Nationally known DJs? Check. Awesome bands? Yup, got those, too.

As the Live Music Capital of the World, we have a reputation to uphold. We're bringing you amazing live bands on both Friday and Saturday nights. They've both earned their share of awards but they're playing for us because they really REALLY like dancers! Solid mixes of standards and originals, a good variety of tempos, and just the kind of stuff to make you "level up" while dancing.

And just wait until you hear their slower blues...

Of course, we're bringing in DJs from all three coasts as well as our own fantastic local team.

(Don't worry, there's a conveniently located Walgreens for moleskin and other foot supplies.)

Spencer Thomas - Friday Night

Veteran singer and songwriter, Spencer Thomas has performed and recorded for over 25 years with many of the best of Austin's professional musician community. Since 2007 though, Spencer has settled in with a fairly steady line-up of legendary Austin players. Partnering with V-8 Records Producer, Michael Holt, on guitar, they are supported by Ultimate Austin Drummer, Rodney Craig (The Cobras, Angela Strehli, Lavelle White), World Class Roots Bassist, Larry Lange (The Cobras, Delbert McClinton, Doug Sahm), and Texas Tenor Saxman, Jim Trimmier (The Cobras w/ Stevie Ray, The Vanguards, Nick Curran).

MySpace

Greg Izor - Saturday Night

Singer and harmonica player Greg Izor is a premier member of the next generation of bluesmen. At the young age of twenty-seven, he already has a reputation for intense, high-energy performances, stunning technique and musical prowess. He has achieved many accomplishments, including appearances on television, radio, live web casts, and the appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Having grown up in the Northeast, then moving to New Orleans at the age of twenty, he is steeped in the tradition of the great Chicago and West coast harp players, and heavily influenced by New Orleans R&B, Swamp Pop, and Louisiana blues.

Website | MySpace

Cid Galicia (Chico, CA)

Cid Galicia has been DJing for 2 years now; beginning with house parties and then, under the tutelage of Scott Kaufman and Ron Thompson, DJing lindy nights at Midtown Stomp. The genres Cid DJs are lindy and blues, spending time in the study of their music, artists, and history. Cid is always searching for new versions of classic songs. He has djed such events as the Utah Lindy Exchange, Reno Dance Sensation, Friday Night Blues, Blues Rising, Come Rain or Come Shine, Blues Shout, and Down Home Blues.

Mike Marcotte (Washington DC)

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Mike Marcotte discovered dancing in 1999 near the height of the swing craze. He first took lessons from the same person he teaches with today, Donna Barker. Together they helped cultivate a blues dancing scene in Washington and have been teaching lindy and blues together for over seven years. Lately, he has worked hard with Capital Blues to put on great blues events like bamBLOOZled and Red Hot Blues 'n BBQ in addition to hosting a weekly dance every Thursday at Glen Echo's Back Room.

Mike's father fostered an appreciation for jazz at an early age. A student of classical cello and jazz piano in high school, it was only natural that he got more involved with the music as a DJ after starting as a dancer. He learned the most under the wing of Rayned Wiles at K2, and before long was working events across the country including Lindy Focus, Philly Lindy Love, St. Louis Blues Lindy Exchange, Frankie 95, every DCLX, and many others. After collaborating with Glenn Scales and Jerry Almonte at the Virginia State Open and ALHC, other competitions inquired about Mike's expertise. He is honored that Nina Gilkenson and Tena Morales asked him to be the Head Competition DJ for the first two years of ILHC.

Whether it's Blues or Swing, Mike likes a dance floor that's having fun, feeling challenged yet inspired. Usually, if the dancers are having fun then so is the DJ. He tends to draw from a variety of genres as he puts together a set. While creating a groove is important, mixing it up -- something learned well from Rayned — always keeps things interesting. This is a DJ who loves to dance, so don't hesitate to ask him in the middle of a set!

Jerry Warwick (Dallas, TX)

Jerry Warwick proudly claims the title of the Original Dallas Blues DJ, though he now shares his city with several other national Blues DJs. His love and passion for the music and the dance are evident in his sets. He manages to keep the music solid and entertaining, plus has been also known to throw a few curve balls into his sets. Jerry has DJ.d around the country to great reviews and thoroughly loves playing his music for you, the dancers. He has DJed at every Austin Blues Party, and is looking forward to this year's event.

Rachel "DJ Blu-Ray" Jordan (Austin, TX)

Rachel was introduced to blues music shortly after her birth in Austin, Texas. In 2007 (less than half of your age plus seven years later) she became addicted to dancing swing and blues. Soon, she became a regular on the DJ rotation in Austin. She has spun tunes at dances and events in Pittsburgh, Montreal, San Francisco, Colorado, Portland, all over Texas, and at blues, swing, and fusion parties in many cities. She has also DJ'd at car break-ins, garage parties, Amtrak stations, 80th birthdays, hotel lobbies, Greyhound stations, and is a house DJ for Kick Butt Blues.

Suzanne Sluizer (Albuquerque, NM)

Suzanne first began to DJ as an FM radio "rock jock" in Illinois longer ago than she cares to remember, and she now calls Albuquerque home. She started swing dancing in 2007, and she fell in love with blues dancing shortly thereafter, while attending a workshop with Steven Mitchell and Virginie Jensen. She has continued to attend both blues and swing workshops whenever possible. Her musical tastes are eclectic, and her goal as a DJ is to get people grooving to the music and having a blast while dancing. She has been known to get high from the energy on the dance floor when she DJs.

Stephen Jackson (San Antonio South Austin, TX)

From 1998 to 2007 Stephen experienced the swing world vicariously through his sister Jojo. When he suddenly realized that he enjoyed Lindy on his own, he gained a hobby. When invited to his first blues house party, he gained a passion. Armed with a creative and conversational blues style, Stephen began to scout the musical landscape for new territory to conquer in the name of the Fusion Empire. His experimental taste ranging from hip hop to quirky pop to graceful ballroom is best described in the immortal words of Marty McFly: "Alright, guys. This is a blues riff in 'B'. Watch me for the changes and, uh, try to keep up." Since becoming an addict he has both danced and DJed at venues, houses, parks, gas stations, bus stops, and crowded freeways across America.

Heather Adams (Austin/Dallas, TX)

Heather was created as a result of $1.5M in venture capital to a small software shop known as BasieSoft. She is a mashup of the best blues songs from various genres, with all unpleasant tones removed automatically. Heather's blues software has industry-defining performance metrics, as she had the BluesMaster3500 module implanted in her cerebral cortex as a free add-on when receiving the HotLegsXT mod pack. Heather has been tested for compatibility with the following non-comprehensive list of platforms: bluesSHOUT!, Austin Blues Party, Down Home Blues, Enter the Blues, Bambloozled, MezzJelly Blues Weekend, Blues Muse, CBUS, KLX, and ATLX. By dancing to the songs played by Heather, you give Heather irrevocable license in perpetuity to rock your socks off. All rights reserved. Satisfaction guaranteed, but not legally binding.

Kristina Arscott (Houston, TX)

Kristina Arscott is a Houston-based DJ, spinning regularly at local swing, blues, and fusion dances. Kristina has been described as a "chameleon," changing her sets to meet the mood of an event, whether it is red hot or down home blue. She has been dancing half her life and DJing half that. Occasionally, you may have spotted her outside of her native habitat, spinning at TX events. She has had a special place in her heart for blues since the first, second, third, and fourth time she watched "The Blues Brothers" in childhood on a sunny Saturday afternoon (when the other kids were outside playing). She is thrilled to be added to the ABP crew this year.

Megan Repar (Portland, OR)

When Megan began blues dancing in early 2008, she was already a big fan of the music. It wasn't altogether surprising when, a short while later, she started paying more attention to the music in her collection, and rating songs on danceability. A year after she started dancing, she was DJing house parties and loving it!