Swing Dynamite Blog
Thoughts and news about swing dancing in Ottawa
Calabogie Blues Fest: August 12-14th, 2011
[ No Comments ] Posted by byron on Aug 10, 2011 in Blues Dancing, Jazz and Blues Musicians, Live Music, News
Imagine this: a Blues Fest featuring real blues music! Introduced for the first time this summer in 2011, this is what the Calabogie Blues Fest looks like it will be.
The trend in the last decade or so with jazz and blues festivals seems to be to invite a number of famous pop artists who have only a loose connection to jazz or blues music styles, in order to attract enough participants to keep the festival alive. The downside is of course that true jazz aficionados and blues lovers are often left a little unsatisfied by festival offerings. While I was very grateful to have Great Big Sea performing in Ottawa last summer, the connection to the Blues Festival seemed to be more about promoting the festival than about a real connection to Blues roots. Don’t get me wrong: I’m grateful there’s a blues fest at all, and if pop artists help it succeed, so much the better. But what if we could have a festival really dedicated to just blues music?
The Calabogie Blues and Rib Fest appears to be just that: a real Blues Festival. And… also ribs. And that’s great, because let’s face it: even a vegetarian will admit that Blues music is more strongly connected to eating ribs than it is to Drake (Ottawa Blues Fest 2010) for example, as much as I might admire the artist within his genre.
The bad news (for Ottawa people): it’s not in Ottawa. Google Maps estimates it’s about an hour and forty minutes to drive to the Calabogie festival from our Swing Dynamite studio in Ottawa. But when you get there you can enjoy a full weekend of blues music. And… well, ribs.
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From Petit Chicago to Broadway
[ No Comments ] Posted by Mercedes on Nov 02, 2010 in Blues Dancing, News, Ottawa, Swing Dancing
Last night was our famous Petit Chicago Swing and it was a blast! Two DJ’s – Claudia aka Summer Solstice Girl and JF were spinning for the best possible dance experience. Sorry you missed it? There’s always next month! Mark your calendars for Dec. 7!
- Petit Chicago SWING! (Tuesday, December 7, 2010, 9:00pm-12:30am) Every first Tuesday of the month! Beginner lesson at 9:15pm, dancing from 10pm onwards! Address: 50 Promenade du Portage, Gatineau Québec. Swing Dynamite will be teaching a beginner lesson and DJing! See more info on our Facebook Petit Chicago SWING group!
For those of you who are wondering when our next Blues night is going to be held… you’re in luck! Bar 56 Blues is coming up on Monday, Nov. 15.
- Blues Dance at Bar 56 (Monday, November 15th 2010, 9:00pm-12:00am) Come blues dance with us at Bar 56, with live music featuring vocalist Renee Yoxon! Blues dancing lesson with Swing Dynamite at 9:15pm! 56 Byward Market Square, Ottawa
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