Band Bio's

Andrew dickeson’s blue rhythm band

ANDREW DICKESON'S "BLUE RHYTHM BAND Andrew Dickeson's "Blue Rhythm Band" is a band for dancers. They do what Basie did - they play 4 solid beats to the bar - and no cheating!

Australian lindy hoppers were looking for a band leader with one foot firmly in the Savoy Ballroom, and the other setting down a rock-solid beat. Andrew had a group of musicians who wanted to play for audiences who could dig what they were doing. The Blue Rhythm Band is a swinging dance band - playing music created by jazz musicians for the ultimate jazz fans - dancers!

Drawing upon the tradition of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Lunceford and others - this band is the “real deal” for swing music. ANDREW DICKESON'S “BLUE RHYTHM BAND The Blue Rhythm Band is a rock-solid small band built from the rhythm section out - piano, bass and drums operating as a finely tuned unit. This solid rhythmic core can also grow to include rhythm guitar. Add some sublime saxophone, clarinet and vocals, and you’ve got the cooking 4-piece band that has been “swinging dancers into bad health - then back again” in recent years.

MEET THE BLUE RHYTHM BAND: THE RHYTHM SECTION The most important part of any dance band -a swingin’ drummer who knows when to push and when to step back, a “cooking” bass player, and a pianist who can provide beautiful rhythm and melody.

Drums - Andrew Dickeson

Piano - Peter Locke

Bass - Jacob Graham

THE FRONT LINE If the rhythm section is the engine that drives the band, the horns are the colour and light. Brad Child's soulful and energetic presence in the front row on sax and clarinet, as well as vocals, makes it clear that a great dance band needs to match rhythm with joyous melody.

The Blue Rhythm Band has impressed dancers at MLX, SLX, the Little Big Weekend, Jazz with Ramona, the Small Ball, Canberrang, Jumptown Jam, Jazz BANG etc - and is now, without a doubt, Australia’s most popular and in-demand band for swing dancers.

Catch Andrew Dickeson’s Blue Rhythm Band at the ASDC and SLX Up Late Night at Polish Club, Ashfield

Eamon McNelis Skellingtons

Led by award-winning trumpeter and vocalist Eamon McNelis, The Skellingtons bring the joyful sounds of the swing era to life with a repertoire drawn from the great songbooks of the 1930s and 1940s. Inspired by artists including Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton and Hoagy Carmichael, the band combines deep respect for the tradition with a vibrant energy that keeps dancers moving all night long.

A winner of the Wangaratta Jazz Award for Brass, Eamon is one of Melbourne’s most celebrated jazz musicians, known for his work with JAZZPARTY, The Meltdown, The Big Idiot Club and numerous other projects. Backed by a stellar lineup of swing specialists, The Skellingtons deliver hot jazz, sweet melodies and irresistible rhythms in equal measure.

Whether playing a packed dance floor or an intimate jazz room, The Skellingtons capture the spirit of classic swing with warmth, virtuosity and plenty of fun. Expect timeless tunes, infectious grooves and a band that loves playing for dancers.

Catch Eamon McNelis Skellingtons at the Deco Dance at Leichhardt Town Hall, Leichhardt

Coucou Zazous

Step into the cafés of Paris and the dance halls of the swing era with Coucou Zazous. Inspired by the Hot Club Swing tradition of the 1930s and 40s, this Sydney-based ensemble blends gypsy jazz, French chansons and classic swing into an irresistible soundtrack for dancers and music lovers alike.

With swinging guitars, soulful vocals and infectious rhythms, Coucou Zazous draws on the music of Django Reinhardt, the golden age of Parisian jazz and the great standards that travelled from Europe to New York and back again. Their performances move effortlessly from lively up-tempo swing to romantic ballads, all delivered with warmth, charm and a touch of French flair.

Whether transporting audiences to a smoky Montmartre jazz club or filling a dance floor with energy, Coucou Zazous captures the spirit of vintage jazz with style, sophistication and plenty of joie de vivre. Expect swinging rhythms, timeless melodies and a musical journey through the golden age of jazz.

Catch Coucou Zazous at Swing Out at The Colombian, Sunday afternoon at The Colombian Hotel, Darlinghurst