Music
The theme of Hullabaloo 2025 is the magic of connections, particularly the connections made between the dance and the music. We’re absolutely thrilled to be featuring an extremely talented line-up of artists, bands, and DJs from Western Australia in this year’s programme!
Bands • DJs
Bands
The Oz Big Band
Get ready to swing! The Oz Big Band has been lighting up Perth and the broader dance scene since the ’80s, earning a legendary reputation as one of Australia’s most in-demand dance bands. With their unique sound and high-energy performances, they’ve become a staple at iconic swing dance exchanges including Hullabaloo, Canberrang, ALX, and MLX.
Vocal powerhouses Leah Guelfi and Justin Everette bring charisma and soul to the mics, leading the charge through classic swing anthems from the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and more. From the Big Apple to the Shim Sham, this 17-piece big band knows how to “wind it up and let it go”!
You can check them out on Friday 25 April at Stompin’ & Jumpin’ at the Mustang Bar!
FEATURING
Vocals: Leah Guelfi, Justin Everette
Saxophone: Kieran Toye, Mia Vuković, Nick Jaksa, Paul Schneider, Pia Nidd
Trumpet: Stu Ferguson, Reuben Christman, Michelle Stephenson, Adrian Hicks
Trombone: Alex Parkinson, Tom Loughnan, Nigel Dennis, Alistair Barrow
Rhythm: Ben Hogan, Tom Coveney, Greg Paterson, Matthew Bateman-Graham
• • •
The Darling Buds of May
Over twenty years ago, a few friends branched out from their community ensemble, the Kalamunda Youth Swing Band, to create a new group they called the Darling Buds of May. Quickly adored by the Perth swing dancing scene, the group began performing at numerous festivals throughout Australia, showcasing their varied repertoire of musical styles, from the toe-tapping Dixieland jazz of the Roaring Twenties to the hip-swinging rhythm and blues of the mid-20th century. The band’s secret sauce has stayed the same: a passion for music, a sprinkle of laughter, and a whole lotta audience love.
Catch them on Saturday 26 April at The Joint is Jumpin’ at Fremantle Town Hall!
FEATURING
Vocals: Jessie Gordon
Drums: Dominic D’Leno
Double Bass: Leah Van Der Meulen
Guitar: Jon Matthews
Sax / Vocals: Mark Turner
Trombone / Vocals: Daniel Greening
• • •
Lucy Iffla and Friends
Laying up the tempo for our Sunday night social, this bold band features a rockin’ rhythm section and some of WA’s best brass and wind performers, along with the incomparable vocals of Lucy Iffla herself!
Lucy is a talented jazz vocalist and songwriter who has captivated audiences for more than a decade with her timeless vocals and soulful jazz standards. This Hulla, she’ll be joined by some of Perth’s finest musicians to pay homage to the beloved tunes of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Jimmie Lunceford, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald – and more!
See them live and loud on Sunday 27 April at Everybody Step at Perth Town Hall!
FEATURING
Vocals: Lucy Iffla
Piano: Bob Tweedie
Guitar: Dan Garner
Bass: Lucy Browning
Trombone: Emily Scully
Trumpet: Ricki Malet
Saxophone: Gemma Farrell
Drums: Gregory Brenton
• • •
The Adam Hall Trio
Adam Hall is an international award-winning trumpeter, vocalist and composer. Perth Lindy Hoppers will instantly recognise his name from his band’s regular residency at The Mustang Bar on a Friday night – a well-known hub for swing dance in the Perth scene! Fronting his band, Adam has performed there almost every week for 20 years!
Renowned for their captivating live performances, and marked by slick presentation & raw energy – his band’s large repertoire is rooted in the jazz and rhythm & blues music of the 40’s & 50’s from artists such as Ray Charles, Jackie Wilson & Chuck Berry, as well as a large library of original music.
For our late night event, Adam will be joined by piano and guitar virtuoso Louis Rebeiro and the incredible drum stylings of Bronton Ainsworth – both exceptional musicians in their own right!
Sway to some of their slow, bluesy tunes at the Ambassador Bar on Friday 25 April at Night & Day: Friday Late Night!
FEATURING
Vocals & Trumpet: Adam Hall
Piano & Guitar: Louis Rebeiro
Drums: Bronton Ainsworth
Band lineups are subject to change.
DJs
DJs Razor Jack & “Big Ear” Chad
Perth-based DJs Razor Jack and “Big Ear” Chad take the phrase “old skool” to the next level, using an extensive collection of vinyl records for the best sound. Mixing ’40s and ’50s swing, jump blues, R&B and 60s ska, mod jazz and soul dancers, their vinyl gems will transport you back in time to when music was made for dancing.
DJs Razor and Chad have both been delighting crowds for well over 20 years. Razor is a regular radio presenter on independent community radio station RTRFM, and his own “Sunday Record Hop” and “Blue Beat Special” events have been a favourite for those in-the-know for 15 years. You can often catch this “dynamic DJ duo” spinning decks on Saturday nights at Perth’s Hula Bula tiki bar, where they play “the most exciting music you’ve never heard” alongside more familiar favourites.
Whether you’re in the mood to dance or prefer to sit back and enjoy a fantastic mix of tunes, you’re guaranteed an extra special soundtrack when DJs Razor and Chad are on the decks!
Don’t miss them on Thursday 24 April at Echos of Harlem: Mix, Mingle & Vinyl!
• • •
DJ Jarrad
(Bio to come!)
• • •
DJ Chris
Chris has been a passionate swing DJ since 2019, becoming a familiar face behind the decks both locally and across the country. With a penchant for traditional big and small band swing, his sets are crafted to keep everyone grooving, playing the tracks that he himself loves dancing to.
• • •
DJ Dan
A Geelong local and Melbourne regular, Dan has been DJing Blues and Jazz since 2017. He loves playing songs with plenty of groove, and a little chaos. Dan will be playing a diverse range of slow swing and blues.
As a Dancer, he has traveled around Australia, Europe and Asia. Always on the lookout for new musical and cultural inspiration – in his sets you’re likely to hear Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Oscar Peterson, Jo Jones and Champion Jack Dupree. His favourite part of DJing is seeing people connect and have a laugh on the dance floor!
• • •
DJ Yunita
Yunita started her journey as a DJ in 2017 when she lived in Spain and became a Solo Jazz teacher at Big Mama Swing Madrid. From 2017-2020, she lived in three different cities (Madrid, Seville, Munich) in which she had the opportunity to join many Lindy Hop festivals throughout Europe and explore a variety of music during their social dancing events.
Because of that, her playlist has been influenced significantly by genres like early R&B, Latin Swing, Blues, Charleston, and last but not least – Soul music. After settling down in Jakarta in 2020, last year she got a chance to experience DJ-ing abroad at Vietnam Lindy Exchange (VLX) and Boogie Down South (Western Australia). It was such a humbling learning experience which I’m looking forward to repeating again at least once a year!
• • •
DJ Shawn
Shawn started DJing around 2008 at the Perth Swing Dance Society Splanky socials. Since then, he’s become a household name in the Perth scene for his distinct DJing versatility and style!
He usually starts his sets with a very loose idea of what he’s going to play, and then between the energy of the dancers and the vibe of the room, he sees where night takes him!
He loves playing a mix of classic 1930s swing, hot jazz and jump blues, though he says it’s always an internal battle to not play Count Basie all night!
• • •
DJ Shaddow
Andrew is a swing dancer with a love of all music and a taste for the quirky and little known. Loves everything from classic swing, to fast bal and slow blues!
• • •
Stevie Six-Count
Stephen has been DJing both locally and interstate for the past three years and whilst he still feels like a freshman, his taste in jazz and blues has been loved by all no matter where he goes! Having spun tunes around the likes of Tasmania, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and most recently a late night in South Korea.
Stephen likes his jazz like a good whiskey. Neat, smooth, sometimes chilled and with a little bit of punch to it. The foundation of his library is based on the authentic jazz that defined the swing dancing era, whilst also promoting the local legends and international bands that are way too fun to swing out to.
Stephen is keen as mustard to be back in his own neighbourhood, playing the toe tapping classics that he loves!
• • •
DJ Bron
Bron’s love of jazz and blues stems from an early exposure to live music and her family’s cassette recordings and vinyl collection. Since her first Hulla exchange in 2010, Bron’s love of dancing has grown to include DJing for social events and searching for new old music to play. She is particularly fond of live recordings that capture the playful connection between band members and the audience in a shared moment!