********************************************************************** Swing News, Friday 2/19/99, Issue #30, (Next Issue, 3/2/99) Send submissions to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send addition/deletion/address-change requests to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Send all other e-mail to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everyone, So many swing events have been announced the last couple of weeks that it prompted me to do this interim issue of Swing News. If you haven't already heard, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's coming to town on Sunday (Feb 21). Details are below. Also, don't miss the Rocket 88 concert at the Largo rec center next Saturday. It's an all-ages dance/fundraiser put on by the High School. Many of us will be there, so come out if you can. Details below. The Frankie Manning workshop in Orlando was great. It drew many of the best dancers from Tampa Bay, Gainesville, Orlando, Ft Meyers, and other places. Tampa Bay was very well represented; besides Orlando, we had the largest contingent. The Lindy workshop was a lot of fun, though crowded. The instructors and the general vibe were very playful and energetic. Afterward, Roy set up a boombox on the Atlantic Dance Boardwalk and many of us continued dancing in the sun. That's my one- minute review. Hopefully, a couple of people will send in their impressions for the next newsletter (Hint, Hint). See you all out dancing. Sam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- THIS COMING WEEK This Sunday (Feb 21), Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the band made famous by the movie "Swingers", plays the USF Special Events Center. The following info is taken from their Weekly Planet ad, with editorial notes in brackets: * 7pm - Swing Fling with free lessons * 9pm - Show Begins * $6+ for students if purchased at Marshall Center Ticketmaster, and $15+ for others [The + is for the hefty $5 to $9 surcharge levied by Ticketmaster. A note to any future event organizers who may be listening -- please provide a way for the public to directly purchase tickets without surcharges!] * Phone 813-974-3180 * As Seen at Superbowl halftime [for almost 10 seconds] Randy Moss writes: "Just wanted to let everybody know that Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will be here in Tampa on Sunday, Feb 21st!! They will be playing a one-time show at the University of South Florida. The show will be preceeded by free lessons. They will be playing in the Special Events Center so get your tickets at Ticketmaster, or on campus in the Marshall Center." Next Saturday (Feb 27), Rocket 88 plays an all-ages show at the Southwest Largo Rec Complex, 13120 Vonn Road in Largo. Details: * Rocket 88 starts at 8:00 pm * Free Beginner's Swing Dance Lessons 7:00-8:00 pm * Prizes and Contests * Proceeds to Largo High's Students in Need Fund and PTSA Scholarship Fund * Tickets are limited and cost $10. To purchase in advance, call 727-588-3758 ext 140, or e-mail XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . Tickets may also be available at the door. * The event is open to the public * Directions: From almost anywhere on Ulmerton Rd. (Ulmerton can be reached from I-275), go west until you hit Indian Rocks Rd. (Eckerd's on the SE Corner; Kash N' Karry, on NE corner; Publix, on NW corner). Go right, follow Indian Rocks past those little shopping strips, past the Anona School, until you hit Wilcox. (There'll be a billboard for Largo Medical Center on the left, and a big church, the Anona, on the right.) Turn right onto Wilcox, follow it about a mile until the first stop sign. You'll see the SW Rec Center across the intersection and to the left. Parking is on the side. Next Friday (Feb 26), the Cigar Store Indians play Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa. Skipper's literature: "Atlanta rockabilly quartet with pedal steel and plenty of country flavored high energy songs". As with all Skipper's concerts, it's outdoors with plywood, sand, and wooden-deck dance floors. Skipper's is located at the corner of Skipper Road and Nebraska in North Tampa. Phone 813-971-0666. At the Sugar Palm: Friday, Feb 26: The Eddie Reed Swing Band from California. The Sugar Palm says, "California Clarinetist Eddie Reed has opened for Ray Charles and Tony Bennett, and was voted Best Swing Act of 1998 at the L.A. Music Awards. He's bringing his quintet all the way to Florida for an evening of great music you shouldn't miss." Also, Roy highly recommends this band. Saturday, Feb 27: The Cigar Store Indians. This rockabilly-flavored group from Atlanta has in the past played at WMNF's Tropical Heat Wave and at The Rubb. The Sugar Palm's ballroom has a large wooden dance floor. It's nonsmoking, with adjacent rooms provided for smokers. A dress code is enforced. Phone 813-248-5549 or visit www.SugarPalmClub.com for more info. Directions: Corner of Palm Ave & 15th St in Ybor City. 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. Doors open at 8:00pm both nights and dancing continues to 2:30am. A beginner's swing lesson runs 8-9pm. Friday features an intermediate lesson 9-10pm in the practice room. Saturday features Lindy Hop lessons: Beginning is 7-8pm; intermediate, 8-9pm; $5 per lesson. A swing show-off takes place at 11pm, where any couple can sign up to get the dance floor all to themselves and dance their favorite song for the crowd. Friday, Feb 26, the St Pete Coliseum features "The Swing Thing" with Johnny Cool and the Mobster Swing Band. $10 in advance or $12 at door. Phone 727-892-5202 for more info. Sunday, Feb 28, Largo Central Park hosts a free concert with two big bands, 3-6pm: * Dan McMillion and the Groovin High Band * The Music of Your Life Quartet * Corner of East Bay Drive and Seminole Blvd in Largo * 727-587-6723 for more info ---------------------------------------------------------------------- FUTURE TAMPA BAY EVENTS Fri Mar 5: The Camaros at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Sat Mar 6: The Camaros at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Fri Mar 12: Rocket 88 at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Sat Mar 13: Rocket 88 at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Fri Mar 26: Ron Sunshine & Full Swing at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Sat Mar 27: Ron Sunshine & Full Swing at Sugar Palm; 813-248-5549 Sun Mar 28: Sock Hop with the Blue Moon Boys from Indiana at Sugar Palm; All Ages; 813-248-5549 Fri Apr 16: Love Dogs at Skipper's Smokehouse; 813-971-0666 Fri Apr 16: Denise Moore Orchestra & Bombed Out Cat at Coliseum; 727-892-5202 Fri Jun 4: Swingerhead at Coliseum; 727-892-5202 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SARASOTA Friday, Feb 26, The Jazz Club of Sarasota hosts a Swing Dance with Dan Electro and the Silvertones: * 7-11pm * At the Sahib Temple, 600 N Beneva Blvd, Sarasota (941-366-4449) * $20/person; limited seating * Snacks, dessert, and coffee included * Tickets or info: 941-366-1552 * Proceeds benefit Jazz Club programs including Riverview Jazz Band * Call for info on smoking or dance floor ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MIRROR BALL UPDATE Vince Gudzinskas writes: 8.5 Souvieniers are off the Mirrorball Tour. According to Vise Grip of The New Morty Show, they want to work on their new album. They are replaced by Blue Plate Special. The Mirror Ball Tour is coming to Orlando's UCF campus Monday March 8. The Tour features The New Morty Show headlining, with Blue Plate Special, Alien Fashion Show, and The Recliners. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BOMBED OUT CAT Billy writes: "Bombed Out Cat" is a new female-fronted combo based in Tampa. We play classic & contemporary swing hits, and our original CD will be done by mid-spring. You can find us Wednesdays at Borderlines in Carrollwood; Thursdays, we're at the Rare Olive in Ybor City; Fridays, we trade off between the Rare Olive and the Big Catch in downtown St Pete; and Saturdays, we're at Frankie's Patio in Ybor City. Come on out and let us know what you think. Thanks, Billy ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SWING HISTORY Kurt Lichtmann writes: "Please check out the groovy clicks on my home page. Great articles on Lindy Hop, Overview Of Swing Dance,'50s Jitterbug, Great photos! http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/kpl5 Your comments (delight or horrified rants) joyously appreciated." [Editor's Note: I checked it out and there's some very good historical info on swing and Lindy hop in particular.] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- GULFPORT CASINO SWING NIGHT CONTINUES * Every Wednesday, 8pm to midnight (with Beginner's Lesson 7-8) * All ages * Only $4 * For more info, e-mail James and Arleene Norman at XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Swing News Know any upcoming swing happenings or other news? Send them in to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX . The deadline for each issue, which generally comes out on a Tuesday, is the prior Sunday at 5pm. 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 . **********************************************************************