The Cable Street Rag Band

The Golden Era of Jazz is a hot and wild jazz event like no other. Suspended in the cultural rebellion of the 1920s through to the sweet swinging 1930s, it is an escape from stiff necked imposing concerts with its dance-crazy energy and bohemian informality! The musicians at the Golden Era of Jazz, appreciators and swing enthusiasts, generate a fervent loose spirit. This is aided by regular off-the-record appearances from travelling musicians, talented singing locals from the audience and swing dance stars including Stephen Edward Sayer. There is a strictly 'no dress code', and a refreshing mix of 20-somethings to 60-somethings throwing themselves about merrily, arm in arm on an imagined dance floor amongst Jamboree's ramshackle hotchpotch of seating. Host Ewan Bleach, referred to as "one of London Swing's greatest assets" by Swing Out London, is a star clarinettist, saxophonist, pianist, singer and curator. He performs as a jazz soloist and is in several jazz outfits including Man Overboard, The Basin Street Brawlers, The Old Hat Jazz Band, The Dakota Jim Band and of course The Cable Street Rag Band. Ewan makes a yearly pilgrimage to New Orleans for inspiration and has toured with the renowned New Orleans band Tuba Skinny. At the Golden Era of Jazz Bleach performs with residents The Cable Street Rag Band, an outfit of 1920s early jazz, rag-time, blues and 1930s swing with peppers of wild western string band swing's raw flavour. Billie Holiday, Sidney Bechet, The Washboard Rhythm Kings and Bessie Smith make up the main ingredients for the bands varied repertoire of style. In 2018 the band released the brilliant 'Dust' LP.