Playing anything pre-2000, from 50s rock’n'roll, little bit of funk and soul, 90s britpop and dance and lots of 80s hits and power ballads, its certainly is a sin

 
Yet again things turned to mayhem down in the basement last month so the boys expect nothing less for their Christmas special on the 17th of December!

Joining Tomas and Mr Parr this month will be none other than Adam Torel, playing some lovely uptempo 60s Soul!

As ususal Ethan and guests be spinning sweet Soul, Funk & Crossover upstairs under the guise of “Brothers & Sisters”!

The venue is Positively 4th Street (four minutes from Warren Street, Euston Square or Mornington Crescent Tube stations)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      119 Hampstead Road                                                                                                                                                                                              London                                                                                                                                                                                                                            NW1 3EE
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              As always entry is free  so no excuse not to get into the festive spirit!                                                                                                                                                 

Click on the flyer for the link to the Facebook Event Page or email Tomas directly: tomas_mcgrath@hotmail.com for any further info.

With a powder blue, cotton candy-esque dress billowing around her waist, Gabby Young performed her final show before year’s end last Saturday with cohorts the Other Animals, the band’s flair for eccentricity well in tact. The sultry provocateur belted out big band-inspired tunes peppered with jazz and gypsy influences, inspiring Saturday’s crowd to sway, bounce, and whoop “J’taime, Gabby!” in-between songs.

Pre-show, Gabberdashery (née haberdashery) stalls lined the upper tier of Notting Hill venue the Tabernacle, where indie artisans sold wares in a holiday bazaar setting. Think elaborate, jeweled headgear and ‘40s-inspired accessories to match Young’s signature style.

Young moved through her set list with aplomb, sometimes wielding a guitar, megaphone, or gently caressing the microphone during soulful numbers. As this was the last show with the band’s current lineup, Young invited new members onstage—who will join her in the new year—and introduced them to an inviting public.

While we can’t say precisely what Young and the Other Animals will be up to in 2011, rest assured that the whispers of news we’ve heard bode well for the motley crew of musicians. J’taime, Gabby, indeed.

Aloha ~ it’s the New Year Polynees-up starring The Bikini Beach Band!

New Years Eve see the Bo Nanafana Social Club taking a trip to Hawaii. There’s magic from Bob Percy, music from DJ Lornegerie and The Shellac Collective and The Scantily Clad on walkabout and hula duty.

As ever if you arrive early there’s a free dance lesson with Swing City Dance Class.
Tickets £25 available from the Rock Collection or online via the Bo Nanafana Website

Saturday 22nd January 2011
Chiswick Town Hall, Heathfield Terrace, Chiswick High Road, London, W4 4NJ
Presented by Nigel “JumpnJive” Anderson, Ceroc & the London Swing Dance Society

Swingin’ the Blues” is an annual event which has previously offered a whole day

of Blues & Swing style workshops from some of the very top UK Blues teachers, followed by an evening of Blues & Swing dancing with allegedly some of the best DJ’s in the world.

Now in its 11th year ‘”Swingin’ the Blues” has developed and grown into the only truly dedicated ‘Blues’ Event on the UK dance calendar and is bound to attract a diverse and interesting crowd.

This event starts with the The Saturday Workshops which will start at 11am and run through until 7pm, with a break for lunch at 2.30pm when we will have a lunchtime show ‘One Hundred Years of Swing’ for your entertainment.

The “Swingin’ the Blues Ball” will kick off at 8pm with a Cuban Blues class with Marc and Rachel and run through in three rooms until 12.00am.

That is one hell of a days dancing…Enjoy!!

Prices:

Workshops & Ball     £35
Ball only                      £10

Contact:
For bookings – 07946 221042 (Bill)
For general info – 07956 532721 (Nigel)

Or click here

Ham Yard, W1 was the location of the original Scene club.  For the background info on this legendry Mod Club have a look at their Facebook page.

Come join the crew for their first anniversary with the following DJs spinning the best of the best:

Mike Warburton, Val Palmer, Thierry Stuave, Paul Newman, Lluis Cardinal, Mickey Collins, Barry Ellis, Richard Early, Michael Sheepmeister.

Where: Balls Brothers Wine Bar. 120 Bishopsgate, London EC2 Nearest tube, Liverpool Street

How much: £6 with Membership card, £8 without.  Advance Tickets £6.50 via paypal hamyard@hotmail.com Membership card 50P.                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Click on the flyer for the Facebook event page.

Fans of the original 1947 movie and Graham Greene novel should get themselves down the their local picture house to watch this fabulous remake of Brighton Rock. Set in 1964 (30 years later than the first one) it features original 1960s clothes and scooters, perfect for the vintage enthusiast.

It stars the beautiful and talented Helen Mirren, John Hurt, Andrea Riseborough and Sam Riley who played Ian Curtis in Control, as well as many familiar faces.  Not one to miss I can assure you.

Have a gander at the trailer:

Brighton Rock Remake Trailer

Oh and also look out for a certain someone in the Cafe scene…

Braving winter’s creeping chill in our best Prohibition Era-inspired attire, we scurried ourselves to the opening of new London speakeasy The Nightjar last Thursday evening. The preview event officially ushered the lounge into Shoreditch’s after-hours scene, inaugurated by a performance by Topshelf Jazz and copious cocktail consumption.

As we recently previewed, The Nightjar is an intimate venue conveniently steps away from the Old Street tube station, lit by the seductive glow of dim bulbs in its atmospheric interior. Dually serving as lounge and gig space, it is less suited for mellow conversations than lively evenings spent sipping on one of 30-plus designer cocktails as a DJ or jazz band provides entertainment.

Naturally, we encountered women with a vintage wave and bounce to their hair, men sporting hipster-dapper suits, and a mix of revelers who excitedly reached for drinks including the Morning Glory Fizz (absinthe, eggwhite, champagne, whisky and fresh lime) and deliciously (and perhaps dangerously)-potent Fog Cutter (Appeleton Estate rum, Tanqueray, orange, lemon, sherry, cognac, and oregeat). The phrase “free drinks” is enough to inspire some clamouring even among the most sophisticated of the press set, we observed.

In the coming weeks, you can look forward to regular shows featuring resident DJ Jean-Paul Séculaire, and blues guitarists and French swing outfits gracing The Nightjar’s stage. Our Events page will be updated with some of the latest Nightjar intel, so keep watch for more information. And, rest easy; no password is required for entrance.

***TICKETS ONLY***

Ronnie Londons Groove Lounge New Years Eve Party

Nottingham’s only MOD night playing you the best of Northern Soul, Beat, Tamla, Hammond and RnB on NYE.   Top Nottingham DJs and a room decked out to take you back to the 60s.

Come down to make it one to remember, out with 2010 and in with 2011!!

Where:  The Grosvenor, Mansfield Rd, Nottingham. 8pm to 1am

How much: Tickets Only (please see below to contact Ronnie for details)

Contact: Via Facebook (click on picture) or contact Ronnie London himself on 07778002589