1920s Speakeasy Jazz Trio, Django Bar 23 May 2013

Here are some pics of Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters (trio) playing in the Django Bar of the Camelot Lounge.

While it was a cold, stormy night outside, inside the atmosphere was warm and cosy.

Geoff Power is the trumpet and sousaphone player and Grahame Conlon plays banjo in the 1920s Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters 1920s Speakeasy Trio.

Greg Poppleton, as in the band name, is Sydney’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer. Together, Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters are a trio – sextet of world-touring vintage musicians specialising in the swing and jazz of the 1920s and 1930s. We play for clubs, bars, weddings, corporate events and all kinds of celebrations.

Check out the Broadcasters’ official website: www.bakelitejazz.com

Django Bar 1920s Jazz by Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters

Greg Poppleton 1920s singer with Grahame Conlon banjo and Geoff Power sousaphone, trumpet – specialise in jazz and swing from the 1920s – 1930s for all occasions, festivals and venues

Geoff Power Jazz Trumpet solo with greg Poppleton and the bakelite Broadcasters in the Django Bar of the Camelot Lounge

Win The Latest Bakelite Broadcasters CD ‘Doin The Charleston’!!!

Spread The Word And Win The Latest Bakelite Broadcasters CD ‘Doin The Charleston’!!!

(Hear it in on Bandcamp)

To go into the draw:

1. Add the flyer below for the 23 May Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters Django Bar show onto your Facebook page
2. Invite your friends to come along
3. Put your name on the 23 May Django Bar events page
4. Be at the Greg Poppleton show for the draw in the Django Bar of the Camelot Lounge, 23 May at 10pm to WIN!!!

Put this flyer onto your Facebook page and be at the 23 May Django Bar show to win the new CD by Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters

Good Luck! And see you at the Django Bar for Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters 1920s Speakeasy Trio

Django Bar in the Camelot Lounge | 8pm Thursday 23 May | cnr Marrickville Rd and Railway Pde Marrickville | Opp. Sydenham Train Station | $10 door sales only

1920s Gala Fundraiser Makes $42 000

Last Saturday, Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters, played their authentic Roaring 20s speakeasy jazz for the 1920s Ozwac Gala Ball, raising money for this venerable charity.

What is Ozwac? Ozwac, the Australian Women and Children’s Research Foundation, is a charity that raises and grants money for research in western Sydney. It works within the University of Sydney Clinical School at Nepean. The research is essential to improve clinical care for mothers and babies. In general, such research is poorly funded in Australia.

In Greg Poppleton and the Broadcasters for the 1920s gala where Greg Poppleton 1920s singer, Geoff Power trumpet and sousaphone, Chuck Morgan banjo and ukeleles, and Adam Barnard drums. Film and TV personalities Roy Billing and Tara Dennis were also at the Ball, sharing their tremendous talents for the cause.

$42 000 was raised.

One of the organisers of the successful 1920s themed Fundraising Ball (which was held in the Evans Theatre of Penrith Panthers) took some happy snaps of Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters on stage for you. We hope you enjoy them. (Thank you, Kane)

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters at the Ozwac 1920s Gala Ball, Penrith Panthers

Now, if you’re looking for a real 1920s trio to sextet or even orchestra for your event, lead by Sydney’s only authentic 1920s singer (classically trained) and filled with world-touring vintage jazz and swing specialists, check out the band’s official website and get in touch via the contact page

Sydney’s 1920s Speakeasy Jazz Band in 1929 Essex Roadster

Here are some pictures taken by the Tony Atkinson, President, Hudson-AMC Car Club of Aust., of Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters gathered about the club’s beautifully restored 1929 Essex Roadster

The Hudson-AMC Car Club of Australia is dedicated to the preservation of cars built by the Hudson, Nash and American Motors Corporation.

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters are Sydney’s 1920s Speakeasy and 1930s Swing Trio – Sextet. We feature Sydney’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer, Greg Poppleton, and world-touring vintage swing jazz musicians.

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters are in demand for weddings, corporate functions, parties and historical occasions

The Hudson-AMC Car Club and Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters were at the annual Fairfield Museum Fair. Thank you, Tony, for the pictures…

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters around the 1929 Essex Roadster. In the Bakelite Broadcasters, singer Greg Poppleton seated with megaphone, Geoff Power big silver sousaphone and trumpet, Paul Baker banjo, Adam Barnard drums and washboard

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters – Sydney’s 1920s Speakeasy Trio – Sextet

The 1929 Essex Roadster belonging to the Hudson-AMC Club of Australia

Greg Poppleton, 1920s Crooner, with 10 Year Old Drummer in the Victoria Room

Hello Bakeliters,

Here are a couple of pictures of a special Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters line-up put together for last night’s Sunday Carnival in the Victoria Room, Darlinghurst.

Greg Poppleton, 1920s-30s singer with The Bakelite Broadcasters for Sunday carnival in the Victoria Room, Darlinghurst

On piano was Monique Lysiak from the Siren’s Big Band. On the drums, Damon Poppleton, who is now ten. And that’s me, Greg Poppleton, singing in my fancy new duds and spurning the use of the microphone. (I’ve a big voice, anyway.) Photos are by Jimmy Vargas and, since I didn’t ask whether he wanted his name in this blog, the photo with Damon was kindly snapped by a long-time Phantom Dancer listener.

Damon Poppleton, drums, Monique Lysiak, piano, Greg Poppleton, vocals on St Louis Blues

And look, you can see in a sign on top of the piano in the background. I says, ‘CDs $20′. That’s how much the latest Greg Poppleton and his Bakelite Broadcasters CD is on Bandcamp ($10 digital download, $1 a track), with Paul Furniss, Geoff Power, Al Davey, Grahame Conlon, Rod Herbert and Lawrie Thompson. Aren’t I cheeky?

It’s amazing the people you meet in the Victoria Room, including an early rock-n-roller (and his wonderful partner) who had drummed for Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Annette Funicello amongst others and is now part of the jazz scene in Sydney.

We hope to be back in the Victoria Room in the Spring.

Some good news today is that the 1920s Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters (Trio), with Geoff Power on sousaphone and trumpet, is booked into the new Django Bar in the Camelot Lounge on Thursday evening, 23rd May.

More details closer to the date.

Abby Dobson from Baby et Lulu will be singing in the Camelot Lounge that night.

Camelot Lounge, 19 Marrickville Rd Marrickville

We hope to see you in the Django Bar, opposite Sydenham Station, on Thursday 23 May!

Django Bar in the Camelot Lounge, Marrickville Rd & Railway St opposite Sydenham Station

1920s Hot Jazz Quartet At The Fairfield Museum Fair

Here are some happy snaps for you of Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters at the 2013 Fairfield Museum fair, celebrating 30 years of the Fairfield Museum, Horsley Drive, Smithfield, with songs from the 1920s and 1930s

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters at the Faifield Museum Open Day singing the songs of the 1920s

 

Greg Poppleton, singer in blue, with Geoff Power, sousaphone, and Paul Baker, banjo (Adam Barnard, drums, out of shot)

There’s also some pics of the band posing in a restored 1929 Essex 6 taken by the Hudson Car Club. I’ll post them as soon as I get them emailed to me

Swing dancers on the day at Fairfield: SwingKatz. Also on stage was a Spanish choir and Uruguayan drummers

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters are a trio to sextet with Sydney’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer specialising in swing and jazz from the 1920s and 1930s. Please visit the band website: www.bakelitejazz.com. We play for all occasions

Doin’ The Charleston Album

The latest independent release by Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters is pure 1920s in flavour and available on Bandcamp

With the same maverick spirit that produced ‘The Phantom Dancer’ (the sold-out first CD and the award-winning, national community radio show), ‘Doin’ The Charleston’, is the long-awaited second album from Greg Poppleton & The Bakelite Broadcasters

Recorded live-in-studio in just 5 hours, ‘Doin’ The Charleston’, is the first document of Greg Poppleton & The Bakelite Broadcasters as a purely Roaring 20s Speakeasy 5-piece. There are more layers, more stylistic tangents than before, with a DNA recovered from the very bones of smoking, catchy, 1920s speakeasy pop. At the forefront is the undeniably authentic and unique Roaring 20s vocal style of Greg Poppleton

A pre-release spin of ‘Doin The Charleston’ at the 2012 Sydney Fringe Festival had swing dancers crowding the dance floor

Greg Poppleton is very proud of the results, “For me, ‘Doin’ The Charleston’, is all about the songs, how they line up, intertwine, switch partners and promenade home”

Greg has expanded his 3.5 octave sonic palette with a long list of influences to forge his own sound. Heir to a tradition of finely-crafted, dramatic, confessional music that explores the ups and downs of life and love with a keenly-observed honesty that touches all who hear, Greg Poppleton is backed by what really is an all-star speakeasy band of world-touring jazz musicians…

Paul Furniss weaves shimmering, infectious, toe-tapping anthems using soprano, alto, tenor saxophones and clarinet. Al Davey wails, growls and caresses on trumpet and trombone. He brings together the brightest elements and darkest undertones in a unique blend of unshackled two-beat. Grahame Conlon’s banjo demands attention weaving audacious fat chords around the pulsing, minimalist sousaphone loops of Rod Herbert and ARIA nominee Geoff Power and the chemically infused drum beats and bootleg hooch washboard laid down by Bell band legend, Lawrie Thompson

The quintet makes lullabies, lush dreamy vintage pop, and the powerful, bone-rattling immediacy of hot, danceable jazz. Vocal hooks are inescapable, lush productions uncannily authentic to the Roaring 20s, as sophisticated and pristine as anything on a 78 disc. ‘Doin’ The Charleston’s’ 14 tracks (including a bonus alternate take on the soaring St James Infirmary) trace a unique aesthetic universe that is fully-crafted and fully-realised, deftly walking the lines between joyous exhilaration and otherworldly rapture, pleasure-centre pop and total self-possession

It has been described as the Temperance Seven meets’ Don Byron’s Bug Music

Greg Poppleton & The Bakelite Broadcasters’ is a universe that invites exploration and demands revisiting. ‘Doin’ The Charleston’ is a journey from darkness to light, from anger to love, from chaos to order. Buy at Bandcamp, CD Baby and bakelitejazz.com

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters Trio for a 30th Birthday at the ArtHouse

‘Doin’ The Charleston’ has been featured by Bob Rogers in a one hour special on the album over 2CH and the Macquarie Network, Sydney. It has also been CD of the Week on ArtSoundFM Canberra and Jazz Album of the Week on 5MBS Adelaide

Former jazz critic for The Australian newspaper, Kevin Jones, wrote about ‘Doin The Charleston’…

“Even in the 21st century, the music of the so-called jazz age (the Roaring Twenties) still holds a fascination for many, judging by the number of bands which play this style of music world-wide. The Bakelite Broadcasters, led by vocalist Greg Poppleton, keeps the 1920s’ flag flying in Sydney as this enjoyable disc, the second by the group, shows.

They are mostly pre-Swing Era songs written before Benny Goodman launched jazz’s most popular years at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles on August 21, 1935 ranging from Paul Dresser’s My Gal Sal (1907) to Fats Wallers’ I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Lettter (1935) and include The Charleston (1923) and Sweet Lorraine and Button Up Your Overcoat (both written in 1928)
Listening to the 1929 recording by the Mound City Blue Blowers of I Ain’t Got Nobody and My Gal Sal shows the Broadcasters have captured the basic sound. Not surprising when you consider the group includes musicians of the calibre of Paul Furniss (reeds) Al Davey (trumpet and trombone) and Lawrie Thompson (drums and washboard) who show how well they have mastered the style. Grahame Conlon (tenor banjo) makes a mockery of those many banjo jokes with his rollicking solo on The Road To Gundagai. As for the leader, some may find his voice a little affected at times but he has captured that decade’s vocal style to perfection especially on Falling in Love Again sung in both English and German. As enjoyable as they are to listen to The Bakelite Broadcasters must be even better live.”

Enjoy!

Greg Poppleton Bakelite Broadcasters Trio At 30th Birthday

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters (1920s Trio) played for a “Farewelling the 20s” 30th Birthday at The ArtHouse, Sydney

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters Trio for a 30th Birthday at the ArtHouse

“Thank you so much for playing last night. So many people told me how fantastic the band was, and I loved it.”

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters are available for your 20s – 30s theme birthday, too! And wedding. And corporate event. Visit the band website

Canberra Centenary 1920s Dance

100 years ago, those in the know, and those who could, descended upon the Molonglo plains in the newly formed Australian Capital Territory, to name the place Canberra – the Australian national capital

And as part of the celebrations, The Lounge Bar Lotharios, Sydney’s authentic 1920s Dance Orchestra, were invited to play at Canberra’s Albert Hall for the Roaring 20s Ball

Canberra 100 Festival Creative Director, Robyn Archer, launched the Ball. Please enjoy the happy snaps I took on the night…

Dancing into the early morning at the Albert Hall to the 1920s Dance Orchestra, the Lounge Bar Lotharios

The Lounge Bar Lotharios reed section. Paul Furniss, Ron Nairn, Alan Solomon. The music was so hot was had to take our coats off

Albert Hall Front Entrance

Albert Hall, south facing windows

A Conga Line

The brass section of The Lounge Bar Lotharios, Al Davey, Geoff Power (musical director) Ben Gurton

Looking down on the dance floor before the Roaring 20s Ball from the balcony

The Lounge Bar Lotharios sousaphone player, Rod Herbert

The dance begins. Looking at the Roaring 20s Ball from the stage of the Albert Hall

Do visit The Lounge Bar Lotharios’ website, with gig guide, at www.sydney1920sjazzorchestra.com.au

1920s Speakeasy Jazz At Square Waffle Friday 15 March (Tomorrow!!)

Hi-ho Bakeliters,

A quick reminder for you, Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters 1920s Speakeasy Band will be playing at the Square Waffle tomorrow, Friday 15 March, 7 – 10pm

The Square Waffle is a large, cosily lit restaurant with great food, dance floor and live music 5 days a week!

See Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters this Friday…
Greg Poppleton – 1920s vocals
Geoff Power – trumpet and sousaphone
Grahame Conlon – banjo
Laurie Bennett – drums

Address: 183 Airds Road
Leumeah NSW 2560
Tel: (02) 4627 5100
Email: squarewaffle@hotmail.com

Here’s a picture of the band with Rod Herbert on souspahone and Lawrie Thompson on drums from our previous visit to the Sqaure Waffle on the HOTTEST DAY IN SYDNEY ON RECORD. It was 46C outside

Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters will be at Square Waffle, Friday 15 March

See you tomorrow at the Square Waffle!

And we’d like to play at your place. Band booking enquiries at www.bakelitejazz.com