When we were invited to go to the Swingaroo Vintage Dancehall to see what they had to offer. Curiosity got the better of us and so we decided to pop down there for the very next event, which happened to be Friday 25 September 2015. You can image our surprise when we learned that this is a long established club which has existed in Preston since 2010.
AdvertisementOn arrival at Ashlar House, or the Masonic Hall as most people know it, we were both made very welcome by Nix and Adele Swingaroo, the two organisers of the event. The ethos of the main dancehall was that of a scene from something of the late 1930’s, with people of all ages already dancing the Lindy Hop to some rather lively swing jazz music. One other very noticeable visual delight was that many of the members were dressed in the attire that one would have expected in that era, creating a fabulous feel of what you would expect from a dancehall from those times.
The friendliness of the people there was amazing and if you fancied a dance you would not be short of a partner. Even if you are not a dancer but would love to give it a go, there will always be someone willing to help you make a start and if you would prefer to only observe and take in the fancy footwork of the dancers then that’s fine also; you never feel pressurised into stepping onto the dance floor.
A fully licensed bar, serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks plus hot beverages, is available throughout the evening and even a selection of fabulous, free cupcakes to delight those with a sweet tooth.
During the evening’s entertainment there is always a live act, which can be a solo singer with a backing band or maybe a several piece dance band, playing the music genre of the era for listening entertainment and even a few numbers to dance to. All in all, there is something for everyone who loves the swing jazz sound and enjoys ‘cutting a rug’ on the dance floor.
You can view a short video below to see a typical Swingaroo Vintage Dancehall event.
If you want to give the Swingaroo Vintage Dancehall a try, they hold event evenings on every last Friday of every month at their usual venue, Ashlar House, Saul Street, Preston. PR1 2 QU 7.30pm until Midnight. The next Swingaroo event is on Friday 30 October 2015 with dance band, Boogie Bill and the Billionaires.
You can find further information on the Swingaroo Vintage Dancehall website or thier Facebook page.
Have you every been to Swingaroo or would you care to give it a go? Let us know in the comments below.