Dance music, swing band and adult panto

Topette will be performing at St Mary In The Castle tonight - Friday November 27.
Topette to play St Mary in the Castle on Friday November 27 SUS-151124-152724001Topette to play St Mary in the Castle on Friday November 27 SUS-151124-152724001
Topette to play St Mary in the Castle on Friday November 27 SUS-151124-152724001

Some bands are meant to be, and the new Anglo-French acoustic dance band is such, a collective of musical adventurers playing original and traditional music with a winning mix of bonhomie and attitude.

Of course it helps that those musicians are some of the finest on the European dance scene.

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The band is comprised of Barnaby Stradling who plays acoustic bass guitar, Andy Cutting on diatonic button accordion, James Delarre playing violin, Julien Cartonnet who will dazzle on both bagpipes and banjo, and Tania Buisse playing bodhrán.

Born out of friendship, the five-piece play naturally social music – but don’t expect it to merge into the background. This is raunchy, up-all-night dance music, with the accent on party.

The new 7-track EP Chez Michel - the name of the bar in France where the band was born – features an eclectic selection of material. Recorded in France earlier this year, it opens with an expectedly uplifting traditional French dance tune Bourée Morvandelle and Cartonnet’s own La Lustrée. but then careers off via a glorious version of Ola Bäckström’s Meatballs, Whiskey And Beer, a traditional Gnawa tune Hamouda and, underpinned by some serious bass, the ecstatic swirling trad. tune Maybe Macedonian?

Doors open 7pm, tickets are £10 and £6 for under 24’s.

Also imminent at St Mary In The Castle is adult panto from the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on Saturday December 5, called Charming Dick. Something of a cult production, these shows are in their 9th year and a must-see every Christmas on the London cabaret scene. The panto boasts the Eurovision 2010 entry for Poland as well as Vinegar Strokes, the RVT finalist for Drag Idol UK - safe to say this is going to be camper than Christmas.

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This year sees Tim McArthur directing the show and Paul Emelion Daly as writer in residence.

Tricity Vogue’s All Girl Swing Band Christmas Swing will charm and entertain on Friday December 11 - dance your socks off to floor-filling, feel-good tunes with all girls, all swing, vintage music with a modern attitude. Cheeky, sunny, stomping, floor-filling tunes from an ensemble with bags of musical talent and irrepressible charm.

Ukulele strumming cabaret star, Tricity Vogue, presents her gang for a night of feel-good vintage music with a modern twist inspired by legendary 40s all-girl band leader, Ivy Benson.

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