These last few years of living in a down economy haven’t been fun for a majority of Americans, and perhaps that’s where the Recessionals derive their name. But don’t let the name fool you…this is a fun band for fun times. Check out a video of one of their songs here:

The Recessionals are the latest band from Brooklyn to grace our stage. A high energy trad jazz outfit that will get you up and dancing all night long. We’re very excited they could make the trek up to Boston to play for us.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Want to learn Lindy Hop?

Maybe you’ve wanted to go further than our Friday night introductory lesson, but don’t have time to commit to a weekly class?  This is your chance! Our next weekend “crash course” workshop for 3 hours on Sunday April 22nd, 12:30pm-3:30pm Come learn from experienced teachers who are also social dancers in the Lindy Hop scene.

We will cover six count basic (East Coast Swing), basic eight count (Lindy Hop), and Charleston Basic. Moves include swing out, Lindy circle, swing out from closed, and side by side Charleston. At the end of this class, you will be able to attend a social dance and dance to music.

Instructors Seth & Jasmine have been teaching at Boot Camp on a semi-regular basis.   Seth Burgess has been teaching Lindy Hop in Boston and lighting up the BSC dance floor with his gold sneakers and razzamatazz for years!  (He’s also really funny.)

12:30 – 3:30 PM
$25 advanced on-line registration, $30 at the door (register here.)

Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland St
Charlestown, MA 02129

Some of you may taken our Boot Camp over the last several months have asked us, “When is Swing Boot Camp 2?”   Well, this is your chance to get some more razzamatazz from Shawn (Potter) & Sachiko.  In a nod to Hot Shots Part Deux, we’ve got Swing Boot Camp Part Deux…yes, you too can be a hot shot on the dance floor…Saturday April 21st, 12:30pm-3:30pm.

We will review the Lindy Hop basics, go more in depth and give you some other turn variations, delve more into the “connection”, Texas Tommy and Charleston.  And as always, Shawn & Sachiko will bring their boundless enthusiasm, super revved up energy to class.  Class size is limited to around 24 so that the instructors can give each student one-on-one attention.

Instructors Shawn & Sachiko are founders and senior instructors at iSwingTokyo. Shawn was very instrumental in helping build up swing dancing in Tokyo.  He has since moved back home to Massachusetts and has been teaching quite regularly for Boston Swing Central. He brings a unique, fun and fresh perspective to the Lindy Hop. Everyone that takes his classes leaves with a smile on their face. Sachiko has also recently relocated from Japan and we’re lucky to have her teaching with Shawn as they are a great team!

12:30 – 3:30 PM
$25 advanced on-line registration, $30 at the door (register here.)

Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland St
Charlestown, MA 02129

Spring is in the air, baseball season is underway and we’re happy to welcome Shawn Hershey back to the Whistle Stop stage.  Of course, Shawn is here every week, teaching for New School Swing…but tonight, he gets to play his trumpet. And he’s bringing some fellow dancer/musicians…

Jan Marie a vocalist extraordinaire who is sure to dazzle and mesmerize. And Mike Valdez, crackerjack piano player who helped us find our 1901 Steinway piano.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Swing Legacy, a six piece little big band has been a fixture of the Boston swing scene since 1991, playing with the style and informed of the great big bands from the swing era. Their repertoire concentrates on classic big band swing music including many Duke Ellington and Count Basie numbers ideal for Lindy Hop and swing dancing. Much of their great catalog of songs showcases their phenomenal singer, Debby Larkin. It promises to be a night full of exciting original arrangements that will keep you dancing all night long!

Here’s a short story as told to us by their larger-than-life saxophone player, Ted Casher

(on right) Ted Casher

“I was gigging with Bo Winiker Orchestra at the Faneuil Hall Rotunda for a Wellesley College 10-year class reunion. Bo said that we could play anything we wanted, only as soft as possible! We were playing bebop tunes, the ladies were reuniting, when I noticed a tall, good-looking man listening intently, standing up against the wall. At the end of the set, he came up to me and asked, “Is that the new Dukoff mouthpiece? I’ve heard about it. Sounds good!”

We talked on—he was knowledgeable about reeds and mouthpieces, and I asked “Are you playing now? He answered, “Not much these days. I’m the Governor of Arkansas, and I don’t have time to practice.”

I then asked, “Wanna play?” He said, “Sure!”, and so I grabbed Bo and said “I’ve got a tenor player who wants to sit in—he’s the Governor of Arkansas.” Bo said “Sure”, and so I gave William Jefferson Clinton a spare strap and my tenor sax. I grabbed my alto, and we all played.

We played some blues, followed by “Perdido”, then “Take the A-Train.” You could tell that Bill had spent time with the instrument — he knew such minutae as the out-choruses to “Perdido” and “A-Train”. He also soloed well — didn’t make any blatant errors!

The alumnae were beginning to come up to the bandstand to watch him play, and after the set was over, a lady with brown wavy hair and big hexagonal glasses came up and said to him “You sounded great, Dear!” It was Hillary Rodham Clinton!

The next time I saw Bill Clinton, I was playing a fundraiser for him at the Parker House. And the next time, I was in DC with the Winiker Orchestra, playing lead alto at his Inauguration!”

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston Swing Central is happy to share our 4th Anniversary with everyone. It’s hard to believe that only 4 years ago, we were launching this amazing journey at St Mary Orthodox Church in Central Square, Cambridge. Several venues and years later, hundreds of dances, dozens of bands, thousands of dancers and a piano later and here we are! Swinging on top of the world every Friday night at the Crosby Whistle Stop.

Well, since Beantown Swing Orchestra helped us launch our very first dance, we thought we’d invite them back to help us recapture that feeling we had 4 years ago. We’re also making this a Vintage Dress Up night, so break out those awesome threads and let’s party like it’s 2008! Or more like 1949!

Here are their American Idols’ Jen Hirsch and John Stevens starring in a cute video for the song (it also stars the Green line)…

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129