Greg Poppleton is Australia’s only authentic 1920s-1930s singer. The Bakelite Broadcasters are all red hot, world-touring, vintage jazz specialists. We’ll be at the Gin Mill Social, Rocks Village Bizarre, Friday 21 Nov and 28 Nov 6:30-9:45pm. Free.
The second week of Village Bizarre saw crowds mesmerised by the riveting tales of Full Fathom Five and live entertainment at Love TV, cracking up from Peter Baecker’s kooky dance moves, delighted by Match Box Projects at The Rocks Pop-Up, and gravitating towards Gin Mill Social for cold brews and live music and dance. Expect the unexpected when you join us at The Rocks Village Bizarre, every Friday Night until 19 Dec.
Find out more at http://www.therocks.com
Did you make it to opening night? The Gin Mill Social was buzzing, Love TV had us in stitches and the Intrude Rabbit lit up an unexpected laneway. Performance artists like Peter Baecker brought shopfronts to life, while K-Pop dancers got us grooving, and Parlour Bizarre was the place to be for a quick shave or cool selfie. Expect the unexpected when you join us at The Rocks Village Bizarre Friday Nights, 7 Nov – 19 Dec
The Rocks Village Bizarre
Every Friday, 6.30pm – 10pm
7 Nov – 19 Dec http://www.therocks.com
Enquire now for Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters at your wedding, event and party.
Did you miss this exciting free show? There’s still some time…
The audience at the Gin Mill Social at The Rocks Village Bizarre. Greg Poppleton introducing the Bakelite Broadcasters at the microphone as the 1920s quartet launches into the second set of Frantica Antica on a beautiful Spring evening in The Rocks Square.
Greg Poppleton is Australia’s only authentic 1920s singer. Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters are the Kings of Frantica Antica with a hot and energetic show (we also play soft and background). In this photo I’m hitting the final note of the 1920s classic ‘Love Me Or Leave Me’. But don’t be alarmed. I’m not shouting. It’s all tuneful mischievous fun. My favourite singers are Gigli, Bocelli and Bjoerling. In the background are two of the 1920s Bakelite Broadcasters, Geoff Power on sousaphone and Paul Baker on banjo. Laurie Bennett, out of shot, plays a small drum kit.
Every month, Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters open The Gin Mill Social, Slide Cabaret, 41 Oxford St, Surry Hills. It’s the 1920s in there! An exquisite art deco room with 1920s cuisine and gin in tea cups, juggling, tap dancing, aerials, music, fan dancing, a police raid and more! Next Gin Mill Social at Slide is Thursday 18 December. Find out more.
What is The Rocks Village Bizarre?
Geoff Power is an ARIA nominee and doubles sousaphone and trumpet with Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcaster. Here he’s delivering a hot solo on the Roaring ’20s classic, ‘At Sundown’.
Every Friday night from 7 November to 19 December, The Rocks is transformed into a world of mystery, magic, music and markets. Catch a glimpse of a colossal white rabbit peeping over rooftops. Encounter captivating characters around every corner. Gaze through a world Behind the Windows. Satisfy your foodie side. Gravitate towards The Gin Mill Social, groove to the hotcha Kings of Frantica Antica, Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters, graze on mouth-watering morsels at open-air food stalls or snag a cosy corner seat. Meander through the Village Bizarre Night Markets, and explore a unique curation of Etsy stalls each Friday. Adopt an alter ego for the evening with a daring and dazzling makeover at the Parlour Bizarre.
Can Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters play at your party, wedding and corporate function, too? Yes, no party is too big or small. Australia’s only authentic 1920s singer and band play for background and for dancing. And we always play at a volume where your guests can talk easily with eachother. We can be a Trio and everything in between to Sydney’s only hot 1920s Dance Orchestra. Ask us here.
Greg Poppleton (1920s vocals) Geoff Power (sousaphone and trumpet) Paul Baker (banjo) Laurie Bennett (drums out of shot) – Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters at The Rocks Village Bizarre, Gin Mill Social, Friday 7 Nov 2014 and every Friday in November.
See you Friday at The Gin Mill Social, Rocks Village Bizarre. Spread the word. Tweet, FB, instagram, tell your friends.
I’ve put a map for you at the end of this blog so you can find us easily. Just a short walk from Circular Quay train station, the ferry wharves and Circular Quay bus terminal. See you this Friday, Greg.
There’s a set of the great woman jazz singers, Bille, Sarah and Ella. A set of piano and orchestra, George Shearing, Frankie Carle and Eddie Heywood, sets of hot swing, a set of early radio dance bands and so much more
Your Phantom Dancer Video of the Week is program 13 in the series ‘Demonstrations in Physics’ with Professor Julius Sumner Miller and made at ABC TV in Sydney in 1969. The series was telecast in Australia as ‘Why Is It So?’ This week, the Professor demonstrates Archimedes’ Principle.
Play List – The Phantom Dancer
107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio
Community Radio Network Show CRN#134
What an exciting night it was Friday 14 November as The Kings of Frantica Antica 1920s hotcha, Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters, swung out at the 1920s Gin Mill Social for The Rocks Village Bizarre.
A selfie. Greg Poppleton, Australia’s only authentic 1920s singer with trombonist, Greg Chilcott, in Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters.
Next Friday 21 and Friday 28 November, 6:30 – 9:45pm
Where?….
The audience at the Gin Mill Social enjoying the music, having a craft beer, a wine, and having a dance to Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters, the Kings of Frantica Antica 1920s hotcha.
The Rocks Village Bizarre, The Rocks Square, Playfair St, The Rocks. Playfair St is off Argyle St which is off George St. I’ve put up a helpful map for you at the end of this blog…
Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters at the Gin Mill Social, The Rocks Village Bizarre. (L-r) Greg Chilcott (sousaphone and trombone) Greg Poppleton (1920s singer and megaphone) Laurie Bennett (drums) Paul Baker (banjo).
Greg Poppleton is Australia’s only authentic 1920s singer. With an amazing 3 octave range, a style that’s genuine and true-to-the-era, Greg has a winning stage presence backed by 25 years of extensive stage experience.
You may have also seen Greg in feature films opposite 3 Academy Award winners and 2 Golden Globe winners. You may have also seen him on TV shows, in 55 TV commercials, and heard him on radio for the ABC and BBC, community Radio 2SER, and on over 30 stations of the Community Radio Network across Australia every week.
Thor, swirling fire, at The 1920s Gin Mill Social
In the short band intermissions, the Gin Mill Social crowd at The Rocks Village Bizarre were amazed and entertained by the fantabulous exotic fan dancing Penny and the fire dancer virtuoso, Thor.
Penny, the crowd-stopping fan dancer!
Braden, the spontaneous 4 year old finger dancer captured the crowd’s hearts with a blur of rhythmic digit manipulation….
Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters 1920s singer and trio will be at the Gin Mill Social, Rocks Village Bizarre, The Rocks Square next Friday 21 November, 6:30 – 9:45pm. See location below…
Saturday 15 November,Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters played 1920s and 1930s swing for jazz fans and dancers in the Castle Bar, Penrith RSL. We’ll be back, 2pm, Saturday 28 February 2015. FREE!
My name in lights!!! A beacon of hope to the weary traveller at night, no doubt.
InGreg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters at Penrith RSL, Greg Poppleton – authentic 1920s – 1930s singer Grahame Conlon – guitarist for Ricky May and many others Darcy Wright – double bassist for Tony Bennett in Australia, and more Bob Gillespie – drummer for Maynard Ferguson’s English Orchestra, Lovelace Watkins, the Glenn Miller and Les Brown Orchestras in Australia and many more.
A blur of action. A selfie while singing ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ with Darcy Wright on double bass. I also took selfies with Grahame Conlon on guitar and Bob Gillespie on double bass but they were far too blurry for human consumption.
Spring Into Jazz 2014. Authentic, Sydney-based, 1920s Dance Orchestra, The Lounge Bar Lotharios, entertained an enthusiastic audience of picnickers and dancers with a 3 hour concert of energetic 1920s hotcha from the historic Art Deco Music Shell in St Leonards Park, North Sydney.
Some of the Art Deco detailing on the Music Shell, St Leonards Park, North Sydney, where 1920s Orchestra, The Lounge Bar Lotharios, entertained with a 3 hour show at the 2014 Spring Into Jazz festival.
Playing Roaring ’20s classics like Shanghai Shuffle, Let’s Do The Breakaway and If I Had A Talking Picture Of You, all from original 1920s vintage scores, The Lounge Bar Lotharios, kept the crowd happy and singing along on a warm November afternoon, despite the blustery winds.
Here are photos of the concert for you PLUS a glowing review of The Lounge Bar Lotharios performance…
The Lounge Bar Lotharios in the Music Shell during sound check. The perfect sound was by Tony Jex, OzManagement audio visual 02 9567 7171
“Congratulations to Greg Poppleton, Geoff Power and the whole Lounge Bar Lotharios 1920s Orchestra! You presented what is a rare thing nowadays: 11 well-trained musicians, from young to “well traveled” playing a specific style of jazz with passion and expertise. The group sounded cohesive and perfectly balanced. I loved the tone of the sousaphone as well as the authentic sounding drum kit which was manned by a very young drummer, for the genre, and who had obviously does his homework on 1920/30s music.
It was just a pleasure to work with all of you and great to share in the excellent atmosphere you created for all those who attended. Good to see so many smiling faces in the crowd!
Regards
Tony Jex OzManagement Audio Visual Services 02 9567 7171″
The Lounge Bar Lotharios are absolutely authentic as a 1920s Dance Orchestra. The orchestra has played at the Canberra Centenary Gala and Great Art Deco Ball. Some of the 11-piece 1920s orchestra you can see in this photo are (l-r) Alex Inman-Hislop (drums) Paul Furniss (soprano sax, alto sax and clarinet) Ron Nairn (alto sax and clarinet) Greg Poppleton (1920s singer (in blue)) James Power (trumpet) and next to him is Ben Gurton’s trombone, just at edge of frame.
In The Lounge Bar Lotharios:
Authentic 1920s singer – Greg Poppleton
1st trumpet and music director – Geoff Power
2nd trumpet – Jamie Power
Trombone – Ben Gurton
1st Alto Sax, Soprano Sax and Clarinet – Paul Furniss
2nd Alto Sax and Clarinet – Ron Nairn
Tenor Sax and Clarinet – Jim Elliott
Piano – Bradley Newman
Banjo – Michael Brady
Sousaphone – Greg Chilcott
Drums – Alex Inman-Hislop
Two of Australia’s greatest and world-renowned jazz musicians with a rising star on banjo. On trumpet is The Lounge Bar Lotharios’ musical director and co-leader, ARIA nominee and festival headliner, Geoff Power. Playing clarinet in this picture, he is also first alto sax and the soprano sax player in The Lounge Bar Lotharios, is Paul Furniss. Paul is named in Wiki as one of the greatest jazz musicians Australia has ever produced. Michael Brady plays the banjo.Greg Poppleton is Australia’s only authentic 1920s singer and is the singer and co-leader of The Lounge Bar Lotharios. He has a 3 octave lyric baritone range. He studied under maestro Steve Ostrow, who himself studied under the 20th century operatic greats, Melchior and Schipa.The rest of The Lounge Bar Lotharios 1920s rhythm section (you’ve already met Michael Brady on banjo). Bradley Newman (piano) Greg Chilcott (sousaphone) Alex Inman-Hislop (drums).This photo of The Lounge Bar Lotharios includes Jim Elliott (tenor sax and clarinet) just behind 1920s singer, Greg Poppleton, in the blue, double-breasted Royale.A Kookaburra on a Hills Fig tree near the stage. Even birds enjoy the tunefulness of The Lounge Bar Lotharios because we are kind to sensitive ears. Indeed, Kookaburras have good ears but they tend to hear things differently to us. Kookaburras recognise and remember something akin to absolute pitch whereas humans perceive sounds via relative pitch. Very few humans can hear and remember absolute pitch. Relative pitch however allows us to hear a tune in one octave and still recognise the tune in a different octave. While Kookaburras can’t do this, they can recognise ‘timbre’ (a fundamental note combined with harmonies). Recognising timbre and harmonic variations gives Kookaburras great versatility in the sounds that they can respond to, and in some cases reproduce. They also hear shorter notes than we can. Humans process sounds in bytes about 1/20 of a second long whereas Kookaburras discriminate up to 1/200 of a second. This means where we hear one sound only, a Kooka may hear as many as ten separate notes. Kookaburras can be music buffs and can distinguish between human composers such as Bach and Stravinsky. Seems this Kooka didn’t mind The Lounge Bar Lotharios Bach and bytes at all!
Enquire now. You, too, can have The Lounge Bar Lotharios bring real, red hot, 1920s Great Gatsby Art Deco Cotton Club Speakeasy magic to your festival, club, event, wedding, corporate function and party.
UPDATE (Sun 10am) The rain has stopped. No puddles. There’ll be chairs and umbrellas.
UPDATE (Sun 9:30am) Despite rain this morning, it will be a dry, sunny afternoon. THE SHOW IS STILL ON!
When? Sunday 16 November. Time? 2 – 5pm What? Sydney’s 1920s Orchestra, The Lounge Bar Lotharios Where? ‘Spring Into Jazz’, St Leonards Park, Miller St, North Sydney.
(See Map below) FREE
Bring your family, bring a picnic, bring your friends for the annual North Sydney ‘Spring Into Jazz’ and enjoy an afternoon of fun, rhythmic, toe-tapping hotcha by Sydney’s only authentic 1920s Orchestra, The Lounge Bar Lotharios.
The Lounge Bar Lotharios features 1920s singer, Greg Poppleton, under the musical direction of ARIA nominee, Geoff Power.
This rollicking 1920s Orchestra play the songs that made the Roaring 20s roar! Songs like The Mooche, Me and Jane in a Plane, Washing Dishes With My Sweetie and lots more in 3 hours of hotcha razz-ma-tazz fun.
The Lounge Bar Lotharios is Sydney’s only authentic 1920s Dance Orchestra. Greg Poppleton 1920s singer, Geoff Power musical director and 1st trumpet, James Power 2nd trumpet, Ben Gurton trombone, Paul Furniss clarinet, soprano and alto saxes, Ron Nairn clarinet and alto sax, Jim Elliott clarinet and tenor sax, Bradley Newman piano, Michael Brady banjo, Greg Chilcott sousaphone, Alex Inman-Hislop drums
For three years now, some of the big names in Australian Jazz have played at the magical Jazz Sunday Lunches at the Riverbend, held once every two months (12-3pm) at this cosy, friendly getaway by the majestic Hawkesbury River. They include Janet Seidel, Bob Barnard, Sandie White and many others. In fact, check the Riverbend website because the Janet Seidel Trio will be at the Riverbend next.
Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters snapped by a happy Riverbend diner. (L-r) Geoff Power (trumpet and the big silver sousaphone) Grahame Conlon (tenor banjo) Greg Poppleton (1920s vocals and megaphone) Jim Elliott ( clarinet, alto sax and the massive golden bass saxophone)
Everyone at the Riverbend had a great time, enjoying the 1920s vocals and jazz and the great food and atmosphere. The relaxing country atmosphere at Wisemans can’t help but lift the shoulders and bring a smile to your face. The bustle of city life seems so far away even though the Sydney CBD is only just over an hours drive from this beautiful headland on the Hawkesbury surrounded by two National Parks.
October and November are when the wild flowers are at their best in Sydney. The Riverbend and Australis Resort are surrounded by two national parks and front the northern-most tip of the Hawkesbury River.
When you arrive, you are served a delicious antipasto plate as your first course. You then sit back and enjoy the music and the friendly staff take your orders for your main course which is served during the music break.
I had Pan Fried Salmon with asparagus, pak choy & mango salsa verde for lunch on Sunday. It was superb!The desert I had was Coconut Rum Pannacotta with pineapple & lime salsa. Yum!
Just an hour from Sydney, on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, the Riverbend Restaurant is part of Australis Retreat, where you can stay to enjoy the music, the town, golf, the river, the bush and the restaurant. The river and hills offer some of the most beautiful scenery in New South Wales.
The Riverbend Restaurant address is 5564 Old Northern Road, Wisemans Ferry, New South Wales, Australia
Bookings: (02) 4560 0500. The Riverbend and Australis Retreat are also wedding reception and conference function specialists.
The Riverbend surrounded by lush greenery and plenty of parking.
Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters at the Gin Mill Social, Rocks Village Bizarre, Friday 7 November 2014. (L-r) Geoff Power (trumpet and sousaphone) Greg Poppleton (1920s singer and megaphone) Laurie Bennett (drums) Paul Baker (banjo)
Here’s some happy snaps I took of the first show last night on my tiny, not so flash, pocket camera.
I hope to add some official photos for you soon, taken on a much, much better camera, that will really bring out the fun and excitement of the evening.
Penny the fan dancer, brought the Gin Mill Social to The Rocks Village Bizarre with exciting choreography and breath-taking costuming (including a spectacular lit-up plastic butterfly gown) between 1920s band sets.
Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters, Australia’s only 1920s singer and band, The Kings of Frantica Antica, had the crowd royally entertained with Roaring ’20s hotcha, wallop and wowie a’plenty. The young woman leaping out of the audience to dance a joyously spontaneous Charleston in front of the band was an absolute highlight.
Between sets, Tom’s amazing tap dancing and Penny’s spectacular fan dancing brought roars of approval from the large, friendly and enthusiastic audience.
This photo does not do justice to the incredible tap-dancing virtuosity of Gin Mill Social tapper, Tom. He had the crowd on their feet!
See you at the next 1920s Gin Mill Social at The Rocks Village Bizarre (no cover charge) next Friday, 14 December, from 6:30pm.
The view on the way home. A quick snap I took from Circular Quay railway station using my tiny pocket camera as I waited five minutes for my train to arrive. The Sydney Harbour Bridge is on the left, The Sydney Opera House is on the right. In the middle is Sydney Cove and a ferry taking on passengers for Cremorne and Mosman. Oh, and that bright, blurry white spot on the upper right is the Moon.The Rocks Village Bizarre – The Insatiable Bon Vivant
The Weather Bureau predicts a very pleasant 24C in Sydney this Sunday, 9 November.
That’s the day Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters will be entertaining for Sunday Lunch at the beautiful Riverbend Restaurant, 5564 Old Northern Road, Wisemans Ferry. Are you coming? To book call (02) 4566 4422. Check the map at the bottom of this post to find your way there…
Here’s what’s happening…
The beautiful Riverbend Restaurant, Wisemans Ferry. When you arrive, you are served a delicious antipasto plate as your first course. You then sit back and enjoy the music and we take your orders for your main course which is served during the music break.
Come for Sunday lunch and enjoy great jazz by some of Australia’s best jazz musicians – just $20 for lunch and $49pp for 3 hours of jazz and lunch from 12 to 3pm! (Note: because of the bridge-to-bridge race, the Wisemans Ferry punt will be closed.)
Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters headlined the Dubbo Jazz Festival 2014. Now the same line-up will serenade you will classic 1920s hotcha for Sunday Lunch. Greg Poppleton is Australia’s only authentic 1920s singer. Geoff Power plays sousaphone and trumpet. Grahame Conlon will be on the banjo. Jim Elliott is the triple treat on clarinet, alto sax and the big bass saxophone!
For 3 years, the Riverbend has been bringing you some of the greats of Australian jazz.
Each session is from 12 till 3pm. Guests enjoy a 2 course lunch specially prepared by the Riverbend’s renowned chefs. This format, with the quality of artists appearing, is proving to be very popular – so early booking is highly advisable.
When you arrive, you are served a delicious antipasto plate as your first course. You then sit back and enjoy the music and we take your orders for your main course which is served during the music break.
We look forward to seeing you at the Riverbend this Sunday, 9 Nov for a most delightful Sunday Jazz Lunch. To book call (02) 4566 4422. Check the map to find your way there…
The tranquil Hawkesbury River wends it’s way past the Riverbend Restaurant, home of Sunday Lunchtime Jazz
Greg Poppleton and the Bakelite Broadcasters is the 1920s jazz 1930s swing band for your wedding, corporate event and party. Check out the official website to find out more, www.bakelitejazz.com
Actor - Singer - Voiceover 