Things are rolling right along here, for Cumberland Shuffle. And part of that rolling along includes other scenes and other events! Did you know that we help support other events in the area, too? Like Swing into Spring in Columbia, SC, a killer lindy hop workshop weekend that still manages to feel like a small, cozy event. 


We've got a special offer for you--register for Cumberland Shuffle before 11:59PM next Friday, February 10, and you'll be entered into our drawing for one of two free passes to Swing into Spring!!

Already registered? Not a problem, you're entered into this drawing, too. But obviously, you want to be able to go with a friend to Swing into Spring, so be sure to tell your friends to get their Cumberland Shuffle registration taken care of, too!

Never ones to tire of the chance to ask a few quick questions, Cumberland Shuffle grabbed a bit of time with Michael Gamble, the bandleader of Michael Gamble and his Rhythm Serenaders. Check out what Michael had to say about bringing his band to Nashville!

Cumberland Shuffle: We're so excited to have you play for us at Cumberland Shuffle! What about your band do you think makes them such a good fit for the event?
Michael Gamble: We're super excited too. In a time where there seems to be a lot of tension between those that love Dixieland and "Trad Jazz" (due to swing dancers' rediscovered passion for New Orleans), and those who prefer a later, smoother Swing-with-a-capital-S sound, the Rhythm Serenaders are happy to blur that line, not by presenting a grab-bag of styles, but by settling into an early-to-mid 30's groove sculpted from pieces of old arrangements designed to grab at your Charleston/Early Jazz self as well as your Lindy Hop alter ego.

CS: Quite the compound sentence, there, mister! Very descriptive, and sounds right on with the sort of amazing sound we'd like to have at Cumberland Shuffle. We heard you're working on some new arrangements (lucky us!)--what new arrangement are you most excited to debut?
MG: Well, it's no fun to give it away before the party… but I have been ferociously transcribing some great ideas from my current favorite arranger George Scott Wood, who worked with the legendary Six Swingers, so you can expect more than one nod in that direction. Though I think my favorite new tune overall is an original work-through of Rug Cutter's Swing, one I've had in my head for a long time, and can't wait to debut.

CS: Woohoo! It sounds like eventgoers are in store for a whole lot of good things coming from you guys. What are you most excited about for Cumberland Shuffle, other than that beautiful drive through the mountains?
MG: Having Shuffled many-a-Cumberland in my past, I have to say what I love most about it is the super-friendly, almost silly atmosphere, which sets such a great social dance mood but does nothing to take away from everyone's serious love of and devotion to the music and dancing. I'm always happy when I'm there, and can't wait to come back!

And we, of course, can't wait to have Michael Gamble back, especially with his Rhythm Serenaders! You can find out more about our featured band on the Music page, but one thing's for sure: make sure you register so that you don't miss out on all the amazing dance tunes they'll be playing for us!

For the last of our series with our amazingly Dapper DJs for Cumberland Shuffle, we got a few words with Conrad Friesen, from Orange County, CA.  We're excited to have Conrad in to bring us a bit of that southern California flavor!

Cumberland Shuffle: Alright, Conrad, we've got just a few quick questions. To start, we're featuring a bit of LA swing history and style this year, and as our resident Californian, we'd like to know: what are your top 3 songs that you think feature that sound that best represents the old-school California dancing?
Conrad Friesen: I would say three songs that do pretty well in giving you that LA feel are Big John's Special by Benny Goodman, Cow Cow Boogie sung by Ella Mae Morse, and Hit Me Brother With A Solid Four by the Andrew Sisters (this is the song performed in the Buck Privates dance scene). For me, the "white Jazz" sound feels the most like LA, if you know what I mean. Music that Balboa dancers like is also a good example of the LA feel, since Balboa and Swing were the dances at the time, and Balboa is a dance that was invented in Orange County, where I live now. I actually live close to Balboa Island where Balboa was started.

CS: That's perfect! I think that will help give Cumberland Shuffle attendees an idea of what the other side of the country may have sounded like, at the time. Now, you've never really DJed in the Southeast. What are you most excited to bring to this region of the country?
CF: This is true, it'll be my first time DJing in the Southeast. I have to say, I'm very excited that I will be dancing and DJing in this part of the country. I'm hoping to bring something different to the dancers here. I do my best to play songs that swing hard, but that dancers may have never heard before. I hope people enjoy my DJing, I love to share good music. I happen to love Kansas City jazz, myself.  I also tend towards the music of Count Basie and Chick Webb, since that's what really makes me want to swing out. I love Big Band music for Lindy Hoppin', but I love me some old-time dancing and music too, so I'm looking forward to playing some of my favorite old-timey music that I don't usually get to play at dances. 

CS: Well, we can't wait to hear it! What are you most excited about for Cumberland Shuffle, specifically?
CF: Ladies, I want to dance with you! I'm excited to dance in a place that I've never danced in before, to meet new people and dance with them, and to share my music with others. I'm pretty shy, but I love people, so I hope I make some new friends while I'm visiting. Also, I love visiting different cities around the country and I look forward to checking out Nashville.So, now you know, Conrad's bringing some sweet sounds to Cumberland Shuffle. Make sure to register today so that you don't miss out on your chance to hear (and dance with) him!

In continuing with our series showing you just how great our Dapper DJs are for Cumberland Shuffle, we got a few words out of Christian Frommelt about what he's looking forward to and his unique take on things. Christian has a whole lot of knowledge and appreciation for jazz music in general, and even more for the musical history and future of St. Louis. We're super excited to have him put his talents on display at Cumberland Shuffle!

Cumberland Shuffle: Alright Christian, we've got plenty to ask you, but let's start with this. What are your top 3 old-timey songs featuring animals?
Christian Frommelt: Darn, I was hoping you'd ask me about my favorite old-timey songs featuring aliens, but that's ok. As far as animals are concerned, I'm quite fond of the following recordings:

                 1. James P. Johnson, "Mule Walk," from 1939
                 2. Oliver Cobb and His Rhythm Kings, "The Duck Yas Yas Yas" from 1929
                 3. Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, "Hyena Stomp" from 1927

CS: You have a lot of pride for St. Louis and its history. Are there any facets of St. Louis music that you're planning on showcasing at Cumberland Shuffle?
CF: Absolutely. I have a deep personal connection to the mostly unknown jazz heritage here in St. Louis and it always gives me a lot of pleasure to showcase it alongside more well-known jazz, where it belongs. The cool thing about St. Louis jazz is that it isn't marked by one sound--it's a convergence of styles. Pre-war STL artists I'm most likely to throw in include Dewey Jackson, Red McKenzie, Pee Wee Russell, Oliver Cobb, Lizzie Washington, Peetie Wheatstraw, and Eva Taylor. Also, fun fact: Frankie Trumbauer grew up, musically and otherwise, in St. Louis. He invited Bix Beiderbecke (who was raised in Davenport, Iowa) to join his band at the St. Louis Arcadia Ballroom in September 1925, a 6-month engagement that gave birth to one of the most influential partnerships in jazz history. This type of anecdote--whereby well-known musicians are produced in St. Louis, but lose the significance of their musical upbringing and early success--is pretty common.

CS: Man, you're full of good stories. What are you most excited about for Cumberland Shuffle?
CF: Well, every event hinges on the people and personalities that fill the floor, and this event not only features people who are great at what they do, but also attracts people who know how to have a good time. That's what I loved about last year . . . there was a sense that everyone was sharing a great experience. I'm excited to see familiar faces, but also to be in an environment where you'll likely make a lot of new friends. Bringing back Peter and Mia will contribute to this atmosphere. Both in character and knowledge they add so much to any event. I can't wait to dance to the music selections of fellow DJs Rob Moreland and Conrad Friesen, and to experience the music Michael Gamble and the Rhythm Serenaders, who are totally new to me. And lastly, I'm really excited to take some time to explore Nashville! 


I think it's pretty clear why we're so excited to have Christian in to DJ for Cumberland Shuffle. He's made of awesome! Make sure to read his official bio over on our Music page so that you can get pumped to dance to his music, too.

If you were at Lindy Focus, you probably heard Rob Moreland DJing. In fact, you definitely heard him DJing, because he was all over the place as Head DJ of the biggest New Year's dance camp in the United States. And can you believe we managed to snag him for Cumberland Shuffle? Win!
We also managed to catch Rob for a few seconds and ask him a few questions about Cumberland Shuffle. Check out the brief interview below!

Cumberland Shuffle: As you know, Rob, we're going to be featuring a good bit of Peabody at Cumberland Shuffle this year. Can you give us your top 3 songs to play for Peabody dancers?

Rob Moreland: Just three?  It's rare that DJs get to play music appropriate for Peabody at a typical dance, so I've got a bunch I've been saving for an event like this.  Rather than choosing a top three, why don't I give you a few songs that range from traditional to newer or non-traditional Peabody music:

• Noble Sissle - Polka Dot Rag [An Anthology Of Big Band Swing 1930-1955 (Disc 1)] (2:47 @ 260 bpm)
• Duke Ellington - Jungle Jamboree [Complete Original American Decca Recordings (Disc 2)] (3:17 @ 250 bpm)
• Bratislava Hot Serenaders - Double Check Stomp [Bratislava Hot Serenaders presents Elington] (2:47 @ 259 bpm)
• Eddie Condon Orchestra - The Eel [Lost Chords: White Musicians and Their Contribution To Jazz] (2:56 @ 272 bpm)

CS: Those are great! I can't wait to hear them. Are there any other particular musical artists or styles that you're excited to bring to the event?
RM: It would be fun to work in a song or two by well known artists who aren't often heard at lindy events, like Scott Joplin or James P Johnson, or other early swing artists whose songs typically have the word "Rag" in the title.  I always look forward to appropriate opportunities to stretch a bit in the booth.
CS: Yay, rag piano! I'm sure you'll have plenty of opportunities to play with. Are there any other parts of Cumberland Shuffle you're particularly excited about--I mean, other than the 8-hour drive across North Carolina and Tennessee, of course... 
RM: I've spent much of my DJ career getting to know dancers from the Southeast at regional and local events.  Playing music for them is like coming home.  I recently got to play a few sets for dancers from the Midwest at the 2011 Nevermore Jazz Ball in St. Louis and I really fell for their enthusiasm and energy. I'm looking forward to DJing for both crowds at the Shuffle, especially after seeing so many of them at Lindy Focus.
I'm also excited about working with Christian Frommelt and Conrad Friesen.  I know Christian from my time in St. Louis, and have heard nothing but good things about Conrad's music.

We're super excited to have Rob in as one of our Dapper DJs who will make sure we're dancing to great music all weekend long, and I think you can see why. Check out Rob's bio on our Music page to find out more about Rob as a DJ, and make sure not to miss him at Cumberland Shuffle!

For Cumberland Shuffle 2012, we decided to bring back super-instructors, jazz dance historians, snappy dressers, and all-around cool cats Peter Loggins and Mia Goldsmith. We're so excited to have them back in Nashville!

For those of you that were at Cumberland Shuffle last year, you know just how great Peter and Mia are, and the wealth of information they have to offer. We're making them dig even deeper into their bag of tricks for this year, and they'll be pulling out some amazing classes for this year's lucky attendees. 

Did you miss out on the event last year? Follow Cumberland Shuffle on Twitter or Like us on Facebook to see some examples of just how great these guys really are. We're posting different content all over the place, so keep up with the blog, the Twitter feed, and the Facebook page to really get the full extent of info we're throwing your way. And in the meantime, check out this video of Peter and Mia in Llubljana in 2009 for just a taste of what they have to offer!

It might seem a little overly proud to announce that Cumberland Shuffle is joining the rest of the 21st Century, but we're going to do it anyway--because we are proud!

Cumberland Shuffle is officially on Twitter! We'll be using the Twitter feed for updates and announcements about the event, for details going on during the event, and maybe even for some secret fun! The only way to find out about our plans is to follow us, @oldtimeyshuffle. 

Not a fan of Twitter? That's alright! You can keep up with the event updates and announcements on Facebook, because Cumberland Shuffle now has a Page! "Like" us to keep up with the event and to get the first scoop on photos, video, or any other evidence after the event has happened!

Like we said--we're a part of the 21st Century now. It's all just part of your friendly neighborhood organizer's efforts to make Cumberland Shuffle the best it can be, especially in 2012!

Registration is now open!

Your friendly neighborhood organizers have been hard at work planning some fabulous things for Cumberland Shuffle 2012--just wait until you see what we've come up with! We've listened to what you had to say about Cumberland Shuffle last year--what you loved, didn't love, and what you wanted to see--and we're positive you will absolutely love this year's event even more. From amazing live dance music to exciting DJs and an emphasis on the vintage glamour, there will be plenty you won't want to miss out on. And to top it all off, it will be just plain fun with your friends.

Registration is now open, and we've already sold out of our first tier of pricing! You'll want to get in on this action and make sure you don't miss out on what is sure to be a fantastic weekend of old-timey fun.