BSC is turning six this year, so it’s our sugar and iron anniversary. Use that knowledge however you will!

In the past year, BSC has come so far and grown so much. It is even wilder to think back to where we started six years ago back in the YWCA, St. Mary’s Church, the YMCA, Extreme Dancesport, and then eventually are awesome home at the Whistle Stop. It’s great to have had a space to call home for a few years and to have a growing dance community support us! Come celebrate!

We launched our amazing journey with the Beantown Swing Orchestra and we’re hosting them again for a night of fabulous music!

Since it is a party night and celebration, dress up if you want to make it even more memorable!

Here is a Beantown Swing Orchestra’s 2014 video demo, which showcases the depth of their talent:

Want some old school BSC flavor? We’ve got it below:

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

Phil McGowan & the Easy Winners, BSC favorites, are back in action with their first gig with us in 2014. With their New Orleans inspired hot jazz tunes, they will get you out onto the floor all night! The Easy Winners always get the crowd moving when they play for us and and this Friday will be no exception! Digging deep into their catalog of hits from the past, they’ll light fire to tunes like the 1921 Eddie Cantor hit: “Margie” and Louis Armstrong’s “You Rascal You”.

Here are the Easy Winners back in March, with a high energy version of “You Rascal You”:

Lesson (included w/ 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

Making their BSC debut this week is The Lowdown Stompers!

A dixie/swing outfit hailing from New York City, features some of the best and brightest talent on the East Coast. Thoroughly rooted in the music of the 20s, 30s and 40s, the Stompers can be seen playing almost every night in the Big Apple in Speakeasys, back rooms, dance halls, as well as the McKittrick Hotel (the home of Sleep No More), where they serve as the house dance band in their 6th floor restaurant.

The Stompers pride themselves in entertaining their audiences with their exciting, original arrangements. Catch their version of “Bei Mir Bitsu Shein”:

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

BSC is excited to welcome back the Blue Vipers of Brooklyn this week! Trademarked by their rhythm section, led by a washboard and upright bass, these guys sure do know how to get the crowd swinging with their wide vocabulary of hot jazz tunes, ranging from the 20s and 30s, all the way to the Dixieland Era!

The band often busks on the street and play regular gigs around New York and buzzes around the wedding circuit so it’s a rare treat to have them travel to play for us!

Here’s a clip of the Blue Vipers playing Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture in New York:

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $17
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $15

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Last summer, Johnny Boyd (from Indigo Swing) made a highly anticipated return to Boston at our beloved Whistle Stop and tore the house down. He had everyone swinging out better than ever and smiles were on every dancer’s face that night. It was a truly memorable night and we are thrilled to welcome Johnny back again to kick off our February dances!

Johnny Boyd and Indigo Swing were legendary back in the day. Indigo Swing was a very special band and left a legacy of great recorded music that is still played by many DJs at swing dances across the country. Johnny promised us last time that his new band “cuts glass”. Whatever that means, we are pretty sure he lived up to his promise and what he has in store for us this week will be just as special, if not more so, than last year! Do not miss this!

Here is “Red Light” from a more recent gig out in California:

Lesson (included w/ admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $17
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $15

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

After a dynamic start to 2014, with seven straight weeks of some of the area’s best bands, we wanted to throw it back to the BSC DJs, who have been stockpiling their favorite tunes to play for us.

Come join us for some great music, fun dancing, and cool cats. It might be cold though, so remember to button up your overcoat!

Lesson: 8pm to 9pm (included with admission)
Dancing: 9pm to 12 midnight
Admission: $10 (general), $8 (students and seniors with valid ID)

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Boston Swing Central is very excited for one of our most beloved dances of the year! This year we are thrilled that I <3 Swing, our Valentine's Day Ball, is falling on Valentine's Day! We will be featuring our super-groovy custom-made Valentines and our Cupids to deliver them to you (or your dance crush)! This night will be guaranteed to be in our memories for a long time, so dress to impress and put on some red and pink and get ready to send your friends and secret dance crushes some Valentines... And as our musical guests, this year we have Jessy Carolina & the Hot Mess! Jessy Carolina & the Hot Mess is a New York City based ensemble specializing in American music from the late 1800's-1930's, primarily jazz and blues reminiscent of The Ziegfield Follies, The Great American Song Book, and early medicine shows. Led by Jessy's unique talent for playing the washboard, the group is rounded out with the Hot Mess, which comprises of piano, banjo, guitar, woodwinds, and brass. If you can't wait until Valentine's Day, check out this clip from their last gig at the Whistle Stop back in May.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8pm – 9pm
Dancing: 9pm – midnight
General Admission: $17
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $15

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

The Swing Legacy, a six piece little big band has been a fixture of the Boston swing scene since 1991 and BSC since the beginning, playing with 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 killer-diller arrangements that will keep you dancing all night long!

Here they are playing “Roll ’em Pete” at the Whistle Stop…

Lesson (included w/ 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

Gordon Webster needs little introduction.  He is one of the most world renowned jazz musicians playing in the lindy hop scene today.  He has recorded a LIVE album at our very own Crosby Whistle Stop and he performed an unforgettable set at the CD release party at Dirty Water back in September to celebrate that album.  He is a regular at BSC and we love having him whenever we can get him.

Gordon is known for surrounding himself with a band of excellent musicians who are the perfect fit for the jazz standards and originals that Gordon is so well known and loved for.

Unfamiliar with Gordon or just want a reminder of how awesome he is?  Check out this clip of him playing “Tishomingo Blues” with Meschiya Lake back in 2012:

Lesson (included w/ admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $17
Students & Seniors: $15

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Night two of Kind of a Big Deal Weekend will be just that, kind of a big deal!

After being wowed from the hot jazz from Gordon Au’s All-star band and the dazzling dancing from our competition participants on Friday night, Glenn Crytzer will be looking to up the ante.  The tables will flip and Gordon Au will join Glenn Crytzer’s Savoy Seven to bring the heat! We’ve got smoking competition finals! Glenn Crytzer’s Savoy Seven with Gordon Au which will be an unforgettable evening and we look forward to seeing you there!

Glenn Crytzer is well known throughout the swing world for leading the Rhythm Club, which represents several jazz ensembles, including the Syncopaters (and tonight, the Savoy Seven).  His groups have played all over the country, most notably at Lindy Focus, Midsummer Night Swing, and our very own Boston Swing Central.

Check out this Syncopaters performance from a previous gig at BSC (with Gordon Au on trumpet):

Still need to register for the weekend workshops and get an advance ticket for tonight?  Register here.

Lesson (included w/ admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 2:00am
General Admission: $25 (adv.), $30 (at the door)
Students & Seniors: $22 (adv.), $27 (at the door)

Sorry, no passes or Groupons will be accepted tonight.

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Get ready for an outstanding Friday night dance to kick off Boston Swing Central’s second annual Kind of a Big Deal Weekend!

On Friday, Glenn Crytzer will meet BSC favorites Gordon Au and Tamar Korn!  Gordon Au has won us over with his excellent trumpet playing and band leading in top notch swing outfits, including Baby Soda, Mona’s Hot Four, and the Grand St. Stompers. 

Glenn Crytzer, best known as bandleader of the Syncopaters, will be joining this dynamic duo for the night and adding his own twist to the tunes Gordon and Tamar are planning to inspire our dancing with!

Need a preview?  Check out Gordon Au with the Grand St. Stompers:

Still need to register for the weekend workshops and get an advance ticket for tonight?  Register here.

Lesson (included w/ admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:30am
General Admission: $20 (adv.), $25 (at the door)
Students & Seniors: $17 (adv). $22 (at the door)

Sorry, no passes or Groupons will be accepted tonight.

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Local dancer and songstress Jan Marie and her four piece band, the Mean Reds, are coming back to the Whistle Stop this Friday!

Since she made her Boston Swing Central debut this past March, Jan Marie has been featured in the Boston Globe and Boston Phoenix for her excellent singing and vintage fashion sense. As an experienced dancer, she knows what we want more than we know what we want! We have a pretty good feeling that Jan Marie and the Mean Reds will keep us dancing all night long!

Lesson (included with admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students & Seniors: $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Joining us at the Whistle Stop for just the second time ever this Friday are the Roc City Stompers!

The Stompers hail from Rochester, New York but play New Orleans-style trad jazz. And while it may be cold in January in both Rochester and Boston, the Roc City Stompers will be bringing us their best fiery hot jazz to melt away the winter blues.

Check them out playing their original tune “Less Like Weirdos (More Like People in Love)” from their Whistle Stop debut last year:

Lesson (included w/ admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $15
Students & Seniors: $13

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

BSC IS OPEN TONIGHT! Snow won’t stop the swingouts!

To kick off 2014, Boston Swing Central will be welcoming back one of Boston’s best swing and blues divas, Toni Lynn Washington!

Hearing Toni Lynn’s soulful voice and her deep grooves is sure to warm up the dance floor! She is a local legend, an institution, a master, and a treasure. We are thrilled to have her grace the Whistle Stop stage once again!

Check out this clip of her at a local club, Johnny D’s:

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 delighted to be hosting its fourth annual New Year’s Eve Great Gatsby Gala, which this year features one of our favorite bands, Baby Soda, as the band for the evening. If they get you swinging out hard during a regular Friday night dance, just imagine the energy they will be putting into their sets as we welcome in 2014!

What is the New Year’s Eve Great Gatsby Gala?…a swing dance party harking back to the roaring ’20s! Dress in your finest vintage black tie (if you can dance in it, of course…and it’s not required, but sure is fun!) and join us for a night of great music and dancing!

You can count on a fun packed night of dancing which includes:
*The Baby Soda Jazz Band from Brooklyn, NY
*Paper Moon Photo Booth and Props
*Midnight Sparkling Cider Toast
and more…

Tickets will be available at the door tonight!

Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland St
Charlestown, MA 02129
Admission: $35 general admission, $30 students/seniors (ID required)

Groupons and passes will not be accepted for this event.
Time: 8-9pm lesson, General dancing from 9pm to at least 12:30am.

We will be closed on Friday, December 27th for the holidays. Don’t fret though, you can go grab a friend or family member and get them dancing with you! And don’t forget to join us for our 4th Annual New Year’s Eve Gala. Buy your advance tickets here!

Happy holidays to all of the great dancers who have come to BSC this year! Tonight our DJs will be spreading the holiday cheer by spinning the best of their holiday collections for you. Come shake off the frost (it’s getting colder, after all) and join us for one the last Friday night dance of 2013! What is better than sharing the gift of a dance with someone?

Since there is no dance next week, don’t forget to register for our New Year’s Eve Great Gatsby Gala if you haven’t already and are planning on attending. It’s a hot ticket item!

Also don’t forget that Kind of a Big Deal weekend is a little over a month away and if it’s anything like last year, it will sell out! Early bird pricing expires on December 26th.

Lesson (included in the price of admission): 8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am
General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Frank Hsieh and the Beantown Swing Orchestra will be joining us yet again to share their gift of swinging big band tunes! The Beantown Swing Orchestra is known for filling the Whistle Stop with big sound that inspire great, memorable dances. The band knows many of the tunes from the early century swing era and also adds their own flair to their performances by adding in some original arrangements! And since the holidays are fast approaching, don’t be surprised if a few holiday tunes make it onto the set list.

As usual, the BSO will have some of its well known and talented vocalists along with them!

Check out the below video for their version of Jimmie Lunceford’s “Tain’t What You Do” and see just how fun dancing to the Beantown Swing Orchestra is!

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

Phil McGowan & the Easy Winners return to the Whistle Stop after a crowd-inspiring performance back in October. They were so good, we had to have them back right away! With their New Orleans inspired hot jazz tunes, they will get you out onto the floor all night! The Easy Winners always get the crowd moving when they play for us and and this Friday will be no exception! Digging deep into their catalog of hits from the past, they’ll light fire to tunes like the 1921 Eddie Cantor hit: “Margie” and Louis Armstrong’s “You Rascal You”.

Here are the Easy Winners back in March, with a rousing version of “Everybody Loves My Baby”:

Lesson (included w/ 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

Gobble, gobble, gobble! As you emerge from your turkey (or tofurkey, if that’s how you swing), head on over to the Whistle Stop for a Thanksgiving dance party!

Join a special guest DJ (or two) and spin, turn, Charleston, and swingout the previous night’s cornucopia of Thanksgiving treats! We look forward to hosting those who stayed local as well as special out of town visitors at this week’s dance!

Believe it or not, the Turkey Trot was a dance way back in the day! See it in action in this old movie clip and try out replicating it:

Lesson (included in the price of admission):
8:00pm – 9:00pm
Dancing: 9:00pm – 12:00am

General Admission: $10
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $8

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

We’re really excited to welcome back all 14 members of White Heat Swing Orchestra lead by Craig Ball on clarinet. This is one of the best big bands in the Boston area, and they’re exciting charts include the explosive hits of an era long gone. Check ’em out here, tearing it up with “Digi Digi Doo”…

We also recommend you check out their webpage here: here and listen to what we are sure will make you dance around the room in preparation for a fun night ahead!

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

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Jessy Carolina & The Hot Mess is a New York City based ensemble specializing in American music from the late 1800’s-1930’s, primarily jazz and blues reminiscent of The Ziegfield Follies, The Great American Song Book, and early medicine shows. Led by Jessy’s unique talent for playing the washboard, the group is rounded out with the Hot Mess, which comprises of piano, banjo, guitar, woodwinds, and brass.

Despite its name, Jessy Carolina & the Hot Mess are far from sounding like one. Maybe they should try Jessy Carolina & the Hot Jazz. Either way, be sure to come out tonight to decide for yourself! If you can’t wait until the 8th, check out this clip from their last gig at the Whistle Stop back in May.

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

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Emily Asher and her group of all star musicians, the Garden Party, bring their style of red hot trad jazz back to the Whistle Stop in November. While Emily and her sassy style of trombone playing may look familiar from her many other appearances at the Whistle Stop with the likes of Baby Soda and others, leading the Garden Party brings out the best in Asher, whose vocals and trombone take front and center in this ensemble.

Check out their version of “My Blue Heaven” at the Whistle Stop from back in February.

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

Calling All Zombies! It’s time to heed the bell toll for another ghastly, ghoulish and grim Halloween party at Boston Swing Central. It’s our 6th year and this time we’re making it a super double-billed late night zombies Halloween!!! We’ve got two bands tonight, first 3 sets will be the Baby Soda Jazz Band followed by a late evening set by the Shawn Hershey Band.
So we’ve got a trick and treat for you this year! Be ready to stay out ghoulishly late for Shawn’s special set which features Amy Kucharik on vocals and Mike Valdez on piano.

Check out the Baby Soda Jazz Band swinging it up a notch with their version “Everybody Loves My Baby” from last year:

Here’s a great clip of Shawn & the Fried Bananas swinging the blues…

If you want to get a taste of what a Thriller performance looks like, as well as how much fun we have doing it, check out last year’s performance:

Extended Lesson Time (included in the price of admission): 7:30pm – 9:00pm

Dancing: 9:00pm – 2:00am
General Admission: $22
Students and Seniors (with Valid ID): $17

Get $2 OFF ADMISSION if you come in costume. But no lame costumes like, “I came as a swing dancer”, or “I came as myself” or putting a couple socks on your shoulder and being “static cling”. Discount is at the discretion of the door staff, so put in some effort!

No coupons or passes will be accepted for this evening.

The Crosby Whistle Stop
24 Roland Street
Charlestown, MA 02129

Phil McGowan & the Easy Winners make a triumphant return to the Whistle Stop with their New Orleans inspired hot jazz tunes that will get you out onto the floor all night! The Easy Winners always get the crowd moving when they play for us and and this Friday will be no exception! digging deep into their catalog of hits from the past, they’ll light fire to tunes like the 1921 Eddie Cantor hit: “Margie” and Louis Armstrong’s “You Rascal You”.

Here are the Easy Winners back in March, with a rousing version of Louis Armstrong’s “You Rascal You”:

Lesson (included w/ 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