The Pearly Shells at the Malvern Townhall

[Jitterbug]

Many of us have a love-hate relationship with our local town councils. Annual rates and charges increase every year but yet we seem to be getting less in the range of services provided. However, if you 're into music and dancing, we just love it when your local council continues to fund music festivals for our enjoyment.

Last night, the Stonnington Council staged a free "swing night" as part of the Stonnington Jazz festival at the historic & beautiful Malvern Townhall featuring "The Pearly Shells" accompanied by the very lovely Yvette Johansson. She's one of Melbourne's most popular Jazz swing singers, and perhaps is Australia's answer to the great Billy Halliday. And a fantastic swing dancer too - see video below. There was also swing dance demonstrations by Swing Patrol.

A very popular choice indeed as the Townhall was just about fully booked out with several hundred patrons turning out to have a very enjoyable evening of live swing & blues music and dancing. And of course it's not just for swing dancers as the Pearly Shells also play the "Jump Blues" music of the Louis Jordan era that rock & rollers equally love, and there were plenty of rock & roll dancers in the crowd last night. Swing Patrol as usual gave us a rendition of youthful & exuberant style of swing or Jitterbug dancing reminiscent of the 1920-40's era.

I was talking to one elderly citizen at the event last night and she said she had a ball as it brought back to her vivid memories of the great swing & Jitterbug era in the 1940's & early post war Australia. Wouldn't it also be a fantastic idea if more local councils come forward to stage 1950's rock & roll music festivals in the various Townhalls for our enjoyment? I am sure there would equally be as many similar elderly citizens who can still remember having a good rockin' time during that era.

[maxrob200]

It was a fantastic afternoon and evening of swing by the Pearly Shells. The council has done itself proud with the event. The organization and decor was terrific and created a great atmosphere in the beautiful Malvern Town Hall. Thirty of us attended and it was a fun day/night for all

[joceb]

Great video and post Jitterbug - you should be a reporter . Maybe you should forward your post on to some of the other local councils as a suggestion for them.

For those who didn't attend, it was a fabulous afternoon (or evening) in such a classy setting, with brilliant music, and lots of great dancing on one of the smoothest floors around, and it was all FREE. A couple of council staff I spoke to thought they may consider making it an annual event so watch out for it next year.