Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters recently played in the perfect venue for our 1920s & 30s Hot Jazz & Swing – the Ballroom of the Carrington Hotel, Katoomba
We were playing for Caitlin & Stirling’s wedding – who had the most beautiful, warm reception in this classic Victorian hotel. Even the weather conspired to be mountains perfect, with an unusually thick fog for mid-Spring adding to the romance
As a band, we have always played at wonderful weddings, and here are some photos to prove it, taken by Janine Kaye, and passed onto me with Caitlin and Stirling’s generous permission
You can click on all the photos below to enlarge them…
Caitlin & Stirling chose the 5-piece version of Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters
This band features Sydney’s only authentic 1920s & 1930s-style swing singer, trumpet, piano, double bass and drums
Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters can be hired as a vocal-instrumental duo to a 6-piece band from the band’s official website
The band draws on Sydney’s finest and most experienced swing and jazz musicians, all of whom have performed around the world
As the singer, I’m the only band member who has not toured the world, though my image has been worldwide on radio, TV and films including Moulin Rouge and Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader
For Stirling and Caitlin’s wedding, the Bakelite Dance Band trumpeter was Bob Barnard
Bob Barnard is one of the most highly regarded jazz musicians ever to come from Australia. Barnard grew up in a musical family in Melbourne and started on cornet with a local brass band when he was twelve. His first professional job was with his mother’s band at fourteen. Introduced to jazz by his father, Bob was a founding member of brother Len’s South City Stompers in 1948. He moved to Sydney permanently in June 1962, as a member of the Graeme Bell All Stars, and remained with them until mid-1967. Bob formed his own jazz band in 1974, touring throughout Australia, Asia, Europe, and the US. The band held long residencies at some of Sydney’s popular hotels. Bob is a regularly featured guest at festivals and concerts in the US, Britain, and Europe, and has recorded with top American, European and English jazzmen
On piano with the Bakelite Broadcasters is Peter Locke
Peter Locke started playing piano at 10 in his hometown of Port Macquarie and turned professional at 21. He is self-taught and is Sydney’s most in-demand classic Swing & Jazz pianist. Peter also plays in the band led by internationally renowned Australian trumpeter Bob Barnard (who also plays trumpet in Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters). Peter has toured the US twice, playing at the Bix Beidebecke Jazz Festival in Davenport Iowa and in many mid-west towns as well as Chicago and San Francisco
Dieter Vogt played double bass with Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters at Stirling & Caitlin’s wedding
Dieter Vogt has played double bass all over the world. Dieter was born in Basel, Switzerland, and began his musical career at the age of 12 playing the trumpet. At 17 he took up the double bass and played with the Oscar Klein Quartet. (Oscar Klein played with Lionel Hampton & Joe Zawinul.) He migrated to Sydney and became a foundation member of the Daly-Wilson Big Band. Dieter went to the USA, playing for a year with the Allan Pennay Trio. On his return he joined Winnifred Attwell for eight months touring Australia. Dieter toured China and South East Asia with the Nolan-Buddle Quartet. He also toured with Ricky May and Georgie Fame, and again toured Australia with British jazz stars, Humphrey Lyttleton and Alex Welsh in their Salute to Satchmo. Dieter toured with Graeme Bell’s All-Stars around Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Germany, China, Hong Kong, the Phillipines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Japan
And finally, on drums at the Carrington was Laurie Bennett
Laurie Bennett comes from a musical Sydney family. He has played in the bands of Don Burrows, Johnny Nicol and Judy Bailey to name a few. He was a long time member of Geoff Harvey’s TCN Channel 9 Midday Show Band. Laurie has played on many tours throughout Asia, New Zealand, Great BritainEurope and has performed throughout Australia. He has backed many international Jazz artists such as Richie Cole, The Toshiko Akyoshi Orchestra, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Buddy Tate, Eddie ‘Lockjaw Davis, Joe Newman and has played for many local and international cabaret performers including Buddy Greco, Harry Secombe and Liza Minnelli
So that’s the star-studded biography of the musicians in Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters who played at Stirling & Caitlin’s wedding. And now, here’s a Janine Kaye photo of the stars of the evening, Stirling & Caitlin:
And we’d love to play for your reception. We even have a small acoustic band with Greg singing through his red 1929 megaphone that’s popular at garden ceremonies. To find out more including how to book the band, visit the official website of Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters: www.bakelitejazz.com
Thank you for reading. And we hope you enjoyed the photos by Janine Kaye
Actor - Singer - Voiceover 
Excellent, such a shame you chaps are so far away, Edna & I would love to dance to your tip top tunes.