In a history-making battle of swing, this Friday 8 August the Albert Hall will be the scene for a Battle of the Big Bands between two of Canberra’s favourite big bands – Blamey Street Big Band and Spectrum Big Band.
The Battle of the Bands was a feature of the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York, at the height of the swing era and the Savoy played host to famous ‘battles’ between Count Basie’s band and the house orchestra led by Chick Webb. This weekend the excitement of the jazz era is recreated in Canberra.
The Battle of the Big Bands is one of the events being held during Canberräng —Canberra’s Festival of Swing (Thursday 7 to Sunday 10 August 2008). The weekend draws together swing dancers from all over Australia and profiles some of Canberra’s best big bands and small group swing and blues bands.
HIGHLIGHTS
Thursday 7 August – Top of the Town at Tilleys – DJs at Tilley’s Devine Café, 8-11pm (free)
Friday 8 August – Battle of the Big Bands at Albert Hall, 8.00pm–midnight ($40 at the door)
Saturday 9 August
Swing dancers take over the Chess Pit in Garema Place, 11.30am–12.30pm
Jazz at Lake George Winery with Limelight, 2.30–4.30pm ($20 on arrival)
Cotton Club Dinner Dance – Black Mountain Jazz Band and swing dancing performances ($30 after 9pm, dinner sold out)
Sunday 10 August
Swingers dance en masse at the Kingston Old Bus Depot Markets, 11.30am–12.30pm
The Sideshow Marquee at the Canberra Yacht Club with the Leisa Keen Trio and performances, 2.00–5.00pm ($20 on arrival)
Chris Mawer Band – a night of blues to wind down at the Old Canberra Inn, 6.00–9.30pm (free)
A full program of events can be viewed at http://www.canberrang.org.
Phone 0402 466 440 or email: canberrang@jumptown.org for more information.
Canberräng 2008 is organised by Jumptown Swing www.jumptown.org
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