Music
The Bands!
Meschiya Lake
Meschiya Lake is an internationally famous Trad and Swing Jazz star that we are lucky enough to bring to Carrboro for our Dance Party! Get your ticket now because this one is likely to sell out.
From the stages of Lincoln Center in NYC, to Brazil, Canada, Denmark, The Netherlands, Italy, Russia, the U.K., and Ireland, she’s shown people to express love of life through music and dance. This passion, seemingly tireless energy, and expert skill has garnered much praise, from NPR’s top ten albums of 2010, to First Lady of Jazz 2013, at the Sun Valley Jazz Festival.
Michael Gamble and the Rhythm Serenaders
Each of Michael Gamble’s swing projects follows a unique creative path, but the endpoint is always the same: a celebration of 1930’s and 1940’s jazz-based popular dance music. With origins ranging from the so-called impressionists of classic music and early 20th century opera, to turn-of-the-last century Creole New Orleans to swing-era Black Harlem, the jazz of the time was some of the most powerful and interesting art ever made. And where it intersected with dancers, it became ingeniously compelling popular music.
Mint Julep Jazz Band
With their little big band lineup of 4 horns, rhythm section, and vocalist, the Mint Julep Jazz Band recreates the hot jazz sounds of the 1920′s, 1930′s, and early 1940’s through arrangements based on original recordings from the jazz age and swing era and original tunes inspired by that time period.
In 2012, after being “discovered” at a wedding, the band recorded an original song for Sesame Street, which aired on April 18, 2013 in an episode featuring Jon Hamm of Mad Men fame. In 2016, the band performed at Lincoln Center as part of their Midsummer Night Swing concert series. The Mint Julep Jazz Band continues to tour and perform for swing dancers, traveling to Lindy Hop and Balboa events from Los Angeles to Austin to New York and beyond.
DJS
Omar Myers (Head DJ)
Omar has been collecting music for Blues, Swing, and Soul since he was a lil dude. It wasn't until after he started Lindy Hop did he decide to start getting people to dance. He began DJing in 2010. Since then, he has left-clicked tunes all over the world, in such locations as, Barcelona, Stockholm, and Seoul. Currently, he is a regular DJ in the DC/Baltimore area.
Qui Nguyen
Long before setting foot on her first dance floor, Qui has always been in search of good music. From scouting out local shows, to digging through dusty record store crates, her motto has always been "if it moves you, it's good music". So it was quite natural for her to fall in love with swing music and dancing. A lover of the music first, and the movement a close second, you can always catch her by the bandstand at various dance events. You might even find her behind the DJ booth, spinning tunes at her local dances in Richmond, VA, or at various events throughout the region. She is super excited to be coming down to visit her good friends in North Carolina!