2012 VE Day GI Dance With Greg Poppleton’s Bakelite Broadcasters Trio

Last Friday night, 4 May, the Greg Poppleton Bakelite Broadcasters Trio played for dancers at Elizabeth Bay House for the exclusive 2012 VE Day GI Dance. What a fantastic evening. It celebrated the GI Dances held across Sydney in grand houses like Elizabeth Bay House during the Second World War

Greg Poppleton’s Bakelite Broadcasters Trio at te 2012 VE Day GI Dance

Over a hundred guests filled the historic mansion dressed in 1940s style, many in authentic 1940s uniforms. They danced to Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters playing A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, White Cliffs Of Dover, I’ve Heard That Song Before and many other pop songs of the early 1940s. And at the end of the night, the band lead the guests in singing We’ll Meet Again, Vera Lynn’s post-WWII hit Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart, then guests calling for an encore spontaneously sang out two choruses of Bless Them All as a gloriously emotional end to the dancing!

Guests dressed in 1940s style dancing the Greg Poppleton’s Bakelite Broadcasters

Guests were also treated at the dance to period 1940s cuisine, swing dance classes, 1940s makeovers, live drawing classes, the very funny ’1940s paperboy’ MC with prizes for the best-dressed as the evening concluded – and what a difficult contest that was to judge. All guests were gloriously dressed in vintage style with many in authentic clothes and uniforms from the era, as you can see in the photos

The pictures of the band you see were taken by the GI Dance’s official photographer, Pedro de Almeida

Greg Poppleton & his Bakelite Broadcasters are Sydney’s leading 1920s – 1930s style duo to 6-piece band, featuring Sydney’s only authentic 1920s – 30s singer. We also now offer events our new 1920s Dance Orchestra, The Lounge Bar Lotharios. Enquire about the Bakelites and the Lotharios for your wedding, corporate event of party via the contact page of www.bakelitejazz.com

Greg Poppleton’s Bakelite Broadcasters, Dancers And Festive VE Day Bunting

The Broadcasters Played 1940s Pop Songs That Had Everyone Dancing

Guests Sang Along With The Band On The Last Two Songs

Greg Poppleton’s Bakelite Broadcasters Trio Are Three Musicians Who Filled The Dance Floor

St Louis Blues – Greg Poppleton Bakelite Jazz

Happy New Year, Bakeliters!

Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz had a great time playing 1920s – 1930s Hot Jazz and Swing for you in 2011. Thank you for enjoying our music live and on the YouTube clips you’ll find posted throughout this blog. In fact, just for you, there’s a New Year’s present of music we hope you’ll click on and enjoy a few pars down…

In 2011, the band played at such historic 1920s – 1930s occasions as the First Sydney Artists’ Ball and opening night of Art & About at the Art Gallery of NSW, connected with the ‘Mad Square’ exhibition of German Expressionist Art. We supported Mary Schneider in a big concert at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre and spent Melbourne Cup Day by the Harbour in the beautifully art deco Manly Pavilion

Great Gatsby theme parties became vogue in 2011 and will grow in popularity in 2012. Needless, to say, as Sydney’s only authentic 1920s singer, why would you book any other band than Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz for your Great Gatsby party? Sydney’s only 1920s and 1930s singer with duo to sextet of world-touring musicians played some big ones in 2011, here’s a clip from the biggest

In 2012, the full band including Paul Furniss on saxes and clarinet and Al Davey on trumpet and trombone have been invited to perform at the Glen Street Theatre on 20 March as part of Glen Street’s ‘Music in The Glen’ series. We play the VE Day Ball at Elizabeth Bay House on 4 May. As well, you’re booking Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz for your weddings and Great Gatsby theme corporate and private events. We thank you

And throughout 2011 and 2012 we’ll continue to be regulars at Penrith RSL. We’re tipped to be back this April. Keep an eye on the band’s News Page. And check out this clip from our last show there on 17 Dec 2011…

During the show above, drummer Bob Gillespie told me that these Bakelite Jazz YouTube clips posted throughout this blog brought him a ‘blast from the past’ ‘out of the blue’ ‘from the other side of the world’

Bob was the drummer in Maynard Ferguson’s English Band. And the bass player from that band rang Bob after 40 years, tipped off by the bass player’s son who saw Bob playing in Bakelite Jazz on YouTube. How’s that!

1920s Party – Carrington Hotel, Katoomba

Greg Poppleton, Sydney’s only authentic 1920s and 1930s hot jazz and swing singer, with a 3.5 octave vocal range, recently sang at a 1920s party held in the Carrington Hotel, Katoomba, with his 1920s & 1930s band, Bakelite Jazz

Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz play for weddings, corporate events, clubs and parties. Here’s a clip taken with a teeny-weeny camera of Greg & Bakelite Jazz singing Makin’ Whoopee for charlestoning dancers…

We pride ourselves on posting fly-on-the -wall, pocket camera films of the band playing live so you know exactly how Greg Poppleton & Bakelite Jazz will look and sound when you book the band for your occasion or for when you come to see us

In fact, we’ll be performing next at the Art Gallery of NSW for Art & About 2011, Friday 23 September, 7 – 7:30pm with lots of burlesque and other acts

The Carrington Hotel is a magnificent 1880s Hotel in the heart of Katoomba and the Blue Mountains, with Ballroom, Grand Dining Room, Cocktail Lounge and the Billiards Room, in which we played, with it’s art noveau stained glass windows, lounges and a 100 year old billiards table. Here are some pictures snapped by a party-goer towards the end of the night…

Greg Poppleton sings at 1920s Party, Carrington Hotel, Katoomba

Greg Poppleton singing in front of the 1927 vintage drums played by Joel Davis with Ray Alldridge, piano and Darcy Wright, double bass

Do visit the band’s official website: Bakelite Jazz to see more pictures and videos from other 1920s and 1930s theme parties and events. We look forward to playing for you at your wedding, corporate function, party or at a public event!