Great Art Deco Ball 2020

Great Art Deco Ball 2020. Greg Poppleton’s and his 1920s-30s music has been playing the Great Art Deco Ball at Katoomba’s Carrington Hotel since 2012. It’s the highlight of the annual Blue Mountains 1920s Festival.

In that time, the Ball has grown in audience size so that the Grand Dining Room now is always full. Tickets sell out months in advance. That’s despite the fact that the only way to get a ticket is to be in the know and ring hotel reception.

The Grand Dining Room ready for the Great Art Deco Ball

The Ball has grown in large part because, as Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer, people who book tickets to enjoy a 1920s experience at the Ball get exactly that.

The Grand Dining Room doors of The Carrington Hotel. Photo by Suzanne.

In 2019, the Carrington decided to book another band. There were so many complaints we were called back. It’s very humbling to receive such strong support from Great Art Deco Ball fans. So in 2020 the dance floor was full most of the night, the band gave two encores, and many happy guests continued enjoying the atmosphere in the Grand Dining Room one hour after the show had concluded.

1920s-30s singer Greg Poppleton and a full dance floor

It’s a lesson that if you want a successful 1920s-30s themed event, you book a 1920s-30s band. Jazz bands, DJs, covers band that do a bit of ‘jazz dinner music and then rock music for dancing’ are not appropriate for a 1920s, 30s, Gatsby event.

Greg Poppleton from the dance floor. Geoff Power is playing sousaphone.

I’ve played large 1920s themed events where other jazz bands and big bands, rock bands and DJs have played in other sections of the party. Either guests ask ‘why are they here?’ or they simply get angry. We get re-booked.

Enquire about Greg Poppleton for your wedding, event and party

Greg Poppleton singing through a 1920s megaphone. Paul Baker is on banjo and Geoff Power’s trumpet can be seen.

Meet the band Greg put together for the 2020 Great Art Deco Ball…

Geoff Power in Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s Band playing sousaphone as well as trumpet.

 

Greg Poppleton with Richelle Booth on bass sax. She also played clarinet.

 

Paul Baker playing banjo in Greg Poppleton’s band at the 2020 Great Art Deco Ball

To enquire about having Greg Poppleton’s 1920s-30s experience at your party, wedding or event, contact Tony Jex via this  website’s booking page.

Exquisite Gin Mill Social Speakeasy Photos – 8 March 2019 Party

It’s as hot as one of Gatsby’s parties, it’s The Gin Mill Social! The fun never stops as live swing musicians play all night long and vaudeville performers pop up to entertain when you least expect it.

“A night of glamour, food, drinks and entertainment…. Don’t forget your dancing shoes.”
– Broadsheet

The first of those swing bands is singer Greg Poppleton’s real 1920s trio with Geoff Power on cornet doubling sousaphone and Paul Baker, banjo. Read, see, book the Band.

Photos: Alessio Bartoli Event Photography

Greg Poppleton waves from behind the vintage mic as a group of Gin Mill Socialites gather for a photo under Missy on the hoop.

 

Greg Poppleton sings through his 1920s megaphone to a happy couple

 

Dancing the Charleston to Greg Poppleton

 

Classy couple dancing to Greg Poppleton’s 1920s jazz.

 

Finhead juggles fires at Gin Mill Social

 

How Greg Poppleton’s 1920s Trio looks from the Gin Mill Social mezzanine.

 

The Greg Poppleton 1920s Trio joins in the fun with Gin Mill Social MC Lou P. Lou

 

Geoff Power cornet, the brass section of Greg Poppleton’s 1920s Trio.

 

Paul Baker banjo, the string section of the Greg Poppleton 1920s Trio

 

Greg Poppleton using his shoes as percussion on the piano as his 1920s Trio solos.

Book Greg Poppleton for your party, wedding and event.
Take Action

New Years Eve Party with Greg Poppleton and Sydney Fireworks

Great Gatsby New Years Eve Cocktail Party
12-MICRON
TOWER 1, LEVEL 2, 100 BARANGAROO AVENUE.
ENTER VIA SHIPWRIGHT WALK BARANGAROO NSW

MON, DEC 31, 2018 7:00 PM

Bring in the New Year 1920s style with drinking, dancing and live music on Sydney Harbour.

 

Greg Poppleton’s 1920s Quartet entertains 9 – 11pm

 

Guests will enjoy a 4 hour Great Gatsby themed beverage and canapé package with live music while you dance and indulge the night away with stunning views of the harbour. $190pp

 

Bookings essential.

 

TICKETS

 

Fireworks packages for Barangaroo Reserve to be made available to guests.

 

Menu by Justin Wise, former head chef at Melbourne’s famous Press Club.

Professional Alumni Event Sparks With 1920s Trio

The Greg Poppleton jazz deco 1920s trio were hired to entertain with real Great Gatsby music for a 1920s-themed professional gathering at Sydney’s Arthouse Hotel.

Authentic 1920s singer, world-toured guitar, banjo and sousaphone, excellent sound, and interesting people made this professional networking event spark.

“The band were fantastic. They reaĺly made the night a success.”
— Anne Lyell, The Chiropractic Alumni

As members of the profession networked, Greg Poppleton, authentic 1920s singer accompanied by Grahame Conlon banjo and guitar, and Cazzbo Johns sousaphone, played their authentic 1920s repertoire with entertaining style and at background level.

 

When guests wanted to dance, we happily obliged with The Charleston, a tango or a slow foxtrot.

Sound was supplied with the band by OzManagement.

Tony Jex, at OzManagement, is the band’s booker. When you book Greg Poppleton, Tony can also supply you, at your request, sound, lights and staging in a one-stop shop A/V deal.

It saves you time and money.

And it guarantees you perfect sound and ambience every time.

Have Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer Greg Poppleton and his band to Orchestra at your event.

We can add swing dancers, dance lessons, sound, lights and staging. Tell us your requirements in the message section of the contact page.

Book Greg Poppleton Now

Thank you Aron Downie from Macquarie University for the photos and for permission to use them.

Great Gatsby Bash

Well, Old Sport, on Sunday August 19 it was time to party like it was 1925…

It was Great Gatsby party time with Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer, Greg Poppleton, his Jazz Deco band, the All About Swing dancers and more.

In the Jazz Deco band were:
Greg Poppleton – authentic 1920s singer
Geoff Power – trumpet and sousaphone
Grahame Conlon – guitar and banjo
Adam Barnard – drums and washboard

Photo credit: Karen Bayliss

Held in an exclusive mansion, Beyond Cinema, hosted a screening party featuring Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film of the 1920s F Scott Fitzgerald novel, The Great Gatsby. Before arrival, all 800 attendees were assigned a character for the evening with a dress code to suit.

Aden and Carly-Anne from Beyond Cinema know how to throw a bash, with secret rooms and gardens to explore along with dancers, jazz and fireworks to get you into the Jazz Age action.

There was a selection of dining packages in different rooms of the mansion, with Greg Poppleton entertaining in Jay Gatsby’s own massive dining room. And there was four hours of unlimited booze and not a drunk in the joint.

In the grand banquet hall, Greg Poppleton sang three songs from his forthcoming album which will be on Bandcamp late in 2018. Greg began by racing through the crowd looking for his ‘Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue’.

Then came the blues plaintive, Sugar. Here’s Greg snapped singing Sugar to Lesley downloaded from her Facebook review of the night.

Shortly after this a clapping circle formed around Greg while he was Singing in the Bathtub, certainly not all alone.

Enquire about having Greg Poppleton at your place: Contact

Santo Grasso Jazz Photos

Last Sunday, I took my 1920s – 1930s Jazz Deco band to Sydney Rowing Club, overlooking the Parramatta River to play an afternoon of music, fun and dancing.

And there was lots of dancing and lots of fun. It’s an inspiration to play to dancers. It’s a joy to play to such a warm and appreciative audience.

MOVIE

At Sydney Rowers the gig before, in April, someone took this film of the Jazz Deco band and I, then through a third party, generously sent it on to me to share with you…

SANTO GRASSO JAZZ PHOTOS
What a wonderful surprise then, just before downbeat on the first set, to see my favourite photographer, Santo Grasso. He’d come along to take photos of the band.

Now he’s generously sharing them with us here.

Please check out Santo’s wonderfully evocative photos of Sydney on his instagram page. Start following him! https://www.instagram.com/explore__sydney/

Swing dancing to Greg Poppleton

 

Greg Poppleton – authentic 1920s – 1930s singer

 

Greg Poppleton and his Jazz Deco Band – Damon Poppleton alto sax – Grahame Conlon guitar and banjo – Thomas Wade double bass – Adam Barnard drums and washboard

 

Damon Poppleton alto sax

 

Grahame Conlon guitar doubling banjo

 

Thomas Wade double bass

 

Greg Poppleton singing through the red 1920s megaphone

 

Adam Barnard washboard and percussion

 

Dancing to the Greg Poppleton 1920s – 30s band at Sydney Rowers – a photo I took from behind the microphone

Where can you see us next?

Contact Greg Poppleton now for real 1920s – 30s fun at your occasion

Speakeasy House Party

The Greg Poppleton 1920s-1930s Trio played for a speakeasy themed house party. We went down so well we were handsomely tipped at the end by the generous host.

There was such an array of creative, talented, fun-loving people at the party who danced to Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s vocals with Grahame Conlon banjo and guitar and Geoff Power sousaphone and trumpet.

Dancing to Greg Poppleton’s 1920s – 1930s jazz at a house party

We set up in a corner of the lounge room, loading in and setting up very carefully so as not to knock anything in the house.

We used a small PA for the vocal mic and banjo. The guitar was played through a small amp. The trumpet and sousaphone did not need to be mic’d at all.

And I supplied intermission music including 1930 radio broadcasts by the Philco Orchestra and 1933 Cocoanut Grove broadcasts by the Phil Harris Orchestra.

Greg Poppleton, authentic jazz deco singer with trumpet

The overall effect was a balanced 1920s-30s sound that was not loud. Guests could talk easily where the band played. Some were even sitting on couches right next to me as I sang. That’s how the photo above was taken.

Dancing the Charleston to Greg Poppleton’s swing at a house party

And as always I sang personally to every guest who wanted to engage (which was everyone). No-one felt left out.

I had a bad case of (non-contagious) laryngitis, so my singing was sounding somewhere between Tom Waits and Rochester from the ‘Jack Benny Show’. I wish had recorded some of it. The show must go on!

A blur of action with Geoff Power sousaphone and Grahame Conlon banjo in the Greg Poppleton 1920s Trio

Some of the guests sang, too. ‘Dark Eyes’ and ‘Mission to Moscow’ were sung with much love by a duet of friends in Russian. An international opera tenor did a beautiful version of ‘Autumn Leaves’. And a former back-up singer for punk bands joined me on ‘Lili Marleen’.

Grahame Conlon with his jazz guitar playing the 1936 hit ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ in Greg Poppleton’s trio

Book the 1920s – 1930s trio for your house party through OzManagement- www.gregpoppletonmusic.com/contact

June Newsletter – Greg Poppleton

Heigh-ho!

As you know, June is traditionally the month to spoon beneath the moon as Greg Poppleton croons you your favourite 1920s-30s toons…

And I hope you’ll be able to spoon while I croon at one of these June events:

SATURDAY 9 JUNE
SUNDAY 10 JUNE
MONDAY 11 JUNE
Greg Poppleton at Transport Heritage Expo 2018
10AM – 2PM
Country Concourse, Central Station (Pitt St end)

Greg Poppleton and his Jazz Deco Quartet entertain with songs from the 1920s and 1930s on the Central Station Country Trains Concourse 9 – 11 June for the Sydney Central Station Transport Heritage Expo.

Music free. Dancers welcome. In fact, there will be a flash swing dance mob on Saturday! Buy tickets for steam and diesel heritage train rides.

The NSW Rail Museum will be operating steam train rides through the city from Central this June long weekend as part of the annual Transport Heritage Expo. This event is set to be a fantastic nostalgic long weekend event for families and transport enthusiasts alike!
https://www.nswrailmuseum.com.au/

SUNDAY 10 JUNE
Private Event
Greg Poppleton brings his 1920s – 1930s Sextet to an extraordinary private event. Greg plays for weddings, birthday parties, corporate events and all special occasions

THURSDAY 21 JUNE
Private Event
Greg Poppleton will entertain at a community centre event.

SUNDAY 24 JUNE
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party
Meantime, as an actor (not band related), I’ll be March Hare in The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Sydney Botanic Gardens, More Info and Tickets 

SATURDAY 30 JUNE
Penrith RSL
8 Tindale St, Penrith
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Greg Poppleton and his Jazz Deco Quartet entertain with songs from the 1920s and 1930s.

FREE

All Ages. Free car parking. Bar. Bistro. Dance Floor

EVERY TUESDAY
There’ are four live Phantom Dancer shows on 107.3 2SER radio for your listening pleasure this month. Every Tuesday, 12:04-2pm and any time online. Also heard every Sunday at 7pm on ArtSoundFM Canberra and on 23 radio stations across Australia. See the 5 June play list below. Listen to All Shows here

‘Tip Toe Through The Tulips’, Greg Poppleton Quartet.
Recorded live, 2017 Central Station Transport Heritage Expo by Cy Chan, a Chinese tourist.
If the video doesn’t work on your browser, you can see it here on YouTube

A NEW RECORDING OUT SOON
1920s – 30s Songs in English, German, Spanish and Italian
The band and I were in the studio yesterday recording a fresh set of 1920s – 30s songs. They’re songs we’re sure you’ll enjoy dancing and singing along to. I’ll keep you posted on the album release date which will be sometime this Spring.

You can find all Greg Poppleton albums and mixes at Bandcamp now selling in $A.

MAY PHOTOS

Photos above: ‘Wizards’ hosted in the Great Hall and McLauren Hall of Sydney University

BOOKINGS and ENQUIRIES
Contact Tony Jex at OzManagement: info@ozmanagement.com

PHANTOM DANCER RADIO SHOW and 5 JUNE PLAY LIST

Listen online now and any time at 2ser.com
Heard on 23 radio stations across Australia.

Play List – The Phantom Dancer 107.3 2SER-FM Sydney, Live Stream, Digital Radio Community Radio Network Show CRN #321
107.3 2SER Tuesday 5 June 2018 After the 2SER 12 noon news, 12:04 – 2:00pm (+10 hours GMT) National Program: ArtSoundFM Canberra Sunday 7 – 8pm and early morning on 23 other stations.
Set 1	Prehistoric Stan Kenton from 1941 Radio
Artistry in Rhythm	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Radio Transcription C. P. MacGregor Studios Los Angeles Nov 1941
A Setting In Motion	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Radio Transcription C. P. MacGregor Studios Los Angeles 20 Sep 1941
Blues in F Minor	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Radio Transcription C. P. MacGregor Studios Los Angeles 6 Jan 1942
El Choclo	Stan Kenton Orchestra	Radio Transcription C. P. MacGregor Studios Los Angeles Oct 1941
Set 2	Swing Band Leaders Speak on the Radio
Sunrise Serenade	Glenn Miller Orchestra	Glen Island Casino New Rochelle NY WEAF NBC Red NY 15 Nov 1938
When I Get It + Blue Lou + Close	Harry James Orchestra lead by Tommy Dorsey	Casino Gardens Ocean Park KECA ABC LA 12 Aug 1944
Hallelujah	Benny Goodman Quartet	‘For The Record’ WEAF NBC NY 1944
Set 3	Lounge Music on 1920s – 1950s Radio
Sugarloaf Mambo	Bernard ‘Whitey’ Berquist’ and the Chicago NBC Symphony Orchestra	‘Monitor’ WRCA NBC NY 19 Jun 1956
On The Wood Pile	Harry Bruer (xylophone) with the Colonial Club Orchestra	‘Brunswick Brevities’ WABC CBS NY 1929
White Sails + Time On My Hands	Johnny Saab (organ)	‘Musical Interlude’ WJSV CBS Washington DC 21 Sep 1939
Set 4	From Birdland over WNBC in 1952
Stuffy	Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge Orchestra	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 1952
Stardust + Lady Be Good	Kai Winding Group	‘Stars in Jazz’ Birdland WNBC NBC NY 2 Sep 1952
Set 5	The 1950s Dixie Revival on Radio
Chicago	Jimmy Dorsey ‘Dorseyland Band’	‘Marine Corp Show’ Radio Transcription Los Angeles 1950
Squeeze Me	Muggsy Spanier and his Dixieland All-Stars	‘Club Hangover’ KCBS San Francisco 11 Apr 1953
St James Infirmary	Kid Ory’s Creole Jazz Band	‘Club Hangover’ KCBS San Francisco 10 Oct 1954
Memphis Blues + Bay City (close)	Turk Murphy’s San Francisco Jazz Band	‘Easy Street’ KCBS San Francisco 9 Dec 1958
Set 6	Early Radio Appearances By Famous Singers
Shine	The Hoboken Four (Frank Sinatra’s first radio appearance)	‘Major Bowes’ Original Amateur Hour’ WABC CBS NY 1935
From The Bottom Of My Heart	Frank Sinatra (voc) Harry James Orchestra	‘America Dances’ Famous Door WABC CBS NY / BBC London Jul 1938
I’m Happy About The Whole Thing	Doris Day (voc) Barney Rapp and his New Englanders	Sign of the Drum Cincinnati Ohio NBC 17 Jun 1939
I Cried For You	Bing Crosby	WABC CBS NY 7 Nov 1931
Set 7	Harmony Singers on 1930s – 1940s Radio
When My Dreamboat Goes Home	The King Sisters with Frank DeVol	‘Radio Transcription’ Los Angeles 1949
Chi Baba, Chi Baba	Lionel Hampton Orchestra (voc) Herman McCoy and the Hamp-Tones	Casa Manana Culver City Ca KFI NBC LA 20 Jul 1947
That Sly Ol’ Gentleman	Benny Goodman Orchestra (voc) Martha Tilton and the Quintones	‘Camel Caravan’ WABC CBS NY 4 Apr 1939
Tiger Rag	The Inkspots	WFIL NBC Red Philadelphia 12 Jul 1939
Set 8	Swinging on 1940s Radio
Open + Tea For Two	Bob Strong Orchestra	Glen Island Casino New Rochelle NY WOR Mutual NY 5 Aug 1944
Theme + Quiet Riot	Buddy Rich Orchestra	‘Spotlight Bands’ Quonset Naval Air Station Rhode Island Blue Network 25 Jan 1946
The Elks’ Parade	Bobby Sherwood Orchestra	Terrace Room New Jersey WCBS CBS NY 17 Feb 1945
Cottontail	Duke Ellington Orchestra	‘A Date With The Duke’ Evansville Indiana ABC 16 Jun 1945

 

Beautiful Seacliff Wedding in Gerringong

Greg Poppleton and his jazz deco 1920s-30s quartet had the great honour of being part of Marguerite and Andrew’s beautiful wedding reception at Seacliff in Gerringong.

It was especially touching to sing their especially meaningful requested song,  ‘At Last’, as they made their entrance into the reception to family and friends.

Marguerite and Andrew chose the Greg Poppleton jazz deco quartet to play for their 1920s styled reception. And as the photographer said to me, “live music, well played, really lifts the vibe at a wedding. You can feel it.”

Greg Poppleton jazz deco 1920s-1930s quartet

The Greg Poppleton band played 1920s instrumentals until dinner. Then Greg Poppleton, Australia’s only authentic 1920s – 1930s singer serenaded the party with songs from the Jazz Age.

Marguerite and Andrew asked Greg to sing, ‘At Last’, for when they entered the reception to huge whistles and applause.

“At last, my love has come along.
My lonely days are over, and life is like a song…”

‘At Last’ was introduced by the Glenn Miller Orchestra in the 1941 movie, Sun Valley Serenade.  Etta James later recorded the most famous version. Beyonce has also sung it in an Etta James tribute.

In Greg Poppleton’s jazz deco quartet were:
– Greg Poppleton, Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer
– Geoff Power, trumpet and sousaphone
– Dr Mark Pinner, clarinet, alto sax and baritone sax
– Grahame Conlon, guitar and banjo

The reception was held in the romantic Seacliff barn, overlooking Weeri Lagoon. Looking at Werri brought back happy memories for me of walking there from Kiama during a recent holiday with my family.

Werri Lagoon at dusk from Seacliff barn

For those of you familiar with the NSW Southcoast, Seacliff is the stunning white farmhouse just at the Princes Highway turnoff into Gerringong.

Seacliff farmhouse. Gerringong NSW

Greg Poppleton booking enquiries:
Email: tony@ozmanagement.com   |   0407 941 263
Web: gregpoppletonmusic.com

 

1920s Soiree

The client is holding a series of parties celebrating the music most associated with the ten decades of the 20th Century.

Who to book for their 1920s soiree to ensure it’s a success?

The band they chose to entertain and represent that roaring decade was Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer, Greg Poppleton, because…

Greg Poppleton Makes Jazz Deco Pop!

Greg Poppleton 1920s microphone at 1920s soiree

IMPRESSED

Greg Poppleton brought along his quartet of world-toured jazz musicians. Their authentic, swinging style certainly impressed – and won over a lot of people who had never heard 1920s jazz before.

The smiles, the spontaneous  little dances here and there, all those who stopped to intently listen, and the nice people who came up to compliment the band after each set, told me that the band was fulfilling its brief.

Greg Poppleton, Australia’s only authentic 1920s-30s singer

THE BRIEF

To provide atmosphere as friends and colleagues met in the courtyard to socialise, network and do business.

SOUND

So the music was low, yet energetic. People could talk easily and come and go as they please. The owner of the bar and restaurant next to the courtyard thanking us as both he and we packed up said it all.

The band was largely acoustic with two 100W speakers for the vocals and banjo, mixed wirelessly via ipad. Guitar and double bass used a small amp each and the clarinet and alto sax did not need to be mic’d at all to be heard clearly.

BOOKINGS

Enquire about having Greg Poppleton for your event and celebration.

Greg Poppleton jazz deco band. Grahame Conlon guitar and banjo / Greg Poppleton 1920s-30s singer / Dave Clayton double bass obscured / Paul Furniss clarinet and alto sax.