Jive Party

“The UK’s number one swing-blues outfit”
Norrie Burnett, Blues Matters Magazine

Another very welcome chance to enjoy a unique blend of blues and jump-jive from “…six of the UK’s top blues & roots musicians, The Cadillac Kings play music inspired by the sounds & styles of the ‘40s & ‘50s. A mix of mostly original songs with a few well-chosen covers from the likes of T-Bone Walker, Roy Brown & Champion Jack Dupree have made the band firm favourites on both the blues & jump-jive scenes.

“With their stunning musicianship & exciting stage act, this is a band that knows how to entertain audiences across the board, from arts centres to dance-halls, from intimate clubs to major festivals.”

And of course the night gets into swing with our Jive class aimed at beginners – plus music from DJs, right through until 1am.

Every day thousands of children across the UK struggle to read and write. 1 in 5 children do not achieve the expected levels of literacy by the age of 11. In disadvantaged city areas this figure rises to 1 in 3 and it is with these children that Springboard For Children works. Jive Party is helping Springboard rasie funds via a special dance event.

Springboard for Children is getting funky with a fabulous Jive Night in the heart of South London to raise money for children who need our support in the local area.

Pick up some jive steps in a 45-minute class held by Ken Richman, co-promoter of Jive Party, then strut your stuff for the rest of the evening accompanied by King Groovy and the Horn Stars, a 17-piece swing band.

If dancing is not your fancy, come along to enjoy the music, people and fine wine provided by wine specialists Green & Blue, plus a special performance dance by Susie Flook, winner of the Viva Las Vegas Jive Competition!

Set in the stunning Holst Hall, a 3-minute jaunt from North Dulwich train station, this will be an evening to remember!

Dress code optional but think smart, retro or vintage! (Prize for best-dressed!)

Buy your tickets on-line,

For more info go here: http://springboard.brix.fatbeehive.com/events.php/7/springboard-jive

Posing backstage at The Rivoli!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… Oo-Bop-ShBam! are ABSOLUTELY STONKING!

OO-BOP-SH’BAM  is one of the most exciting and energetic RnB, Boogie, Jump Blues Bands in Europe. The band is unique in that they can play Jive, Blues, Rock and Roll and Jazz and have become Festival Favourites headlining at many of the top Jive, Blues, Rock and Roll and Jazz festivals in Europe.

The Musicians, all top professionals, have worked with Freddy Mercury / Joe Jackson / Allison Moyet / Hubert Sumlin / Eric Clapton / Robert Plant / Scotty Moore / Alvin Lee / Tony Bennet / Tom Jones and many more.

Jackson Sloan is the most energetic, and most charismatic Lead Vocalist around and he, Alan and John have influenced some of the best Jump Jive bands of the last 20 years or more with their Legendary band “Rent Party”

Following the normal format, our April Jive Party will feature a beginners’ jive class and DJs to kick off the evening, followed by two sets from the band. Tickets on sale now.

Look forward to a night of brilliant rockin’ and honkin’ rhythm and blues from Laura B and her superb septet, in the upbeat style of Ruth Brown, Big Maybelle and Lavern Baker.

Laura is backed by her all star band comprising of members of Ocean’s Seven, Juke Joint Jump, Sugar Ray’s Flying Fortress, The Big Six, Alabama Slammers, The Mike Sanchez Band and Jools Holland’s R’n'B Orchestra, to name but a few. Also featuring the exceptional Henri Herbert at the boogie-woogie 88, Lady Laura and the guys guarantee a big beat sound and performance to match many of the great R’n’B artistes of the fifties.

As usual we will start the evening with a jive dance class aimed at beginners.

The Jump Seven is (as you might guess) a dynamic seven-piece band recreating the sound of jump blues and swing – think Louis Jordan, Louis Prima, the clubs and bars of Harlem and the ballrooms of Las Vegas.

Pin-sharp and right on the money, the band lays down a beat ‘guaranteed to get ya whole body moving and shakin’ across the dance floor, with a good-time grin all over your face!

As usual February’s Jive Party will start with a jive dance class aimed at beginners, from about 8.30pm. The band’s first set will be around 9.30pm.

ONLINE TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT.

A few tickets will be available on the door, but we advise people travelling some distance they may prefer to book for Feb 11 instead to avoid potential disappointment.

To kick off 2012 in fine fashion we’re absolutely thrilled to welcome the amazing, incredible Si Cranstoun onto the Rivoli stage.

“A truly authentic voice that rivals some of the great soul singers of the 60’s”
Jamie Cullum

“I’ve been in this business long enough to know when an artist truly has it & Si Cranstoun has truly got the gift!”
Alexander O’Neal

Si’s vocals stand in good stead in comparison with legends Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke – just listen to Si on his explosive debut solo single ‘Dynamo’.

Si Cranstoun is much like the old bandleaders too, not only vocally but his passion for music also sees him write, produce and record all of his own tracks. As half of dynamic duo The Dualers (two UK Top 30 hits ‘Kiss On The Lips’, ‘Truly Madly Deeply’), Si studied songwriting with Grammy award-winning Graham Lyle (who penned hits for Michael Jackson, Tina Turner). Aside from his incendiary guitar and thunderous vocals on stage, Si prides himself on a high octane dance routine that crosses between Justin Timberlake and Gene Kelly.

Si’s band features some of London’s most revered musicians including Mike Watts on Drums (drummer for Grammy nominee James Hunter) and Stewart Pannaman on double Bass (bass player for American R&B legend Nappy Brown).

As usual January’s Jive Party will start with a jive dance class aimed at beginners, from about 8.30pm. The band’s first set will be around 9.30pm.

Back in May we described this band as ABSOLUTELY STONKING… and yes, they were. If you’ve not seen them yet well here’s a bit of background…. Oo-Bop-Sh’Bam take their influences from the big band combos of the 1940′s and 50′s – think gin-drenched parties, smokey dives and city nightclubs, where swinging and singing ruled the day. Pumping boogie-woogie maestro James Lunn on piano, Alan Savage laying down the big beat, Dave Lagando’s pulsating double bass, the ace horns of Lee Badau on tenor sax and Nick Lunt on baritone sax, it all adds up to one helluva good feelgood sound. All top performing guys, combining together musically to bring you an unbeatable night of backbone-slidin’ music that’ll make you want to dance your little cotton socks off. Following the normal format, our Christmas Jive Party will feature a beginners’ jive class and DJs to kick off the evening, followed by two sets from the band.

Posing backstage at The Rivoli!

PLEASE NOTE! November’s Jive Party was a sell-out and some people had quite a long wait on the door. They were only admitted when others left, and few people were in any hurry to go. As usual we will keep some tickets back to sell on the door but to be sure of entry we do advise booking in advance – it’s cheaper too!

ADVANCE TICKETS are sold out, however we will have over 200 tickets to sell on the door at £15. Doors open at 8pm. We recommend you don’t leave it too late to turn up. Last month we had to keep people waiting for others to leave.

Exciting big band swing sounds are back at the Rivoli courtesy of London’s grooviest 17-piece band!

As well as frequent appreances at Jive Party, the band has played gigs throughout London and the home counties – notably at the 100 Club’s popular Stompin’ night, famous jazz venue the Bull’s Head in Barnes and burlesque nightspot the Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club in the East End, as well as charity balls, weddings  and the Southbank Centre.

Remember, Jive Party is a place to practice your dancing – every evening starts with a jive dance class – and you’re encouraged to practice what you’ve learnt throughout the night – feel free to ask others to dance, even if you’re a beginner!

King Groovy and The Rivoli were made for each other. It will be a busy night, booking highly recommended.

ADVANCE TICKETS SOLD OUT! IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND AND DO NOT HAVE  A TICKET, ARRIVE IN GOOD TIME. REMAINING ‘ON THE DOOR’ TICKETS WILL BE SOLD FROM 8PM

The Slammers Maximum Jive Band will be cranking up the excitement this October with two sets of blistering swing, jive and blues.

… one of the finest jive outfits in decades. There just aren’t enough superlatives in the English language to properly describe the immense cool of this group and this disc. A simple “wow” is way too little. A simple “holy mother of pearl this band is so good it’s criminal” doesn’t even do the job.- Michael Macomber, Retro Music Review (U.S.)

“You only have to hear the first number to realise that you are in for a great, no fantastic, night of fast jumpin’ jive. At London’s Rivoli Ballroom and the 100 Club in Oxford Street, the joints are still jumpin’ from their performances. I can’t wait to see and hear them again.” (Independent Reader Review posted on “thisislondon.co.uk”.)

As usual the evening kicks off with a Jive lesson for beginners, then you can practice your dance skills on one of the best sprung maple dance floors in the country, while enjoying the Rivoli’s totally unique plush Grade-II listed interior.

As you might expect, Juke Joint Jump never fail to keep the joint jumping! The bands main influences are Big Joe Turner, Wynonie Harris, Louis Jordan, Roy Brown, Bullmoose Jackson and Amos Milburn but they also draw on a variety of musical styles to add plenty of variety to the show. There’s a touch of latin about some of the groups self penned songs, for instance. At Jive Party, tracks from their album are regular favourites, including the title track ‘Woman Stop Flappin’ Yer Gums’!Ian Gillon and the band are all seasoned perfomers in the genre and you’re guarantee and night of top quality, pumped-up, rootin’ tootin’ and hootin’ jive, swing and old-fashioned rhythm n blues. September is always a busy one at Jive Party, and with Juke Joint Jump on the bill, booking is recommended.Book now