 Sat Jul 18: 42nd St Big Band at Sugar Palm; 248-5549 Fri Jul 24: The Sevilles (U92 Oldies Sock Hop) at Coliseum; 892-5202 Sat Jul 25: Abe Guard with "Music of Your Life" Orchestra at Coliseum 892-5202; Part of Summer Swing Series Wed Jul 29: Dan Electro and the Silvertones at Old Hyde Park Village Fri Aug 21: Rocket 88 at Largo Cultural Center; 587-6793 Sat Aug 29: Charly Raymond Orchestra at Coliseum; 892-5202 Part of Summer Swing Series Sat Sep 26: Abe Guard with "Music of Your Life" Orchestra at Coliseum 892-5202; Part of Summer Swing Series Vince writes: July 17th, the New Morty Show is playing the State Theater in St Pete. New Morty is a swinging ensemble out of SF, featuring such mainstays of the SF Swing scene as Morty Orkin (leader and trumpet), Connie Champagne (vocals), and Vise Grip (vocals). All are well known on the west coast and have come together to bring you this rocking band. Their debut album MORTYFIED is available from Slimstyle records and is very good. They do a cover of Billy Idol's White Wedding and Metallica's Enter Sandman (it's worth the price of admission just for that cover). Matt Mikas turned me on to these guys and I can recommend them to you. I enjoy them greatly. Admission is $8.00, doors at 8pm. The State Theater is at 687 Central Ave in downtown St Pete. 895-3045. [Editor's Note: Would anyone care to comment on the dance floor at the State Theater? They do allow smoking.] Michelle Gilbert writes of an upcoming U92 Oldies Sock Hop: When: Friday July 24th, 8pm to Midnight (Doors open at 7:30) Who: Featuring the Sevilles and DJ Grant Hammond and Associates Where: Coliseum, 535 4th Ave N, St. Petersburg, 892-5202 Cost: $10 plus service charge Etc: BYOB, Coolers and food allowed, Nonsmoking, Huge dance floor Cancellation Note: Rocket 88 will NOT be playing Skipper's Smokehouse on July 31 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ORLANDO Sun Jul 5: Royal Crown Revue at Pleasure Island Tue Jul 28: The Brian Seltzer Orchestra at House of Blues Sat Aug 8: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Pleasure Island Sun Aug 9: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Pleasure Island Does anybody know where in Pleasure Island the above bands will be playing and what the dance-floor (if any) and smoking conditions are like? Lori Whittle writes that one of the Pleasure Island clubs where a swing band previously played had "no dancefloor ... carpeting with tables right up to the stage." Respond to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HELP AGAIN Similar to my bud Randy I need help. If anyone knows of a place that swings in Sarasota, FL, let me know. Thanks, Mark Hamel XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- REVIEW Good day all !!!! Ms. Stephanie Ford at your service. Just wanted to write a brief note about the going ons at the Sugar Palm last Friday. The 42nd Street Little Big Band threw down some smokin' tunes. The dance floor was packed throughout the evening. Mark, my new dance partner, introduced me to a few new moves not limited to but including the one where you fall back into the guy's arms and he kind of rolls you while stepping over you. I know, I know, it sounds a little odd, but it's actually easy to do. The hardest part is having faith that he's going to catch you. The crowd was full of interesting people from all different walks of life such as show hosts from the Home Shopping Network and comedians from Beat the Dead Horse improv troupe. Many thanks go to Taylor for treating us to another marvelous evening !!!! P.S. Treat yourselves well this Saturday and see SWINGERHEAD at the Sugar Palm ... and be on the lookout for leopard print night -- more details to follow ... Keep Swingin' !!!!!!! --Stephanie I must add my congrats to the dance contest winners -- Alan and London, who after several contests finally took home a first prize ($500 in this case), first runners up Pete and Allison from Sarasota who won a sunset sailboat cruise, and second runners up Maelyn and Tim who got a dinner for four and a limo-ride in the Sugar-Palm-Mobile. You all put on a good show! --Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- LESSONS AND WORKSHOPS Thu at 7:00pm: James & Arleene Norman, Beginning, St Pete, Right Step Dance Studio, 2319 9th St N, St Petersburg, $30 for 4 classes, 821-9420. This series of 4 lessons starts July 9. Prerequisite: none, but makes a nice style review for more advanced dancers. 1 hour. Thu at 8:00pm: James & Arleene Norman, Beginning Lindy Hop, St Pete, Right Step Dance Studio, 2319 9th St N, St Petersburg, $30 for 4 classes, 821-9420. This series of 4 lessons starts July 9. Prerequisite: some prior partner-dancing experience. The 1st of 6 lindy levels! 1 hour. Thu at 8:00pm: Connie Gee, Beginning/Intermed, Ybor City, Sugar Palm, Corner of Palm Ave & 15th St, $8, 248-5549. 1 hour. Fri at 8:00pm: Connie Gee, Beginning/Intermed, Ybor City, Sugar Palm, Corner of Palm Ave & 15th St, $5, 248-5549. 1 hour. Sun, Jul 12th: Frank Ingo, Beginners 6:45-7:30pm, Intermediate/Advanced 7:30-9:30pm, South Tampa, 3601 S. Manhatten, $8 or $25 for 4 lessons, 835-5804. Beginners can practice or watch after their class; advanced dancers can practice at 6:45. Also Aug 9 & Sep 13. Tue at 6:45pm: Abdul Mohammed, Beginning/Intermediate, North Tampa, Rhapsody Ballroom, 12101 N 56th St (just N. of Fowler), $5, 985-6570. Beginners at 6:45; Intermediate at 7:30. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Swing News Submissions are not only welcome, but required to keep this newsletter going. Send them to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . The deadline for each Tuesday issue is Sunday at 2pm. Editors reserve the right to edit submissions or to select based on relevance. Be sure to call and confirm events before going! The SwinGang is a network of swing dancers and other swingsters, committed to promoting swing events in places with large, smoke-free or open-air dance areas; to encouraging great music & instruction; to building a united swing community; and to publishing this newsletter! E-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . Send addition/deletion/address-change requests to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . **********************************************************************