Preview by Matthew Osborne
Last month Swingamajig, ‘the UK’s first one day urban festival dedicated to Electro Swing, Gypsy Folk and vintage mayhem’, hit the streets of Digbeth.
A fairly low profile event, talked about in excitable whispers between fans of electro-swing and dressing up in the weeks leading up to it, Swingamajig was well endorsed – with a lot of subsequent self kicking by those who didn’t attend. Birmingham Review included.
But if you also missed it, don’t fear. The Electric Swing Circus, the collective brains behind Swingamajig, return to their regular Birmingham base (the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath) on Friday 21st for another of their club night – Hot Club de Swing.
The Electric Swing Circus take headlining duties this Friday, with East Devon’s ‘foot stompin’, Harmonica wailin’, Lapslide Guitar Pickin’ Singer-Songwriter’ Sam Green in support.
DJs on the night include Hot Club de Swing residents The C@ in the H@ and Jam Hott 4 Decks, completing a line up that will make you predictive text finally admit defeat.
The Electric Swing Circus have a fondness for the nostalgic romanticised vision of prohibition era America, or even Fitzgerald’s America of parties excess – a time when clubs, liquor and dancing could erupt anywhere, and the right to enjoy oneself was valued above all other freedoms. Anyone who has experienced their live show will know just how much bouncing goes on, with a style that began many years ago with DoopDoop (anybody remember them?), then made cool by the likes of Mr Scruff.
Sam Green brings to mind a more upbeat Mumford & Sons. Stripping back their music to its bare essentials, Mr Green & band have built a reputation for turning venues into hoedowns within minutes of arriving.
Add a couple of DJs, and you’ve got a belly full of a night out.
Although if you’re something of a jeans and T-Shirt wearer, you might do well to get yourself down to a vintage or charity shop to pick out a more appropriate outfit for the night.
Costumes tend to be glamorous, extravagant and exciting.
Hot Club de Swing – Festival Tea Party comes to the Hare & Hounds (Kings Heath) on Friday June 21st. For more information & tickets, visit https://www.facebook.com/hotclubdeswing
For further event listings at the Hare & Hounds, visit http://hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk/
____________
For more on The Electric Swing Circus, visit http://www.electricswingcircus.com/
For more on Sam Green, visit http://www.samgreenandthemidnightheist.com
For more on Swingamajig, visit http://swingamajig.co.uk/