As a swing dancer and musician since 2009, DJ Shillzapoppin, a.k.a. Peter Shilliday, has dedicated nearly a decade to hunting for the top secret formula of swing music that makes it so darn… well… swingin’! In 2012, he picked up Djing as a way to showcase the latest and greatest of his fanatical research. Based out of Kansas City, MO, Peter has since Djed in all corners of the great Midwest, from the wide, open plains of Indanapolis, IN to the wide, open plains of Tulsa, OK.
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While his music library is rooted in the classic recordings of the Swing era, Peter also aims to promote current, especially local, swing bands to support the current musicians in the genre. He feels a mix of artists from both past and present are vital for providing inspiration for today’s music and dancing. However, at the end of the day, his methodology is simple: If the tune swings, and if he can’t NOT move when listening to it, it goes on the list.
Peter Shilliday
DJs
The folks who keep you dancing all weekend long
Moonshine Rhythm Club
Moonshine Rhythm Club breathes new life into old-school swing and jazz with original tunes and arrangements that make this vintage music sound like it was written this morning. The boys seek out timeless melodies and fresh ideas from deep cuts and standards alike and distill them into their signature sound. With each swing of Moonshine, you’ll taste notes of Nat “King” Cole’s classy and hip vocals and Chet Baker’s lyrical phrasing amidst the acoustic fire of Django’s gypsy jazz and the slow burn of Count Basie’s laid-back groove.
The boys met in college at Belmont University in Nashville, TN and formed the band in 2015 out of their mutual love and respect of swingin’ jazz. Since then, this young and hungry band of twenty-somethings has brought its energetic acoustic presence from its hometown scene of Nashville to festivals and dances around the country. They tour heavily, sharing their love of vintage jazz and blues to audiences both young and old.
Whether it’s an amphitheater or a cozy spot by the fireplace, these boys aim to warm hearts and ease minds with their music. The band has performed all over the country at weddings, corporate events, holiday parties, educational workshops for kids and adults, live radio shows, brunch and dinner shows, swing and blues dances, dancer musicality workshops, burlesque shows, puppet shows with the Nashville Puppeteers, and of course- concerts at theaters, concert halls, jazz clubs, and pubs.
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Josh Irwin – Lead Guitar
Billy Jewell – Trumpet
Charles Kay – Saxophone
Eddie Rutland – Rhythm Guitar
Thomas Altman – Bass
Band
The wonderful people who will be providing live music during the main dances
Music
Because it's hard to dance in silence
Adam Raines began dancing at Truman State University in 2012. Since then, Adam has fostered a love for all styles of vintage swing, both on the dance floor and in the DJ booth. This love has led to all parts of the Midwest and beyond, where he continues to pursue new ideas and new artists.
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Since the fall of 2014, Adam has developed his skills as a DJ and combines modern swing sounds with those of the founding artists of the swing era. Adam has traveled all over the Midwest to DJ and has taken ideas from all over to enhance his music selections. This keeps his sets flexible yet fun. His goal is to get you dancing while the songs flow together, cultivating a bond between the dancers and the music.
Adam Raines
Joel Cunningham is a Lindy Hopper and swing DJ from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, where he DJs at weekly and weekend events.
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Joel has always had a passion for music and a curiosity for creating environments that compel people to dance. When Joel fell in love with Swing dancing, it wasn't long before he started learning about the relationship between music, people, and dance.
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You'll hear Joel playing swingin' Jazz and Blues, composed of a wide range of styles such as Traditional Jazz, Big Band Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, and Jump Blues. Joel enjoys playing a balance of vintage Jazz and modern swing artists.
Joel Cunningam
