The 2016 Competition Music

On the Three days of the Championships you will have some Amazing DJs looking after you. And they will play during the frequent freestyle and night sessions. But apart from one category (Swinging the Blues, which is Lisa's and Dave's baby) I will pick the Competition music. It's a task that I take very seriously and the process began not long after last years competitions. In the photograph you can see three vital USB sticks. Yes, difficult to believe, but I have a system!!!

 

As I listen to music and hear an old or new potential track it will get put onto the small green stick. This lives in my car and is listened to as I drive to and from gigs. It currently holds around 840 possible tunes. If I deem it as a real possible then it goes onto the middle purple stick and I go through that from time to time. Currently this holds around 60 tracks. The big Green stick is track's that will get played. Currently 5 tracks. But tracks do get deleted.



Chris Uren



 However, I am constantly hearing and reviewing new music, a track could make it on as late as the Friday Night; So a long way to go yet. And what makes a competition track. Well maybe I will try to explain that next time. How a track is good for one category and not another etc. Until then a link to my Spotify List to give you a flavour of what could be on the cards for you.

Just A Few Blues Tunes

Now if you are still sitting on the fence. Get off and book. It's going to be a great weekend. Book by going to the Website http://curlywurlyevents.com/blues-.php or you can contact myself or Lisa via our Facebook Pages
Lisa Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lisa.c.graydon?fref=ts
Chris Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dj.chrisuren

And if your desperate to speak to a REAL human then Lisa on 07763 134026

 

It's Getting closer

Now it really is getting close. Lisa and her team of helpers are thinking about how to look after you during your visit. The Judges are discussing the rules and what will be expected from you (Smile, Smile, Smile AND Enjoy yourself) and I am working on the Medals and Trophies that you are taking back home with you. The last Round of the Valentines Trophy heats will take place at The Supper Dance on the 17th. Click on the link to get the facebook Details. https://www.facebook.com/events/201498030195720/.

And if your still not sure what to enter at the Champs you can get your pass and decide later. But get your place sorted as it's filling up.

It is going to be a fantastic weekend of Music, Dancing, Competition. But above all, an event of Fun and Laughter with a group of people who love Music and Dance. I look forward to seeing you all there.

We are all looking forward to seeing you in just 5 weeks time. I will post next about some of the categories and the music.

Lisa Graydon Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lisa.c.graydon?fref=ts
Chris Uren Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dj.chrisuren
Event Facebook page for details https://www.facebook.com/events/1573372316239595/

2016 Here we go!!

2016 Champs coming very soon.

Here we are. Starting to post about the 2016 Blues and Smooth Champs. Entries are already coming in and preparations are well under way for another great weekend of music, competition and dancing. Over the next few weeks I will be giving more details of the weekend including the great line up of Judges and DJ's and giving you some hints and tips to get the best from the weekend.

Lisa, Myself and the rest of the team can't wait to welcome you to another great event

To get you started I am going to list what categories are on what day to help you plan your weekend.

Saturday 13th February

Lucky Dip
Fresh Fundamentals
Smooth Blues Fusion - Juke Joint Trophy
Young Fun and Feisty
In The Zone
Valentines Trophy

Sunday 14th February

Polished and Professional
Raw and Ready
Swingin' The Blues - The Curlywurly Trophy
Smooth Sassy Sophisticated
Jack and Jill

Check out the website for more Information or call. Details below

More Information www.curlywurlyevents.com
Facebook Event https://www.facebook.com/events/1573372316239595/

More info
Email info@curlywurlyevents.com
Tel Lisa on01484 317895 or 07763 134026

Your organisers are
 Lisa Graydon - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lisa.c.graydon?fref=ts
Chris Uren - Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dj.chrisuren

More coming soon.

Tunes

My first post written on a mobile phone so bear with me on the spelling.

Sitting in a hotel room in Luton and thinking about tunes that are suitable for the next Blues and Smooth Champs. The maim problem is there are just so many that I could play. But do they have the necessary stuff?. Are they too hard for the newer dancers? Are they toooo challenging for the top level?. Breaks or no breaks?  Well, my decisions to make and only the pressing of the play button on competitions day will give the answers.

Where are we

Thought I would update you on the progress for the Champs next year and a few bits about what Lisa and I are up too.

Lisa has just had a very successful weekend hosting Asif Malik for some workshops plus a trip down to the English Modern Jive Champs to do some judging. I know that she has already organised another visit for Asif. So keep an eye on her facebook pages. You can find her via this link. She also has a regular Monday night MJ class in Huddersfield and others in the pipeline. Plus her CurlyWurly events at the Dance Studio's continue. Again check with Lisa for details. There is a Curlywurly website at http://curlywurlyevents.com/

For me Juke Joint continues on the last Sunday of every month at the Engine Shed in Wetherby. The new timings of 6 till 10pm have not proved as successful as we had hoped, but we are continuing with them for now. We have one or two extra things in the pipeline to talk to you about soon including a WCS workshop and some special stuff as the 2016 Champs draw closer. There is also going to be a Juke Joint Blog coming soon as well. You can find more about Juke Joint via my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dj.chrisuren or there is also a Juke Joint Group.

THE CHAMPS 2016

Progress is good and we have now confirmed our judges which will include 2 new members for next year.

We are honoured to introduce two HUGELY influential people within the modern and traditional Blues world. Many dancers accross the UK have been inspired by these two into taking their first steps into the world of blues dancing.

Welcome aboard Nigel Anderson and Nina Daines

N&N have performed extensively throughout Europe and have made numerous stage and screen appearances including the West End Shows "The Cotton Club” & “Journey through Jazz”, films such as “Swing” & “War Horse” and countless TV performances, the highlight of course being a Lindy Hop performance on “Blue Peter” (and before you ask ‘Yes’ Nina does still have her Blue Peter Badge).
Since retiring from competing in 2001, N&N have been principle judges at many of the major Blues, Jive & Swing events in the UK.s


More about the other Judges and our DJ line up next time.

Music Plus++++

Lets talk a little about some of the music that I chose to play for the Competition categories on the Saturday. Throughout I hope I managed to pick music that was suitable for the standard of dancer in any particular category. Did I get it right?. Well feedback generally would say yes. But there are still a small number of tracks I would have changed around. Now, it would be impossible to list and talk about all of the tracks so here I am going to give you some links to tunes that I played and hopefully give you a chance to get a feel for what you are likely to encounter in future Competitions.

It may be worth a listen to my Blues Spotify List as well "Just a few Blues Tunes"
But remember this is a BLUES AND SMOOTH competition so don't get toooooo hung up on blues tracks. Once again the aim is to play tracks appropriate to the standard / experience of dancers who may take part in any particular category. These are a small selection from Saturday Comps.

Mary Jane by the Mannish Boys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLofUzxLBCU
A Blues room classic and played by me as part of Lucky Dip. A great driving beat that would allow dancers of all abilities to have a go.

Finest Lovin' Man by Bonnie Raitt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irC1dKEpa00
Another Classic played for the "In The Zone" category (Effectively Intermediate Dancers). A little bit more of a challenge.

I'll Be Your Baby Tonight by Curtis Stigers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzMAb6XaAFM
One of the Tunes I chose for the Juke Joint Trophy. Unashamedly Smooth, it's part of what the Juke Joint is about. Going from Blues through all sorts of music that you can dance to and perhaps ending up here..

Blues 2.0 by Fruitland Jackson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wno2v17XhfI
Picked as the last Competition track of the day. Played for the Polished and Pro. It did what it was meant to do. A REAL CHALLENGE. And in my humble opinion it prompted some of the most amazing dancing of the day. I am not sure some of the competitors thought so.

In a future Blog I will talk about some of the Sunday Music and pretty soon more information about next years line up.

 

Catching the Blues and Smooth Bug

Now I know many of you who came along to the Champs "Caught The Blues and Smooth Bug". We have already announced that our next Champs will be on the 12th to the 14th of February 2016. But that's a long way away. So here are a couple of suggestions for Blues Comps and Events that you should consider looking at. In Date order.

European Blues Invasion runs from the 19th and 21st June https://www.facebook.com/events/344748909058412/ You will find a considerable number of your fellow competitors attending plus a large smattering of your Judges

Ceroc Brean Sands is a weekender from 9th to the 11th October that features the European Neo Blues Champs. A full weekender for you. https://www.facebook.com/events/330276097157469/

Crystal Blues https://www.facebook.com/events/331420280372303/ takes place at the end of October and is Run by Sara White. An annual event you will almost certainly find people you know attending.

I look forward to seeing you at some of these. So go out and enjoy your Blues and as I find more events and Classes for you to think about I will post them here.