We’ll be making our DCLX debut this year, performing at Glen Echo Park’s Spanish Ballroom for the Saturday late night (i.e. the wee hours of Sunday morning) from 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m., following the main Saturday dance with the Jonathan Stout Orchestra. I know it’s late, but the dancing will be amazing all weekend, with 9 bands performing throughout the weekend – join us in DC the weekend of April 205-28, 2019!
We are back at Glen Echo’s Spanish Ballroom on January 26, 2018 for a DCLX’tra swing dance – come swing out with us at this beautiful historic Art Deco ballroom! There will be at beginner Balboa lesson from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and we play three swinging sets, from 9:00 p.m. to midnight.
Consider this a warm-up for our return to DC in April to perform at DCLX proper!
Fresh off Camp Hollywood, we’re ready for a couple of live shows on our home turf! Catch us on these two dates:
UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 12 AND 15 ARE CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE FLORENCE, CARY’S PARK AFTER DARK SHOW IS RESCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 3
October 3, 2018 (rescheduled from the cancelled September 12, 2018) at The Town of Cary’s Park After Dark, Cary, NC – our first performance for the Town of Cary, we’ll send out the summer outdoor concert season in style. We’ll be performing a free concert at Cary’s Downtown Park from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., bring a picnic dinner or pick up food from one of the local vendors at the event. For more information about food, parking, and weather updates, visit https://www.townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/events/special-events/park-after-dark.
September 15, 2018 at Triangle Swing Dance Society dance, Carrboro, NC – always happy to be playing on for dancers on the best dance floor in the Triangle, at the Carrboro Century Center. Free beginner swing dance lesson at 7:00 p.m., we play from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. For more information, visit the TSDS website at www.triangleswingdance.org.
One of the signature tracks from our first album Durham on Saturday Night is the song One Girl and Two Boys, a classic tune performed originally by NC native Kay Kyser’s orchestra in the 1944 film Swing Fever. We love songs that tell a story, and so do dancers – it’s fun to see how people will put their own spin on this tale of a love triangle, so here are a few interpretations through dance choreography using MJJB’s recording of this song:
One of our favorite chorus girl troupes, New York City’s The Bathtub Ginnys:
A “Dance Wars Spectacular” with dancers Lisa Pearson, Dave Saylors, and Craig Johnston in the signature roles:
And, finally, the winner of the 2013 Jazz Dance Film Fest (and unofficially our first music video), spearheaded by and starring Seattle dancer Jennifer Lee:
May kicks off the season for outdoor concert series and we’ll be joining the ranks of bands braving the elements to bring you tunes in (hopefully) sunny and pleasant weather! On May 16, 2018 we return to Booth Amphitheater’s Hob Nob Jazz Series for a performance on the back deck from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – admission is $5 (free for kids 12 and under) and you can either bring a picnic or buy wine and refreshments at the amphitheater. There’s always plenty of room at the amphitheater, both on the deck and in the grass, and the deck is good for dancing!
On May 20, 2018, we’ll be performing as part of the Got to be NC Festival at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds – find us on the stage outside of Dorton Arena playing two sets from 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Best of all, admission to the festival is free!
Our recording of “Darktown Strutter’s Ball” is featured in this video with Balboa dancers Andreas Olsson and Olga Marina, taken with a “flying camera” – the visual effect is stunning and whimsical, given the great talent of videographer Carsten Kramer and the dancers. The video was taken at the Werkstätten Hellerau in Dresden, Germany when the dancers were in town for the Balboa Dayz event. Enjoy!
We are honored to be asked by Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation to be a part of the Bearden Music Series again this year, after having a fantastic turnout at last year’s outdoor concert. We’ll be performing a free concert on July 9, 2016 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Bearden Park, a lovely outdoor space admidst the tall buildings of uptown Charlotte.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket and some summer eats (or pick up dinner from one of the food trucks) and relax under the sunset and stars during the concert, or take advantage of the dance floor and a free swing dance lesson by Gottaswing Charlotte on the first band break.
Bearden Park
300 S. Church St.
Charlotte, NC
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Admission is FREE.
See you soon, Charlotte!
The Mint Julep Quintet is excited to be a part of the Durham Art Guild’s Swing Into Spring on April 1, 2016, an event that highlights the visual arts community in Durham and is the first in a series of spring season arts events! Here’s more information from the Facebook invite:
“Join the Durham Art Guild and our partners, Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, Durham Arts Council, Art of Cool, Moogfest and American Dance Festival, as we kick-off and celebrate a full and exciting spring season of the arts in Durham.
In addition to highlighting the coming season of events, Swing into Spring attendees will dance to the swinging sounds of Mint Julep Jazz Quintet and enjoy food and beverages from local restaurants and breweries. Don’t miss this celebration and a chance to take home exclusive experiences and artwork created by local artists!
Come show your support for Durham’s continuously blooming and vibrant arts scene. Dress up in your favorite floral prints, most colorful clothes, or whatever gets you ready to Swing into Spring!
$50 VIP Early Access:
We are pulling out all the stops for our VIPs. Just $50 gets you an exclusive invite to our pre-party from 6:30-7:30pm featuring a live auction of amazing experiences. This ticket includes two complimentary drinks and light hors d’oeuvres. You will also have the opportunity to “Buy it NOW” in the silent auction before the full celebration kicks off at 7:30pm.
There are a limited number of VIP tickets so don’t wait!
$25 Let’s Celebrate:
Starting at 7:30pm, celebrate the arts in Durham with live swing music and swing dancing. Don’t worry, we will have instructors on hand for a quick lesson if you need a refresher. Your ticket also includes one free drink in case you need a little liquid courage before getting out on the dance floor. Bid on art created by local artists in our silent auction as well as many other great items donated by some of your favorite area hot spots.”
The whole event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. For more information and to get tickets, visit the event ticket website. We hope to see you there!
We are delighted that international swing dance instructor and author of the Swungover blog Bobby White, along with the fantastic Annabel Quisao, decided to use the title track from Battle Axe in their video on floorcraft, a very important topic for dancers of all skill levels on a crowded dance floor. Check it out!
On June 7, 2014 the City of Raleigh Museum is featuring the Mint Julep Jazz Band at an event honoring Raleigh’s World War II veterans, with the launch of an exhibit called “Our War: Voices of Raleigh’s World War 2 Veterans” and and a 1940’s themed fundraiser event. The event, which coincides with the 70th Anniversary of D-Day on June 6, will highlight the new exhibit and feature swing dancing, European and Pacific theater-themed food and drinks, live and silent auctions, and costumed cigarette girls. Time Warp 2014 tickets are $60 for museum members and $70 for non-members (which include a museum membership — a $35 value).
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Location: City of Raleigh Museum, 220 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC
Tickets: To purchase tickets, visit the event’s Eventbrite page
Our vocalist, Laura Windley, will be wearing the uniform of World War II Army Nurse Corps First Lieutenant Martha Way, who served in the 97th Evacuation Hospital Unit with her husband, Dr. John Way. First Lieutenant Way’s unit landed in Normandy, France just 11 days after D-Day and joined the field hospital there to provide care to wounded soldiers. Her unit then went on to sites in Belgium and Germany, directly supporting First US Army troops fighting in the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge) and was one of the first units to assist the survivors of the Nazi concentration camps. The 97th Evacuation Hospital Unit served thousands of wounded soldiers and displaced persons until the unit was inactivated on November 23, 1945. Martha Way returned to Beaufort, North Carolina with her husband following the war. Laura is friends with the Way family and thanks to the family for allowing her to wear Martha Way’s uniform on this special occasion.
Mint Julep Jazz Band 