Boomtown is a pretty epic festival, and happens to take place just outside my home town of Winchester. This year, as there was last year, there is a huge electroswing presence, with several stages and tents hosting the cream of the world's antique beat producers, DJs, bands and whatnot. I was pretty disappointed not to make it last year, so am thrilled to be going along this time around. This edition of Jack's Top Tracks is to give everyone a little taster of what to expect, and to make those not attending jealous.
PS. I will give a cuddle/kiss to anyone who successfully identifies me as Jack the Cad while I am there! (See the About page for some clues!)
Dutty Moonshine
The ‘bad boys of electro-swing’, Dutty Moonshine are a DJ/producer duo with a reputation for hard drinking, dirty basslines and putting on a hell of a show. Catch them at Madame Electrifie’s Laundry Service and The Ballroom. Here they are with the legendary Mr. B the Gentleman Rhymer.
Slamboree
The brainchild of Mike Freear, Slamboree incorporates DJ/producers, live instrumentalists, circus performers and a healthy dollop of onstage madness fired by balkan rave, gypsy swing, electro, drum’n’bass and breaks. Catch them on the Town Centre Stage.
Parov Stelar Band
Parov was a pioneer of the genre, fusing jazz age samples with chuncky house beats before anyone had even heard of electroswing. He and his band have been touring hard over the last couple of years, including several sell-out UK shows. Town Centre Stage.
Swingrowers
Hailing from Sicily, the Swingrowers are Pisk (DJ/producer), Loredanna (vocals) and Alessio (manouche guitar). Between them they have had audiences jumping, jiving and swinging on both sides of the Atlantic. See them in the Ballroom in Mayfair Avenue.
DJ Jon Bongly
Percussionist, DJ of many genres and all round top-bloke, Jon Bongly is a regular on the London electroswing scene, playing at a variety of events all over the capital. He will be perfroming in the Ballroom in Mayfair Avenue - a home away from home.
Molotov Jukebox
Fronted by Natalia Tena, star of Game of Thrones and the Harry Potter films, Molotov Jukebox play a brand of gypsy-infused dance music that they call gypstep. With bags of onstage energy and a habit of getting audiences all hot and bothered. Catch them onstage in the Ballroom.
DJ Dodgystyle
The master of mashup electroswing, DJ Dodgystyle has residencies at Exeter’s Cabaret Voltaire and London’s Electric Empire. He brings vintage samples and breakbeats, effortlessly blending, chopping, scratching and mixing with skill enough to make your feet itch. He is playing in The Ballroom.
Electric Swing Circus
The Electric Swing Circus are a Birmingham-based live electroswing band. They are also the brains behind Brum’s Hot Club de Swing nights and the hugely successful Swingamajig festival. They have just released their debut album (review on p.). Don’t miss them play in The Ballroom.
