Saturday 24th May 2014
The Stag, Sevenoaks, Kent
I had the pleasure of attending the Coco Club in Sevenoaks, Kent last month and what a glorious evening it was!
The setting was the wonderful Stag Theatre, which was originally built as the Majestic Cinema, a first generation Odeon cinema in 1937 – so a truly glorious setting! It has retained some delicious original features including windows and doors, and more importantly a wonderful dance floor! Having danced on concrete recently it was a welcome change! The ladies wore full length frocks and the chaps were in black tie. What could be better than a chance to dress up and dance?
The event was hosted by Empire Radio who are Mr Neil Barber and Mr Ian Bayley – the pair have been involved in the 40s scene since 1991 and in 2008 formed Empire Radio in order to provide music for events spanning from the 1920s through to the 1940s. The Great British dance bands of the 1930s are one area in which Empire Radio specialise, and feature the classic sounds of artists such as the Ambrose Orchestra, Carroll Gibbons, Roy Fox, Lew Stone and Ray Noble.
It is a strict rule for Empire Radio that no music produced after VJ Day, 15th August 1945, is played. The music on the evening certainly kept us dancing.
Live music was also provided by the wonderful Brandyn Shaw & His Rhythm Makers , who if you haven’t seen them before are truly superb , Mr Shaw sings in the style of Al Bowly and is a superb exponent of the style. That aside he can also do a mean Charleston! This is the second time I have seen him perform this year and will without doubt be looking out for more opportunities to do so again soon.
The whole event was MC’d by the splendid Mr Iain Dawson with waltzes and foxtrots a plenty – but also some more fun dances in a swapping partners dance and Lambeth Walk as well as some cheeky Charleston, which I confess I performed rather shoddily to say the least!
The next Coco Club will be held at The Stag Theatre, Sevenoaks on the 11th October 2014 – I for one will definitely be in attendance, I’m planning my gown already.
A very special thank you to Martin Cook for the pictures – I was having far too much fun laughing and dancing to take any!
Sally x
Photos: Martin Cook
