The Swing Shift Shuffle is a radio program of swing, big band, jazz, boogie woogie and other popular music from the 1930's and 40's that airs every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. (US Central Time) on WEVL 89.9 FM in Memphis, Tennessee, with a live webcast at wevl.org. In addition to the radio show, this blog is dedicated to all aspects of the Swing Era, including art, automobiles, cartoons, comics, history, movies, music, news, science, technology, and anything else that happened during that time. It also includes announcements about events in the Memphis/Mid-South area related to the Swing Era, such as classic movies, concerts, dances, lectures, etc. If you see something that fits the description, send it to me at tim@wevl.org. If you would like more information about the radio show, just go to the Radio Show FAQ page.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Swinging On The Old Sod

Cork, Ireland, swing dancing, lindy hop
This recent story on the BBC brought a smile to my face.  While my interest in Swing music began when I was in high school, it was not always at the level it is today.  For many years starting in the early 1990's, I was (and still am) a dedicated fan of Celtic music, the traditional music of the Celtic lands - Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, Brittany, and Galicia (in Spain).  The "craic" was grand at many a ceilidh and Celtic festival I attended, and I am honored to count among my acquaintances a few big names in the world of Celtic music.  Imagine my surprise, then, to find that Erin's Isle has started to swing, with the Lindy Hop (rather than a jig or reel) prevailing on a few Irish dance floors.

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